The Ham Tree

James McIntyre and Thomas Heath performing in The Ham Tree
McIntyre and Heath

The Ham Tree is a "musical vaudeville" in three acts with music by Jean Schwartz, lyrics by William Jerome, and a book by George V. Hobart.[1] A popular success from its debut in 1905, the work toured for several years; including three separate runs on Broadway. The work was created as a starring vehicle for vaudeville and minstrel show stars James McIntyre and Thomas Heath who were known for their work as blackface performers.[2] The work incorporated several of their prior popular routines and sketches from their work on the vaudeville stage in order to appeal to their fan base.[1] The concept of a "ham tree", along with other humorous trees like an "egg tree", was a repeating gag in their works dating back to their performances in The Georgia Minstrels in the 1890s and early 1900s.[3] Following its initial tour, the work was revived by McIntyre and Heath several times, and was later heavily revised and retitled Hello, Alexander for a Broadway staging in 1919.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Dietz, p. 296
  2. ^ Peterson, p. 161
  3. ^ "At the Theatres". Washington Times. June 25, 1901. p. 5.