The biblical story of Salomé was transformed in the late 1800s, breathing new life into the tale. Originally interpreted through the misogynistic lenses of the times, Oscar Wilde’s play Salomé offered new possibilities for the interpretation of Salomé’s story. By elongating the plot line of the story, Wilde gave new space for women, especially erotic…Continue Reading The Salome Dance Craze of the Early 20th Century: Oscar Wilde, Eva Tanguay, Gertrude Hoffmann, Mlle. Dazie and More! by Brandon Neth
Day: March 28, 2023
The Kill Kare Couple: John and Winnie Hennings by David Soren
This series consists of photocopies and digital printouts of press clippings and photographs describing the lives and careers of John and Winnie Hennings, who performed together as The Kill Kare Kouple from 1908 through the World War I years, and of John Hennings’ subsequent work in Hollywood during the 1920s. Some of the clippings and…Continue Reading The Kill Kare Couple: John and Winnie Hennings by David Soren
The Duncan Sisters: Vaudevilles #1 Female Comedy Duo by David Soren
There had been other comedic sister acts in vaudeville that preceded them, such as The Watson Sisters, but none were as clever and funny as the Duncan Sisters and the University of Arizona has a large collection of sheet music featuring the Duncans. Enormously popular in the 1920s, they have failed to transfer their humor…Continue Reading The Duncan Sisters: Vaudevilles #1 Female Comedy Duo by David Soren
The Dolly Sisters: Vaudeville’s Most Famous Female Duo by David Soren
Rose “Rosie” Dolly (October 25, 1892 – February 1, 1970) and Jenny Dolly (October 25, 1892 – June 1, 1941) and Janka (later known as Yansci or Jenny) Deutsch were twins born on October 25, 1892, in Balassagyarmat, Hungary. Their family came to America in 1905 and they both began to study dance, becoming prolific…Continue Reading The Dolly Sisters: Vaudeville’s Most Famous Female Duo by David Soren
Sophie Tucker: Last of the Red Hot Mamas by David Soren
Ukrainian born Sophie Tucker (1887-1966, real name Sonya Kalish) was perhaps the greatest female star in vaudeville and she remained a household word for more than 50 years due to her remarkable ability to continually re-invent herself and make herself relevant and hip to several generations of audiences. At the beginning of her career she…Continue Reading Sophie Tucker: Last of the Red Hot Mamas by David Soren
The Doll Family: Little People in Vaudeville by David Soren
The Doll Family were also known as the Earles Family and The Dancing Dolls and, later on, The Moving Picture Midgets. They were four American siblings from Germany who engaged in vaudeville, movies, circuses and sideshows in America from ca. 1912 to 1955. They were Gracie Doll Earles (Frieda A. Schneider, March 12, 1899- November…Continue Reading The Doll Family: Little People in Vaudeville by David Soren
The Dixon-Freeman Collection by David Soren
The collection consists of contracts and documents, photographs, programs, correspondence, typescripts, and sheet music related to the performances of Jessica Dixon and her husband, Frank Freeman. Several parts of the collection refer to their “train sketch” prooduction, “A Minute Late.” There are numerous publicity photographs of themselves and other vaudeville performers, and glass transparencies used…Continue Reading The Dixon-Freeman Collection by David Soren
Juggling and Jugglers by Emilio Rodríguez-Alvarez
The art of juggling, the ability to toss into the air and catch a series of objects, called props, keeping at least one in the air while others are handled, seems to be an innate ability to human nature. There are multiple historical and archaeological evidences of the presence of jugglers in the distant past,…Continue Reading Juggling and Jugglers by Emilio Rodríguez-Alvarez
Julia Rooney (1887–1990): 80 Years in Vaudeville by Frank Cullen
Like many performers, Julia Rooney came from a showbiz family. Her father was Pat Rooney Sr, (1848–1892), a young, short and slight Irish immigrant who boxed and wrestled his way in America to become a famous singing and clog-dancing veteran of variety saloons. Later, he led his own variety troupe, earning as much as a…Continue Reading Julia Rooney (1887–1990): 80 Years in Vaudeville by Frank Cullen
Julia Rooney and the Dancing Rooneys by Frank Cullen
Julia Rooney (1887–1990) has left her family scrapbook to the American Vaudeville Museum and her famous family connections ensure that her gift, now in the University of Arizona collection, is virtually a who was who of vaudeville. Like many performers, Julia Rooney came from a showbiz family. Her father was Pat Rooney Sr, (1848–1892), a…Continue Reading Julia Rooney and the Dancing Rooneys by Frank Cullen