Out On The Stoop

AudioMo Day 7 Birth of Vaudeville From Beer Hall to Stage

2026-06-07T09:33:44.112-07:00

The American version of vaudeville grew out of beer halls. This is how it got started and the links to known performers and minstrel connections.

If you want to know more, the University of Arizona has an excellent page on Vaudeville

The online version of Britannica has info about vaudeville, burlesque and the UK Tavern version of performing in alcohol establishments.

AudioMo is an international participation of folks that want to share what they can do with the audio format. This is a captioned audio for those folks that are deaf, hearing impaired or English is not their native language.

AudioMo Day 6 Bert Williams Stagecraft Under Duress

2026-06-06T08:09:48.229-07:00

Bert Williams worked in minstrel shows. When those shows started to fade in popularity, he was able to transition to vaudeville. This is an overview of his career and some of the challenges he faced.

If you would like to learn more about Bert Williams here are some resources:

There is a short bio page from Library of Congress
IMDB has a bio page and lists his four known movies.
Dartmouth University page on Bert Williams https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/bertwilliams/biography/

AudioMo is an international participation of folks that want to share what they can do with the audio format.

This is a captioned audio for those folks that are deaf, hearing impaired or English is not their native language.

AudioMo Day 5 Minstrel Show Roots of American Comedy

2026-06-05T21:11:46.695-07:00

Folks like WC Fields, Abbot and Costello, Martin & Lewis all used element of holding an audience that was transmitted from minstrel shows and vaudeville. In this episode, the elements of comedy used in those shows.

For more info there is the The Jim Crow Museum at Ferris University.

AudioMo Day 4 - George Washington's President's House

2026-06-04T19:53:11.190-07:00

A detour into 2026 with the current actions regarding the President's House in Philadelphia. George Washington had slaves.

Lots of them. But due to an White House executive order, the exhibit was removed.

The more interesting story is about Ona Judge. If you would like more info abut Ona, and a more accurate history here is what I have for you:

On the Mount Vernon website is the story about Ona Judge. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/ona-judge

Shush, don't tell anybody but some of the exhibit is still on the National Parks website. https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/presidentshousesite.htm

And the Encyclopedia of Virginia has more information about his ownership activities. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/washington-george-and-slavery/

AudioMo is an international participation of folks that want to share what they can do with the audio format.

This is a captioned audio for those folks that are deaf, hearing impaired or English is not their native language.

AudioMo Day 3 - Black Minstrels

2026-06-03T17:19:14.748-07:00

It didn't take long for slaves and free black folks to want to get in on the action. They knew that they could do it. But they faced laws, slave codes and other barriers to performance.

This is the TLDR version of how the ancestors broke into the industry.

AudioMo is an international participation of folks that want to share what they can do with the audio format.

This is a captioned audio for those folks that are deaf, hearing impaired or English is not their native language.

AudioMo Day Two History Behind Stephen Foster's Old Black Joe

2026-06-02T07:41:48.799-07:00

Stephen Foster was a songwriter. He had two styles of composition. One for the minstrel stage where he wrote in a stereotypical style and one for the parlor or for family occasions.

Old Black Joe was created for the singing in the parlor audience.

If you would like to see the poem/song lyrics, there is a version of it on the Poetry Foundation's website.

If you would like to know more about Stephen Foster, the Library of Congress has a biography of the songwriter.

AudioMo 2026 As the Crow Flies

2026-06-01T09:17:39.663-07:00

There are things that are happening in the US that are troublesome. Some say unprecedented.

I say it has been there all the time. It is a river of fecal matter that bubbles up with pride at least two or more times in a century.

It stains everything. Especially in the realm of entertainment.

For this year's AudioMo contribution, I want to look at the African American, Black and Melanated performers that survived, became successful or created new art forms despite all kinds of obstacles.

You see, entertainment in America is a good reflection of what happens in society at any given point in time. Starting with entertainment, we have to start by looking at minstrel shows and vaudeville.

Newspapers and the funny pages too. Night clubs, how the isms moved into movies and radio and television and the new dirty veins of for profit AI videos.

If you are of a delicate nature and don't like your history sanitized. This is probably not for you.

Go elsewhere. As the crow flies...and the birthing of Jim Crow 2.0

AudioMo 2026 - Day 1a What is a Minstrel Show?

2026-06-01T09:13:38.744-07:00

For those of you that don't know, AudioMo is a world wide participation of people using their voices to share where they are, what they are interested in and sometimes people that are inspired to be sound collectors. It's whatever you want it to be.

My contributions is to create a visual audiogram with captions for people that are hard of hearing, deaf or English is not their primary language.

As the USA marches toward Jim Crow 2.0 this is a good time to reflect on the ancestor path makers and future opportunities for greatness.

**Warning, accurate history will be involved.**

Some of the descendants of the involuntary ancestors might experience periods of discomfort.

As the Crow Flies...

What is Peer Tube?

2025-11-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

I was curious about this video host so I found a video that explains it. Folks might need an alternative to other hosting platforms.

AudioMo 2025 The Body Building Magazines

2025-06-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

AudioMo Day 13 Body Building Magazines There have been body building magazines since 1889. There are two types of publications.

This is a look at the magazines influences that inspired Peplum movies.

This is my AudioMo captioned 30-day audio about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections.

For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/ #AudioMo #Peplum #MovieHistory

AudioMo 2025 Body Building Phenomena 1950s

2025-06-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

AudioMo Day 12 The 1950s Body Building Phenomena

There have always been body builders and physical fitness movements. This is a quick mention of some of the influences. I made a mistake in the first part. I should have said vegetarian instead of vegan.

I'm really tired. It has been a long day.

This is my AudioMo captioned 30-day audio about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections. For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/

#AudioMo #Peplum #MovieHistory

AudioMo 2025 Studying the Craft

2025-06-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

Day 11 Performing under the name of Mark Forest, this is the tale of how a Brooklyn bodybuilder used Peplum to finance his study of his passion and craft.

This is my AudioMo captioned 30-day audio about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections. For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/ #AudioMo #Peplum #MovieHistory

AudioMo Day 10 - The Loves of Hercules

2025-06-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

Day 10 The Loves of Hercules Hercules does seem to have access to a lot of affection.

In this movie, it is queen sized

This is my AudioMo captioned 30-day audio about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections.

For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/ #AudioMo #Peplum #MovieHistory

2025-06-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

Day 9 What In A Name? How many names can a movie character have?

That depends on where you live, what language you speak and did you see it on the big screen or on television.

This is my AudioMo captioned 30-day audio about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections.

For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/ #AudioMo #Peplum #MovieHistory

AudioMo 2025 More About Steve Reeves

2025-06-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

It is Day 8 of AudioMo and in this captioned audio, I talk a little bit about Steve Reeves career and his last appearance in Hercules Unchained.

That is the U.S. title of the film. The Italian title is Ercole e la regina di Lidia aka Hercules And The Queen Of Lidia.

This is my captioned 30-day audio challenge about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections. For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/

AudioMo 2025 Hercules Mythological True Story

2025-06-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

The actual myth story of Hercules is more like a trashy soap opera.

This is the speed version that has been constantly changed by Italian and Hollywood filmmakers.

This is my captioned 30-day audio challenge about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections.

For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/ #AudioMo #Peplum #MovieHistory

AudioMo 2025 - The Maciste Effect

2025-06-05T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Maciste film series started in 1915 and lasted until 1926. This is a look at some of the people that might have been influenced by the character.

This is my captioned 30-day audio challenge about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections.

For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/

AudioMo 2025 Cabiria and the Birth of Maciste

2025-06-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

The year was 1914 and the movie Cabiria is a world wide hit.

It is an two hour adventure tale with volcanos, pirates, betrayals and introduces the grand-daddy of Peplum, a character called Maciste. There are copies of the movie on YouTube.

This is my open captioned 30-day audio challenge about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections. For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/

AudioMo 2025 - What Are Sword and Sandal Movies

2025-06-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

A quick explanation of Sword and Sandal movies. They are one of the reasons why Peplum movies exists.

This is my captioned 30-day audio challenge about Peplum movies and the historical and cultural connections.

For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/

AudioMo 2025 - What is a Peplum Movie?

2025-06-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Peplum movies are a sub-genre of Sword and Sandal movies.

Sword and Sandal movies can have American or British actors.

There is a grand scale, sometimes a biblical or moralistic theme and good triumph over evil but it might take a few centuries to kick in.

Peplum movies might have one or two Americans but mainly an Italian cast.

At least in the early days.

This is #AudioMo, a 30-day international challenge of sound and community. This is my captioned audio/slidecast about Peplum movies, and the historical and cultural connections.

For more info about #AudioMo, please visit https://write.as/audiomo/ #AudioMo #Peplum #MovieHistory

AudioMo 2025 and Peplum Movies

2025-05-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

It is that time again. A bunch of folks get together and for June 2024 create audio recordings sharing who they are, what they are hearing or what they want to talk about.

My topic this year is the Peplum movies between 1958 to 1969.

Simply, a Peplum movie is set in old Greece or Rome, has a hero or demi-god who saves people from the bad people. But not always. There are a couple of films set in Egypt.

There is a lot of interesting things about how that genre of movies came to be created. There are connections from multiple directions and most do not involve oil or a tunic. A very important director of Spaghettis westerns got his start in Peplum movies.

Fifteen years ago, Ernmander started AudioMo as a way to have community and conversation. This is the ultimate diversity project. Blind folks, sighted folks, storytellers and the bashful all try to have a piece of audio to share with other. Mainly participants from the UK, Europe and a handful from the U.S.

I wanted to contribute but I noticed something. Audio isn't accessible to deaf, hard of hearing or new speakers of English.

It isn't easy to embed text into the audio unless you are using a specific service to create the SRT text file and upload for display..

And to my knowledge, there aren't audio specific embedded captioning that you can click a button and display captions. There could be, I don't know of any at this time.

Yes there are audio players that can display transcripts. But not in real time as the audio.

So what I do is use PowerPoint to hold one photo, record audio and then use video editing software to have it transcribe and display open captions on the screen.

You can also combine the audio, video into Microsoft ClipChamp to add captions. That rascal is finicky. But it works. I then post the video on YouTube.

I can share the video via Mastodon, Bluesky and other social media portals. It use to be on Twitter. There are still a few folks that participate there but many people chose not to visit that site anymore.

Anyway, I have a few challenges this year but I hope to make it to the end of the month.

As I mentioned, Ernmander is the ringleader of this and you can check out his blog posts on it at

https://write.as/audiomo/

AudioMo - Just One More Thing...

2024-06-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

A few more words about detective resources:

The Thrilling Detective - excellent for all things sleuthing in literary or media form.

Murder, She Watched - deep in the whozit and whatsit for Jessica Flecture fans and also has a lot of info about television detectives.

The Columbophile Blog - lots of folks hugging their inner raincoated detective.

AudioMo Day 21 - The Thin Man Media Connections

2024-06-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

The book Thin Man by Dashiell Hammitt was the inspiration of the classic movie series about Nick and Nora Charles.

In this detective husband and wife trope, Nora is rich and Nick does not mind it a bit.

Nick is a former private detective with friends on both sides of the law. In this recording, a very brief timeline from the book, the movie series and the television show.

This is #AudioMo, an 30-day international challenge of sound and community. This is my captioned audio about the TV detectives before Columbo.

For more info about AudioMo, please visit https://audiomo.vivaldi.net/2024/03/11/what-is-audiomo/

AudioMo Day 30 - Columbo

2024-06-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

Last day of AudioMo 2024. Have to talk about the inspiration for the challenge, Columbo.

This is #AudioMo, an 30-day international challenge of sound and community. This is my captioned audio about the TV detectives before Columbo.

For more info about AudioMo, please visit https://audiomo.vivaldi.net/2024/03/11/what-is-audiomo/

AudioMo Day 22 - McMillian and Wife

2024-06-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

The book Thin Man had a lot of influence on TV writers and producers.

One of those examples is McMillian and Wife, which was a part of the NBC Mystery Movie.

This show aired in rotation with McCloud and Columbo.

This is #AudioMo, an 30-day international challenge of sound and community. This is my captioned audio about the TV detectives before Columbo.

For more info about AudioMo, please visit https://audiomo.vivaldi.net/2024/03/11/what-is-audiomo/