Category: Story

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

The Shop Girl: A Unique Early Theatre Item in the University of Arizona Special Collections Main Library Archive by Elizabeth Marchalonis

The Shop Girl is considered by many scholars to be the first real direct antecedent of the modern Broadway musical. It premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London in 1894. Producer George Edwardes developed the idea of a musical comedy which was not a burlesque but rather a full coherent story. The star was Ada…Continue Reading The Shop Girl: A Unique Early Theatre Item in the University of Arizona Special Collections Main Library Archive by Elizabeth Marchalonis

The Boswell Sisters: Syncopation Harmony Queens by David Soren

Martha Meldania Boswell (1905 – 1958), Constance (Connee) Foore Boswell (1907 – 1976) and Helvetia George Boswell (1911 – 1988) were musicians and music-loving amateurs who performed as a sister act for friends in New Orleans. The family was from Kansas City but moved early on to Louisiana. After winning an amateur contest they were…Continue Reading The Boswell Sisters: Syncopation Harmony Queens 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

Sonia Serova: Greek Dance Come to Life by David Soren

This series comprises five items related to modern dance, most including musical scores. Sonia Serova (1889-1943) trained in dance at the Wordsworth School in London, and was influenced by ancient Greek sports and vase paintings, as a disciplined approach that countered the then-popular trend for “aesthetic” dancing. Her style of modern dance was known as…Continue Reading Sonia Serova: Greek Dance Come to Life by David Soren

Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel: The Genius Behind Radio City Music Hall by David Soren

Samuel Lionel Rothapfel, Bromberg, Germany (?), July 9, 1882 – New York City, January 13, 1936) was better known as Roxy Rothafel. He was not a performer or vaudevillian of any sort but rather an organizer, entertainment entrepreneur and theatrical manager who was highly successful at bringing entertainment to the masses. In addition he was…Continue Reading Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel: The Genius Behind Radio City Music Hall by David Soren

Ruth St. Denis: Mystical Pioneer of the Dance by David Soren

Vaudeville produced every kind of dancer from the Classical exoticism of Isadora Duncan to the waltz clogging of Pat Rooney to the bouncy tapping of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. One school of dance that was popular in the 1910s and 1920s was the idea of bringing interpretation to dance and particularly to ballet. Anna Pavlova had…Continue Reading Ruth St. Denis: Mystical Pioneer of the Dance by David Soren