Showing posts with label vaudeville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vaudeville. Show all posts

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Fun in the Healy Manner -- March 20, 2025

Brooklyn Citizen, 08-March-1925

Comic Ted Healy (not "Healey") and his wife Betty appeared at the EF Albee vaudeville theater in Brooklyn. Their act included stooges. Ted went on to lead the Three Stooges during their early existence.

Brooklyn Citizen, 08-March-1925

The act was called "Fun in the Healy Manner." It included "song, dance and nut comedy and clowning."

Hartford Courant, 29-March-1925

"...a philosopher and a flapper..."

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Hoot Gibson -- Wow! What a Stampede -- March 12, 2025

Calgary Herald, 21-March-1925

I always enjoy Hoot Gibson movies. He added a lot of comedy to his films. Calgary's Regent Theater ran a full-page ad, which must have been expensive, for his film Let 'er Buck. "Exclusive action scenes taken at the 1924 famous Pendleton, Oregon, Roundup -- the World's Greatest Rodeo." Hoot won the all-around cowboy title at the 1912 Pendleton Roundup.

Omaha Daily News, 29-March-1925

Omaha Daily News, 29-March-1925

I like the image of "Hoot Gibson and his golden mare." Omaha's Moon Theater played The Hurricane Kid along with five acts of vaudeville.


Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Bill Hart Entered Pictures Ten Years Ago at $75 a Week -- September 17, 2024

Photoplay, September, 1924

I like William S Hart's hat. 

Millville Daily, 01-September-1924

Wild Bill Hickok was Hart's penultimate film for Paramount. The Grand Theater in Millville, New Jersey paired it with "5 Good Acts Vaudeville 5." 

Selma Times-Journal, 01-September-1924

Singer Jim McKee was not a success. I find it hard to picture Bill Hart as a singing cowboy. 

Alexandria Gazette, 13-September-1924

Hart wrote a series of stories for young people about Injun and Whitey, "The Golden West Boys."
 

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Milton Berle -- August 18, 2024

Ottowa Journal, 23-August-1924


The Loew's Theater in Ottowa was showing The Social Code with Viola Data and "5-High Class Vaudeville Acts-5." The high class vaudeville acts included Milton Berle, who, if I am calculating correctly, would have been 16 years old. He never had much of a film career, but he was very important in early television. 

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Burns and Allen in Sixty-Forty -- June 23, 2024

Oakland Tribune, 01-June-1923

Future stars of screen, radio and television, George Burns and Gracie Allen, played in vaudeville at Oakland's Orpheum Theater. Movie star Elliott Dexter headed the bill. 

Oakland Tribune, 01-June-1923


Sunday, May 19, 2024

"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


Friday, April 12, 2024

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. 

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Jay C Flippen 125 -- March 6, 2024

listal.com

Actor Jay C Flippen was born 125 years ago today on 06-March-2024. I have seen him in many movies and television shows for my whole life, but I only looked up his name in the last year or so. He was good at playing crusty old guys. He had a successful career in vaudeville. His film career started in 1947. 

listal.com

listal.com

listal.com

Notice that neither his face nor his name appears on any of these posters.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Discarded Brassieres -- December 30,. 2023

Variety, 31-January-1924

Fred Allen, the greatest comedian of old time radio, made his first movie in 1929. In 1923 I think he toured the country in a traveling company of The Passing Show of 1922, and then probably went back to vaudeville. I can't find a Broadway show called The Sidewalks of New York in 1923. 

Variety, 27-December-1923

Nellie Revell wrote a column in Variety call Right off the Chest. In 1923, she published a book with a collection of columns. Fred Allen's ad parodied the title as Discarded Brassieres.

Variety, 03-January-1924

Fred Allen gave a Question Man item asking people if they believed in Santa Claus. He combined it with New Year's wishes. He mentions that he has been with Willie and Eugene Howard in The Passing Show of 1922.

Sunday, July 30, 2023

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.


Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Vaudeville Comedian Signed by Lesser -- April 19, 2023

Motion Picture News, 28-April-1923

Harry Langdon, after a long career in vaudeville, was the last of the great silent comics to go into films. 100 years ago this month, Sol Lesser signed him to a contract to appear in Principal Pictures.

Friday, January 13, 2023

A Few Minutes With Jack Benny -- January 13, 2023

Des Moines Register, 14-January-1923

Jack Benny's film career did not start for a few more years, but in January 1923 audiences could see him performing in vaudeville at the Orpheum Theater in Des Moines. He played the violin and told jokes. At this point in his career, the amount of violin was going down and the number of jokes was going up.

Thursday, November 10, 2022

El famoso actor cómico Harry Langdon -- November 10, 1922

La Prensa, 17-November-1922

Harry Langdon, who was playing the San Antonio Majestic (Big Time Vaudeville), would be the last of the great silent comics to go into films. He was playing in his act "Después del baile" (After the Ball).

Friday, October 14, 2022

Arthur Marx in Vaudeville -- October 14, 2022

Buffalo Enquirer, 28-October-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. By 1922, baby brother Zeppo had replaced Gummo. They were on their way to Buffalo, New York's Criterion Theater to present a unit show called The Twentieth Century Revue. A unit show was a complete vaudeville bill in one. This item is decorated with a photo of Harpo as an infant. I see he had already begun to call himself Arthur rather than Adolph long before that other guy came along and ruined things.

Criterion

The Four Marx Brothers, who come to the Criterion Theater, next week, starting Monday, at the head of another of those inimitable Shubert vaudeville shows entitled "Twentieth Century Revue" have long been known as vaudeville headliners. All lovers of vaudeville remember Arthur, red-headed clown. Leo the Italian funster, Julius the eccentric, and Herbert the juvenile -- a quartette of fun-makers whose like has never been duplicated.

The "Twentieth Century Revue" is presented by a company that is startling from a theatrical viewpoint, having recruited its cast from the vaudeville and musical comedy stages and the motion picture studios. The Four Marx Brothers themselves are vaudeville's chief contribution. Olga and Mishka, remembered from "Tumble Inn," "Tickle me" and "The Last Waltz" and Al B. White and Harry Kranz, remembered from "Stop, Look and Listen" and "Hitchy Koo," "The Passing Show" and "Just a Minute" come from musical comedy, and Ethel Tearle from the motion pictures. She was formerly a Mack Sennett Bathing girl.

The Marx Brothers act must be seen to be appreciated. Olga and Mishka, with their own ballet present an act that has some startling dance ensembles in it. White and Krantz appear in a skit called "Just Nonsense." It is lively and entertaining.

Others in the vaudeville olio include The Garrett saxaphone (Sic -- JT) six, Misha Violin, premier European violinist, Malinoff and Aileen, Russian dancers, the Three Blair Sisters, clever girls who sing and dance, Ethel Teare herself and Marie Rossi, an exceedingly sweet songstress. The chorus of 40 is said to be unusually clever.

For next week the feature at the Criterion will be "The Whirl of New York."

Buffalo Times, 29-October-1922

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Marx Brothers -- Such Alert Yet Delicate Humour -- July 19, 2022

London Guardian, 18-July-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. They seem to have made a good impression during their tour in the UK. Note that the reviewer calls Chico "Chico Baroni."

Saturday, June 18, 2022

WC Fields & Co -- June 18, 2022

Chicago Tribune, 30-June-1922


After a long career in vaudeville, WC Fields made his film debut in 1915, but then returned to the vaudeville stage and the Ziegfeld Follies. He did not appear in another movie until 1924. Fields appeared at the Majestic Theater in Chicago 100 years ago this month. 

"Always COOL." This was a strong selling point in cities that got hot during the summer. 

Monday, May 16, 2022

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


Thursday, April 14, 2022

WC Fields & Co -- April 14, 2022

Washington Herald, 16-April-1922

After a long career in vaudeville, WC Fields made his film debut in 1915, but then returned to the vaudeville stage and the Ziegfeld Follies. He did not appear in another movie until 1924. Fresh out of the touring version of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1921, Fields appeared at the BF Keith Theater in Washington, DC. "Presenting Greatest Travesty in His Brilliant Comedy Career, 'GOLFING.'" Fields liked golf routines. 

Bessie Barriscale was a popular actress on the legitimate stage, in vaudeville and in movies. 

Thursday, February 17, 2022

A Rapid Fire Succession of Ridiculous Situations -- February 17, 2022

Sacramento Star, 23-February-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. The Orpheum Circuit was the biggest vaudeville circuit west of the Rockies.

San Francisco Examiner, 07-February-1922

Sunday, November 21, 2021

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.