FROGS

The Frogs organization of African-American theater professionals, 1908 photo by White Studios The Frogs was a group of African-American men who were theatrical professionals. The group was founded in 1908, by 11 men: Bert Williams, George Walker and Sam Calker (seen in this detail from a group portrait) along with Bob Cole, Lester A. Walton, James Reese Europe, Alex Rogers, Tom Brown, J. Rosamond Johnson, Jesse Ship, and R.C. McPherson (Cecil Mack). They first met at the home of George Walker at 52 West 133rd Street in Harlem. He was elected their first president; J. Rosamond Johnson, vice president; Jesse Shipp, treasurer; James Reese Europe, librarian; and Bert Williams, head of the art committee. Their purpose was to form an archival collection of social, historical and literary materials for a theatrical library in a clubhouse which was built later at 111 West 132nd Street. The Frogs, supposedly named after characters in a play by Aristophanes and stories by Aesop, meant for the club's name to symbolize their feelings of responsibility and dignity. They were greatly respected in the Harlem community and continued for years as a leading professional club, admitting lawyers and doctors as well as theatrical people. Besides raising money for charities, the Frogs were best known for a popular annual dance and vaudeville review, "The Frolic of the Frogs," which took place every August at the Manhattan Casino. Admission was 50 cents. The dance started around 10:30 p.m. and continued into the night. Favors were given to the ladies, and door prizes went to the three people wearing the most unique costumes emblematic of the Frogs. The crowds were overflowing and this affair was one of the biggest social events in Harlem. Bert Williams, then America's top comedian, was elected president of the Frogs around 1910, the same year he joined the Ziegfeld Follies. In 1913 the Frogs organization decided to stage a variety show for their Frolic. The show was so successful it toured to four large cities — Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Richmond.
Prizes went to the three people wearing the most unique costumes emblematic of the Frogs. The crowds were overflowing and this affair was one of the biggest social events in Harlem. Bert Williams, then America's top comedian, was elected president of the Frogs around 1910, the same year he joined the Ziegfeld Follies. In 1913 the Frogs organization decided to stage a variety show for their Frolic. The show was so successful it toured to four large cities — Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Richmond.


Besides raising money for charities, the Frogs were best known for a popular annual dance and vaudeville review, "The Frolic of the Frogs," which took place every August at the Manhattan Casino. Admission was 50 cents. The dance started around 10:30 p.m. and continued into the night. Favors were given to the ladies, and door prizes went to the three people wearing the most unique costumes emblematic of the Frogs. The crowds were overflowing and this affair was one of the biggest social events in Harlem.
Bert Williams, then America's top comedian, was elected president of the Frogs around 1910, the same year he joined the Ziegfeld Follies. In 1913 the Frogs organization decided to stage a variety show for their Frolic. The show was so successful it toured to four large cities — Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Richmond.