Bert Williams (1874-1922); George Walker (1873-1911); and Aida Overton Walker (1870-1914)

vaudeville actors, c. 1908
photo by Hall Studios

George Walker and Egbert Austin Williams (right top) were a vaudeville comedy team and had one of the most renowned and successful stage partnerships in American theatrical history. They started in separate careers and decided to team up when they met in San Francisco in the early 1890s. Their first success came when they billed themselves "The Two Real Coons." This was at a time when minstrel shows featuring white actors in black face were popular. Williams and Walker pioneered a new kind of "black" humor and eventually developed their own company. With musicals shows such as "Clorindy, the Origin of the Cakewalk," "Sons of Ham," "Bandana Land," and "In Dahomey," they opened the door for other African-American actors, singers, dancers and musicians and redefined the boundaries of legitimate Negro theater. Additionally, their efforts were a big influence on the development of American musical comedy theater.
George Walker, dancer and singing comedian, was in charge of planning, staging and promoting the company. He was deeply interested in the business side of show business. He married Aida Overton (right), who was an accomplished dancer and actress. She performed with "The Black Patti Troubadours" and met George Walker in 1898 when they both posed for a cigarette advertisement. She went on to become the leading lady and soubrette in the Williams and Walker Company, starring in the cakewalk exhibitions and several of their important productions. After her husband became too ill to perform, Aida O. Walker often dressed up in his costumes and played his role in "Bandana Land," the last production of the Williams and Walker Company. She went on to perform with the "Smart Set Company" which played on Broadway. Her last performance was a touring variety show produced by "The Frogs", a professional organization of show people, founded by her late husband and ten others. She died in 1914 at the age of 34.

Bert Williams, comedian, singer, dancer, composer, never reached his full potential on stage. He was caught in the stereotypical role of the bumbling fool in blackface, but gained recognition long after his death as one of the most important comedians in American popular theater. He was also the first and only African American to be featured in the Ziegfeld Follies along with such notable stars as W.C. Fields, George M. Cohan, Fannie Brice, Eddie Cantor and Ed Wynn.

"In Dahomey" was the idea of George Walker. He wanted to use the African elements of the American Negro background as the theme of the show. Although he and Williams didn't know much about Africa, they wanted to try something new. Will Marion Cook composed the music and Paul Lawrence Dunbar and Alex Roger wrote the lyrics. On February 18, 1903, it was the first full-length black musical comedy that played on Broadway at the New York Theater. The show later traveled to England and the cast performed at the Shaftesbury Theater in London and later at Buckingham Palace in a royal command performance for the birthday party of the Prince of Wales. Some of the songs Williams and Walker made famous are: "I'm a Jonah Man," "I May Be Crazy but I Ain't No Fool," "I Wants to be a Actor Lady," "Miss Hannah from Savannah," "Bon Bon Buddy," and "Nobody."

The Walkers, Ada and George delighted American & European audiences with their cakewalk in the Williams & Walker operetta In Dahomey.

Click on your favorite player above to see a clip of The Cakewalk