Black History : Charle Case The First Stand Up Comedian

I'm watching Story Television, a satellite tv station that basically shows History Channel programs from a few years ago. I don't have cable and I don't stream.

Anyway I'm watching a a program on black comedians., Right To Offend:: The Black Comedy Revolution

Charlie Case lived from 1858 to 1916.

He was a Vaudeville performer. I'm aware of Vaudeville, I'm not that knowledgeable about it.

Anyway apparently performers would sing act dance, funny performances including telling stories.

Case was of mixed race and did black face. He began to notice people liked the story telling so dropped black face and exclusively did story telling. When he finished a joke he would throw a punch and that's where the term punchline comes from