Milt G. Barlow

Milt G. Barlow
Monarchs of Minstrelsy pub. 1911
Born	(1843-06-29)June 29, 1843 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Died	September 27, 1904(1904-09-27) (aged 61) New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Occupation	Minstrel and Vaudeville Entertainer
Years active	1867–1903

Milt G. Barlow (June 29, 1843 – September 27, 1904) was an American blackface comedian and actor popular in minstrel and vaudeville shows over the latter half of the 19th century.

Milton G. Barlow was born on June 29, 1843, at Lexington, Kentucky. He was the son of James Madison and Elizabeth Susan (née Barlow) Barlow. He was probably raised in the household of an uncle in Harrison County, Kentucky, after his parents divorced and his father, a silversmith, relocated to Salt Lake City. At the age of twelve Barlow began working as a printer's devil for a newspaper in Cynthiana, the county seat of Harrison County some thirty miles north of Lexington. He was forced to abandon the job at age fourteen when it began to affect his health. Barlow spent the next few years working on a Missouri farm (possibly a relative's) before moving on to Louisville, Kentucky where he would resume working as a printer.

Barlow served in the American Civil War enlisting on April 23, 1861, at Louisville as a private with Company C of the First Kentucky Infantry. He would later serve with several Virginia cavalry companies before surrendering at Appomattox Court House in April 1865 along with the remnants of General Robert E. Lee's army.

One of Barlow's earliest performances was in 1867 when he teamed up with James and William Arthur, a song-and-dance duo who called themselves the Barlow Brothers. Beginning in 1871 Barlow would play in such minstrel shows as the Jackson Emorsonians, Harry Robinson's Minstrels, Benjamin's New Orleans Minstrels, Haverly's Minstrels and Sweatman and Frasier's Minstrels. In 1877 he formed with George Wilson, George H. Primrose, and John T. West, the very successful Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West Minstrels. In later years he would form shows with George Wilson and later yet with Wilson and Carl Rankin. Barlow also toured in a number of plays, usually playing African American slaves or former slaves. His most notably performances were in Uncle Tom's Cabin where he played the title role and in productions in which he played Old Black Joe, a character he had created over the years. Milt G. Barlow was, for better or worse, considered one of the best "burnt-cork" actors of his day. His finale performances were in 1903 playing the Minister to Dahomey, in A Texas Steer productions.