Wilber Sweatman and Band -- March 12, 2025

Mount Vernon Argus, 12-March-1925

 Duke Ellington, who had been leading a small group that played around Washington, DC, moved to New York to join the Wilber (or Wilbur) Sweatman Orchestra. By 1925, he had already returned to Washington.

Blackface to Radiate Laughs -- January 8, 2025

San Francisco Bulletin, 13-January-1925

Blackface was a popular form of entertainment 100 years ago, even on the radio where the burnt cork was not needed. I am not familiar with the vaudeville team of Chic Mcguire and Tom Brisendine. They performed during a break in a musical broadcast on San Francisco radio station KFRC. Please excuse the racism.

San Francisco Bulletin, 13-January-1925

"I'll Say She Is" Is Energetic, Expensive Hodge-Podge -- May 19, 2024

New York Daily News, 19-May-1924

100 years ago tonight, on 19-May-1924, at the Casino Theater on Broadway at West 39th Street, the Marx Brothers opened their "Laughing Revue," I'll Say She Is. This marked the brothers' transition from vaudeville to the legitimate theater.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 16-November-1924

Brooklyn Eagle theater critic Arthur Pollock had some interesting comments. I'm not sure he liked it. 

The New Plays by Arthur Pollock

"I'll Say She Is." The Marx Brothers, the customary four, brash funny fellows, are the featured players in a elaborately dressed-up burlesque show that came to the Casino Theater in Manhattan last night. Perhaps it isn't fair to brand "I'll Say She Is" burlesque show, since it has long been difficult to tell the difference between a burlesque show and a revue anyhow. But the moment the curtain rises and a group of chorus ladies dash on and let loose their voices and their legs "I'll Say She Is" defines itself. these girls have the burlesque air and the burlesque manner and, they have had, evidently, burlesque tutoring. They are noisy and lively. Thereafter the Marx Brothers let it be known that there is a girl in the cast who wants a thrill. The scenes that follow are designed to give it to her. Regular burlesque stuff! The difference is that the scenery and costumes cost a great deal of money and the girls are beautiful. "I'll Say She Is" offers some of the best legs of the season. It is a boisterous show, full of heavily emphasized humor and lots of it. It ought to provide fun for Manhattan audiences all summer. Of the four Marx Brothers three made hits last night. Julius offered, among other things a loud burlesque of Napolean and his reactions to the philanderings of Josephine, which kept the audience happy for a good half hour. In the same burlesque, Leonard Marx exhibited skill and certain comic gifts at the piano and Arthur Marx did stunts with a harp. Arthur is the funniest of the brothers, a clever pantomimist, deft and economical with his effects, a fine recruit for the variety stage. There is a variety of color and song in the show, most of it aimless, all of it loud in one way or another but all of it, also vigorous and healthy. There was a Chinatown scene, of course, in which Cecile D'Andrea and Harry Walters dance a "Chinese Apache Dance." This proved striking and it is just possible that it will strike the police as indecent. Miss D'Andrea is a pretty girl, hardly indecent, even when her clothes begin to fall. It might be mentioned that the book and lyrics are by Will B. Johnstone, though he appears to have written only what the Marx brothers could not think of for themselves, and his writing is dull. Tom Johnstone wrote the music, much of it, that is, as is not borrowed from the works of more famous and meritorious composers. No one of the songs sounded last night as if it was destined to be a hit. "I'll Say She Is" is energetic, expensive hodge-podge.

Brooklyn Standard-Union, 20-May-1924

40 Tiny People -- January 7, 2024

Jersey Observer and Jersey Journal, 02-January-1924

Leo Singer's Midgets were a popular act in vaudeville. I would like to see where he got "4 Tiny Elephants." The photo shows the jazz band. I wish they had made a record. Singer later arranged for the little people used in the 1939 Wizard of Oz. 

The Originator of Ragtime -- September 7, 2023

Seattle Star, 08-September-1923

Ben Harney was a white guy who liked to claim that he invented ragtime. His vaudeville troupe at the Palace Hip in Seattle included an African-American jazz band, billed as "Ben Harney's seven jazz maniacs."

Seattle Star, 08-September-1923

The Duncan Sisters -- July 30, 2023

San Francisco Examiner, 01-August-1923

Rosetta and Vivian Duncan were experienced vaudeville performers. In 1923 they started to tour in a musical comedy, Topsy and Eva, based on the characters from Uncle Tom's Cabin. Rosetta played Topsy in blackface. Vivian, playing Eva, served as the straight person. In 1927, they starred in a movie adaption. Please excuse the racism.

Pancake Expert and Her Jazz Band Lead Acts at State-Lake -- July 10, 2023

Chicago Tribune, 23-July-1923

I wonder if "Aunt Jemima" was an African-American or an actor/actress in blackface. Quaker Oats hired women to impersonate Aunt Jemima, but I don't know if they had someone at that time. 

Chicago Tribune, 11-July-1923

The strong bill at the Palace this week included Fannie Brice, "World's Greatest Singing Comedienne." Aunt Jemima appeared with "Her Syncopated Bakers." Great name. 

Babe Ruth Day -- June 13, 2023

>Saint Louis Globe-Democrat, 15-June-1948

In honor of the 25th anniversaries of Yankee Stadium and the Yankees win the 1923 World Series against the New York Giants, the team celebrated Babe Ruth Day. The Giants won the World Series in 1921 and 1922. 

Surviving members of the 1923 Yankees gathered to celebrate their greatest player. The team retired Babe's Jersey, number three, and preserved his old locker. Babe had been sick with cancer for two years. He died in August. 

New York Herald, 13-November-1921

The Babe was a cultural phenomenon. Here we see him performing at vaudeville's most famous theater, the Palace.

Motion Picture News, 21-October-1920

"The Great American Personality." Ruth starred in a feature film, Headin' Home. I have seen the movie and enjoyed it, but Babe was not much of an actor. Ruth played a cameo part in Harold Lloyd's Speedy.

listal.com

In 1927, Ruth starred in the feature Babe Comes Home. The movie is presumed to be lost.

listal.com

In 1942, Babe played his best role, himself, in Pride of the Yankees, a biography of Ruth's teammate Lou Gehrig.

The Junk Man Rag -- March 15, 2019

www.coverbrowser.com

Luckyth Roberts, usually called Luckey Roberts, was a ragtime and stride pianist who composed many numbers. He served in the Harlem Hellfighters and played in the regimental band under James Reese Europe.

Maurice and Florence Walton were dancers in vaudeville.

Ching Ling Foo and His Own Company of 14 -- January 13, 2016

New York Tribune, 13-July-1913

Ching Ling Foo (Chee Ling Qua) was a Chinese-born magician who toured the United States in vaudeville and the Ziegfeld Follies.  Here he played at Oscar Hammerstein's Paradise Roof Garden.  Roof Gardens were popular during the summer as a way to escape the heat.

Ina Claire was a popular actress.  Aida Overton Walker, Queen of the Cakewalk, was an African-American performer and the wife of Bert Williams' partner, George Walker.

First Annnual Buster Keaton Blogathon -- February 8, 2015

Lea at Silent-ology is hosting the First Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon:
https://silentology.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/the-first-annual-buster-keaton-blogathon/

My entry for the blogathon is on my new movies-mostly blog, The Big V Riot Squad:
The 3-4-5 Keatons
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-3-4-5-keatons-february-8-2015.html

I write about Buster Keaton and his family in vaudeville. 

The King of All Mystery -- August 7, 2014

I can't find much about John Siems, but he was born in Denmark and came to America.  He had a long successful career as a conjuror.  This ad from the 25-November-1911 Ogden Standard promotes a show at the Orpheum Theater.  Orpheum was a big vaudeville chain in the west. 

International Day of Laughter, 2014 -- May 15, 2014

100 years ago, on 15-May-1914, vaudeville monologist Art Fisher allegedly gave the Marx Brothers, Leonard, Arthur, Julius and Milton and became Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Gummo.  The baby of the family, Herbert, later got the nickname Zeppo.  Fisher may have been inspired by Gus Mager's comic strips like Knocko the Monk, Sherlocko the Monk and Groucho the Monk. 

This John Decker cartoon, from the October, 1924 Motion Picture Classic, shows the brothers in their first Broadway show, I'll Say She Is.  Zeppo is identified as Beppo.  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

Le Roy Talma & Bosco -- April 7, 2014

To play the Palace in New York was the height of accomplishment in vaudeville. Le Roy-Talma-Bosco were a popular team of magicians. Servais Le Roy was a Belgian magician. Talma (Mary Ford) was his wife and an expert coin manipulator. Bosco was the rotund comic relief. There were several Boscos over the years. John Bosco is the patron saint of magicians.

Headliner Lucille Cavanaugh was a dancer. "Miss Cavanaugh is Georgeously Attractive."  Georgously?  "Beautiful Face -- Beautiful Figure -- Beautiful Steps."  The Avon Comedy Four was a popular comic act which included Smith and Dale. 

The ad is from the New York Tribune 22-September-1918. 

Here is an ad from a 1915 appearance at the Palace:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/magic-3-march-5-2011.html


The Giants are off to a good start.  They won 3 of 4 against Arizona and 2 of 3 against the Dodgers. 

The Dippy Mad Magician -- December 2, 2013

Frank Van Hoven started out as a juggler, but wasn't very good at it.  He became a magician, but he wasn't very good at that, either.  He became a funny magician and was very good at that.  He combined simple magic tricks with comic bits like having volunteers hold heavy blocks of ice while he tried to make things appear within them. 

This ad appeared in the 25-June-1915 Variety.  Someone must have tried to steal his act.  The White Rats were a union for vaudeville performers. 

"According to newspaper notices, I have scored one of the largest individual hits ever registered in England, not even barring the Zeppelins."  Very tasteful. 

This is the 2000th post in my blog. 

Shekla Indian Conjurer -- November 3, 2013

Shekla, who may actually have been from India, performed magic with his wife and son.  From the 27-August-1907 Variety. 

The Traction is Equipped to Serve You -- October 9, 2013

Interurban Illinois Traction advertised its services in the 06-September-1923 Variety.  Show people were encouraged to ride the overnight sleepers or daytime parlor cars between Peoria and Saint Louis.  "Windows in upper berths, safe deposit vaults for valuables, and berths six inches longer ... 36 and 60 foot baggage and scenery cars." 

A New Idea for Good Magicians -- October 2, 2013

 

Herbert Albini had a large stage act.  In this ad from the 07-February-1913 Variety, Albini offers to set up an act for other magicians.  Albini died later that year.  Harry Blackstone bought many items for his first big show from Albini's estate.  I couldn't find anything about Roltaire or Devlin and Weedon. 

The Nut Magician -- September 5, 2013

I can't find anything about Sylvester the "Nut" Magician,  but I assume he combined comedy with magic.  From the 23-July-1917 New York Clipper. 

Orpheum -- August 9, 2013

The Orpheum opened as a vaudeville house in 1926.  Later it had a vaudeville and movies policy.  Now it hosts musicals.  I took the photo on 10-May-2013.