Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek /
1957 Show of Stars
September 27, 2000
 Listen  Historian's Notes Resources Transcript
Historian's Notes
The removal of the main eastern Native American tribes is a monumental, although shameful, period of U.S. history. The Choctaws were the first of the five main tribes to realize the futility of resistance and signed away their ancient homeland to the U.S. government. It's amazing and mind boggling to realize how much land was just "given" to the U.S. by the Choctaws and the little thanks they received for it.
The Show of Stars seems a little insignificant as a news story when compared to the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, but I felt a little levity was in order.
Resources for "Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek":
Various Oklahoma history texts.
The Angie Debo Papers are held at OSU's Special Collections & University Archives.
Resources for "1957 Show of Stars":
Tulsa World. (1957).
Almanac Transcript
Hello, I'm Steven Kite welcoming you to the Oklahoma Audio Almanac where
we turn the pages of history to bring you the stories of our state's past.
On September 27 and 28 of 1830 the Choctaws signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek and became the
first of the five main south-eastern tribes to sign an official removal treaty. The Cherokee, Chickasaw,
Seminole and Creek would also sign treaties, but the U.S. Government considered the Choctaws to be the
most peaceful of the tribes and the best group with which to start the removal process. Official government
documents reveal that U.S. authorities were instructed to use bribes and coercion to sway tribal elders
to sign the treaty. With the signing of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the Choctaws ceded their land
in the south amounting to approximately one quarter of the state of Mississippi. The Choctaws received
no money for their land and obtained only temporary assistance from the United States in setting up the
tribe in the new Indian Territory. Although members were promised monetary compensation for material goods
lost in the move, it took over sixty years and several court cases before any compensation at all was
made available to the tribe. The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was not favorable to the Choctaws, and
by signing it the old Choctaw Nation disappeared from the face of the Earth. Scholars of the event conclude,
however, that the Choctaws signed because in the face of ongoing and ever more hostile white invasion,
it was the wisest thing to do and the tribe got the best terms they could.
One Hundred and Twenty Seven years after the Choctaws were being removed from their ancient homeland
the youth of Tulsa waited in great anticipation for the 1957 Show of Stars. On September 28th, 1957 at
the Brady Theatre a veritable "who's who" of pop music lined up to perform. For the ticket price
of $2.00, or $2.50 or $3.00 for the really good seats, music fans were treated to an all out rock and
roll bonanza. Appearing live on stage in the Show of Stars were Fats Domino, LaVerne Baker, Frankie Lymon,
Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, The Drifters, Paul Anka as well as a host of other lesser known
acts. Over thirteen acts performed in the cavalcade treating Oklahoma residents to over an hour and a
half of the days greatest hits...and that's what happened this week in Oklahoma history.
I'm Steven Kite.
The Oklahoma Audio Almanac is a production of the OSU Library and Oklahoma's
Public Radio.
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