Pigmeat Markham
A vaudeville stalwart whose high-energy comedy and signature 'Here come de judge!' routine became a cornerstone of Black entertainment for decades.
1904–1981 (age 77)·American entertainer·Birthday: April 18·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Pigmeat Markham was a product of the rough-and-tumble tent show and TOBA (Theatre Owners Booking Association) circuit, where he honed a physical, broad comedy style that made him a star in Black theaters. With his painted-on mustache and oversized clothes, he was a master of slapstick and song. His career spanned from silent films to television, but his true kingdom was the Apollo Theater stage, where he was a frequent and beloved headliner. Markham's most enduring contribution was his courtroom skit, where he would bang a gavel and declare 'Here come de judge!'—a catchphrase that was later popularized by Sammy Davis Jr. on 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In' and became a part of the American lexicon. He bridged the eras of vaudeville and the civil rights movement, providing laughter and social commentary in equal measure.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Pigmeat was born in 1904, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Pigmeat Was Born
The biggest hits of 1904
Pigmeat's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1904Born
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Started school
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1917Became a teenager
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Could drive
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1922Could vote
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Turned 21
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1934Turned 30
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1944Turned 40
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 50
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 60
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 70
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1981Died at 77
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
Key Achievements
- Popularized the iconic comedy catchphrase 'Here come de judge!' through a long-running stage routine.
- Was a headline performer at the Apollo Theater in Harlem for several decades.
- Recorded the hit comedy album 'The Trial' in 1960, which featured his famous judge routine.
- Appeared in early sound films and later on television shows, bringing Black vaudeville comedy to wider audiences.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Pigmeat' originated from a song he performed early in his career.
He began performing as a child in minstrel and medicine shows in the early 1900s.
Markham was a skilled tap dancer and often incorporated dance into his comedy acts.
He is sometimes credited as an influence on later comedians like Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor.
“Here come de judge! Here come de judge!”
