WC Fields and Jack Benny -- April 12, 2024

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

WC Fields, who had been having a great success with Poppy on Broadway, planned to appear in a Marion Davies movie, Janice Meredith. His film career had been paused since he made two short comedies in 1915. 

Variety, 09-April-1924

Jack Benny, who later became a huge star on the radio and made several movies, was scheduled to play the Palace. The Palace was the pinnacle of vaudeville. 

The Four Marx Brothers Keep Their Act...Cleverly Freshened -- May 16, 2022

New York Tribune, 28-May-1922

The Four Marx Brothers, at that point Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Gummo, made a movie in 1921, but it was never released. Their film career really began in 1929. New York's Palace Theater was the pinnacle of vaudeville in the United States. Julian Eltinge was the best-known female impersonator in the country.

New York Tribune, 30-May-1922

Harry Langdon & Co --November 21, 2021

New York Herald, 13-November-1921

The BF Keith Circuit controlled the best vaudeville theaters in New York City, including the Palace. Harry Langdon, who was playing the Colonial, would be the last of the great silent comics to go into films. 100 years go this month, he was still appearing in vaudeville. He appeared in his first movie in 1923.

Note that Babe Ruth was playing the Palace.

Johnny's New Car -- March 21, 2020

New York Sun and Herald, 21-March-1920

100 years ago today, future movie comedian Harry Langdon (and Company) was performing at the Palace, the pinnacle of vaudeville in the United States.  The headliners were musical comedy stars (and husband and wife) Joseph Santley and Ivy Sawyer.  The House of David started out as a religious commune, which grew to sponsor a touring baseball team, an amusement park and this band.  They are called "The Whiskered Wonders of the West" because the men were required to grow beards and wear their hair long.  Lily Lena was a comedian from Britain.  Joe Morris and Flo Campbell had a comic skit called "The Avi-Ate-Her."