Lotta Crabtree popularized banjo playing for women in the 1800's with her stage success. She was truly a delightful and generous performer, known as the "Shirley Temple of the 1800's." This is the only picture I've ever seen of her with a banjo. She learned when she was about 11 years old from a minstrel, Jake Wallace. Lotta once performed in Timbuctoo, CA, less than a mile from where I live.
4 comments on “Lotta Crabtree, 1865”
strokestyle Says:
Monday, September 19, 2011 @11:55:28 AM
Nice to see this picture and find a little out about Lotta Crabtree. Enjoyed this info.
barbbanjo Says:
Saturday, December 10, 2011 @9:23:24 PM
Way too cool! Thanks for posting this pic. I'm very interested in banjo history.
cwbayer Says:
Thursday, June 28, 2012 @10:15:04 PM
Jake accompanied Lotta when she sang in Virginia City Nevada. How do you know this picture is 1865?
My email nevadamusic.com@me.com
Thanks
Chris
JanetB Says:
Friday, June 29, 2012 @7:41:28 AM
On the bottom of the photo I got from an ebay sale it says her name and The Seven Sisters, a play she performed in 1865 according to the biography Golden Footlights by Phyliss Winn Jackson. What information might you have about her and Jake, Chris? I'm really interested.
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