History of the Opera House Part 31: Clarence Powell
By Kathy King Johnson Executive Director Cheboygan Opera House
Clarence Powell was one of the most famous comedians in the world when he appeared at the Cheboygan Opera House in 1907 in an all-black minstrel show.
He acted like “a preacher of high rank,” spoke like a gentleman and the ladies said he looked like a prince in his white serge tailcoat. His comedy was dry, quick witted and clean. His parody songs brought down the house.
The Arizona Republic wrote, “Clarence Powell is a comedian of high rank, known as a 'high comedian,' one who depends upon eloquent wit to create more fun than the rough style. When he produces his book of parodies and gets off jokes and comments of local affairs in the town or city where the minstrel is exhibiting, he invariably receives a storm of applause. And when he sings his own song parodies 'Never' and 'W-I-L-S-O-N spells Wilson' he is again given an ovation.”