Category: Story

Paul Gerard Smith: Broadway and Screen Writer Extraordinaire by David Soren

Paul Gerard Smith’s materials include correspondence between his grandson, Paul Gerard Smith III, and Frank Cullen (American Vaudeville Museum), and drafts of his biography by Paul Gerard Smith III and Frank Cullen. Also included are a chronology, “Adventures in Show Business”; performer and sketch indexes; and a list of credits compiled by Paul Gerard Smith….Continue Reading Paul Gerard Smith: Broadway and Screen Writer Extraordinaire 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 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

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 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 Salome Dance Craze of the Early 20th Century: Oscar Wilde, Eva Tanguay, Gertrude Hoffmann, Mlle. Dazie and More! by Brandon Neth

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

Olsen and Johnson: Broadway’s Zanies – UA Library Entry, with David Soren

This collection contains material related to the career of Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson. It includes signed photographs, playbills, posters and sheet music from Hellzapoppin. It also includes correspondence between Frank Cullen and the daughter of Ole Olsen, Moya Olsen Lear, and his grandson, Stephen Ron Olsen. Ole Olsen (born John Sigvard Olsen, 1892-1963) and…Continue Reading Olsen and Johnson: Broadway’s Zanies – UA Library Entry, with David Soren

Nick Ricci and The Gondoliers: A Vaudeville Musical Group- Library Entry

This collection comprises papers, photographs, and a scrapbook, documenting the career of Nick Ricci and his musical group in the mid-1930s. There are contracts and business correspondence, a receipt for membership in the Chicago Federation of Musicians in 1936, and a handwritten log of income. The photographs are mostly promotional portraits of the group; there…Continue Reading Nick Ricci and The Gondoliers: A Vaudeville Musical Group- Library Entry

Murray and Mack: Early Vaudeville Comedy Duo by David Soren

In the 1890s it wasn’t easy to travel across America in vaudeville shows but Charlie Murray (Laurel, Indiana, June 22, 1872 – Los Angeles, July 29, 1941) and Ollie Mack (born Oliver Turnbull) not only did it but were one of America’s major comic successes. Although just about completely unknown today even by vaudeville afficianados,…Continue Reading Murray and Mack: Early Vaudeville Comedy Duo by David Soren