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Cal Stewart

Cal Stewart (b. 1856 Charlotte County, Virginia, d. December 7, 1919) was an American comedian and humorist who pioneered in vaudeville and early sound recordings. He is best remembered for his comic monologues in which he played "Uncle Josh" Weathersby, a resident of a mythical New England farming town called "Pumpkin Center" or "Punkin Center", leading to a number of small towns across the U.S. adopting those names.

Born in Charlotte County, Virginia in 1856, Stewart spent his early life working in circuses, medicine shows and vaudeville to great acclaim as "Uncle Josh Weathersby from Way Down East". It was on the road that he befriended Mark Twain and later Will Rogers, two men who shared similar wit in comedy.

Around 1897, Thomas Edison's studios hired him to cut several cylinder recordings of his famous speeches and songs. They were well received by the public, and launched an entire series of recordings based on the Uncle Josh character. Stewart's trademark on these recordings is the easily recognizable laugh that precedes his speeches.

Best-selling recordings included "Uncle Josh’s Arrival in New York" (1898), "I'm Old But I'm Awfully Tough (Laughing Song)" (1898), "Jim Lawson's Horse Trade With Deacon Witherspoon" (1901), "Uncle Josh's Huskin' Bee Dance" (1901), and "Uncle Josh Buys an Automobile" (1903). He wrote the song "Ticklish Reuben" in 1900.

Stewart continued recording on Edison, Columbia, Victor, and independent labels up until his death on December 7, 1919. He also wrote two books based on his monologues and performed in theaters across America with his wife Rossini Vrionides and her brother and sister.

Stewart is represented on the 2007 compilation Actionable Offenses: Indecent Phonograph Recordings from the 1890s.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1856 (Charlotte County), Died December 7, 1919

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1897 - 1928

Roles Represented in DAHR: speaker, author, vocalist, composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 574 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor A-573 7-in. 10/20/1903 Uncle Josh and the bronco steerers Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-573 10-in. 10/20/1903 Uncle Josh and the bronco steerers Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor A-574 7-in. 10/20/1903 Uncle Josh in an automobile Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-574 10-in. 10/20/1903 Uncle Josh on an automobile Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor C-574 12-in. 10/20/1903 Uncle Josh in an automobile Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4132 10-in. 12/13/1906 Uncle Josh's second visit to the metropolis Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4133 10-in. 12/13/1906 Uncle Josh and the labor unions Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4134 10-in. 12/13/1906 Uncle Josh and Aunt Nancy visit New York Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor E-4134 8-in. 12/13/1906 Uncle Josh and Aunt Nancy visit New York Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4135 10-in. 12/13/1906 The last day of school at Pun'kin Centre Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor E-4135 8-in. 12/13/1906 The last day of school at Pun'kin Center Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4136 10-in. 12/13/1906 Uncle Josh in a Chinese laundry Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor E-4136 8-in. 12/13/1906 Uncle Josh in a Chinese laundry Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4137 10-in. 12/13/1906 Uncle Josh in a department store Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor E-4137 8-in. 12/13/1906 Uncle Josh in a department store Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4140 10-in. 12/14/1906 Uncle Josh at a camp meeting Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4141 10-in. 12/14/1906 Uncle Josh on a bicycle Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor E-4141 8-in. 12/14/1906 Uncle Josh on a bicycle Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4142 10-in. 12/14/1906 Ground Hog Day at Pun'kin Center Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4143 10-in. 12/14/1906 Uncle Josh and the insurance agent Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4144 10-in. 12/14/1906 Uncle Josh at the roller skating rink Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4190 10-in. 1/22/1907 Uncle Josh's arrival in New York City Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor E-4190 8-in. 1/22/1907 Uncle Josh's arrival in New York City Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor B-4191 10-in. 1/22/1907 Uncle Josh in society Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
Victor E-4191 8-in. 1/22/1907 Uncle Josh in society Cal Stewart Monologue speaker, author  
(Results 126-150 of 574 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Stewart, Cal," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103525.

Stewart, Cal. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103525.

"Stewart, Cal." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103525

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