Vaudeville resources?
-
- Associate
- Posts: 350
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:31 pm
- Contact:
Vaudeville resources?
I have no idea if this is the correct section to put this, but where are the institutions where one could go and research vaudeville performers? Are there particular publications that I should be searching? I am looking for further information on El Brendel and his wife Flo Bert during their early stage days.
-
- Capo
- Posts: 262
- Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 10:55 pm
Re: Vaudeville resources?
Hi Louie
We have a lot of vaudeville material in the Billy Rose Theatre Collection. A good publication to check is Vaudeville News. This ran through the 1920s and later combined with The New York Star. There's also National Vaudeville Association Yearbooks, which usually have ads for all the acts touring the country. We also have clipping files on indivduals, acts and even specific theatres.
Didn't you mention making a trip to New York a while ago?
Steve
We have a lot of vaudeville material in the Billy Rose Theatre Collection. A good publication to check is Vaudeville News. This ran through the 1920s and later combined with The New York Star. There's also National Vaudeville Association Yearbooks, which usually have ads for all the acts touring the country. We also have clipping files on indivduals, acts and even specific theatres.
Didn't you mention making a trip to New York a while ago?
Steve
-
- Associate
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:16 am
Re: Vaudeville resources?
Steve, have you ever run across anything documenting the act called Swayne's Rats and Cats? Groucho Marx and George Burns both taked about what an amazing act that was, but it isn't mentioned in Joe Laurie Jr.'s big vaudeville history, or in any other source I've seen. Can we really document that the act existed?
-
- Godfather
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 4:23 pm
Re: Vaudeville resources?
Variety magazine is a great source of information too. They provide fairly accurate appearance schedules and detailed reviews of the various acts. Most major libraries have the complete microfilm series.
-- PG
-- PG
-
- Associate
- Posts: 350
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:31 pm
- Contact:
Re: Vaudeville resources?
Steve Massa wrote:Hi Louie
Didn't you mention making a trip to New York a while ago?
Steve
Yes, I did, but it's just a matter of finding time away from work and being able to actually spend some time there. I will get down before the end of the year and let you know.
Louie
-
- Associate
- Posts: 350
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:31 pm
- Contact:
Re: Vaudeville resources?
Paul E. Gierucki wrote:Variety magazine is a great source of information too. They provide fairly accurate appearance schedules and detailed reviews of the various acts. Most major libraries have the complete microfilm series.
-- PG
Paul,
I have been searching for a half hour and haven't been able to find many for the time period I have been looking for in Massachusetts. Even the Boston Public Library is a no go. Think I'll try my local and see if they can get some stuff on loan. Thanks for the help!
Louie
Re: Vaudeville resources?
The following website is damn valuable for all kinds of vaudeville research. All praise LoC!
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/vshtml/vshome.html
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/vshtml/vshome.html
-
- Capo
- Posts: 262
- Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 10:55 pm
Re: Vaudeville resources?
Chris
I'll check if we have anyhing on Swanye's Rats and Cats.
Steve
I'll check if we have anyhing on Swanye's Rats and Cats.
Steve
-
- Associate
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:33 pm
Re: Vaudeville resources?
Chris Snowden wrote:Steve, have you ever run across anything documenting the act called Swayne's Rats and Cats? Groucho Marx and George Burns both taked about what an amazing act that was, but it isn't mentioned in Joe Laurie Jr.'s big vaudeville history, or in any other source I've seen. Can we really document that the act existed?
A quick perusal of newspaperarchive.com turns up the following blurb in the Hagerstown Maryland DAILY MAIL, dated January 18, 1917:
AT THE MARYLAND TODAY.
The Maryland's special picked
vaudeville for the last half of this
week will be a surprise as to quality
and quantity. The bill opens with
Swaine's Rats and Cats act. This is
out of the ordinary and will be found
as pleasing and entertaining as were
his (Swaine's) cocktoos recently.
I wouldn't trust that the spelling is correct here, but at least we now know the act really did exist!
Michael
-
- Capo
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:06 am
Re: Vaudeville resources?
Michael J Hayde wrote:Chris Snowden wrote:Steve, have you ever run across anything documenting the act called Swayne's Rats and Cats? Groucho Marx and George Burns both taked about what an amazing act that was, but it isn't mentioned in Joe Laurie Jr.'s big vaudeville history, or in any other source I've seen. Can we really document that the act existed?
A quick perusal of newspaperarchive.com turns up the following blurb in the Hagerstown Maryland DAILY MAIL, dated January 18, 1917:
AT THE MARYLAND TODAY.
The Maryland's special picked
vaudeville for the last half of this
week will be a surprise as to quality
and quantity. The bill opens with
Swaine's Rats and Cats act. This is
out of the ordinary and will be found
as pleasing and entertaining as were
his (Swaine's) cocktoos recently.
I wouldn't trust that the spelling is correct here, but at least we now know the act really did exist!
Michael
I'd trust this spelling more than Groucho and George's memories--particularly since, according to what Bob Birchard was once told by Burns' publicist, George couldn't read or write.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests