Category: Story

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

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

Joseph E. Howard: Vaudeville, Broadway and Television by David Soren

Joseph Edgar Howard (February 12, 1867 – May 19, 1961) had to entertain, from the time he was a tot literally until the moment of his death, which occurred with him having just taken an encore on-stage, 86 years later! His story may have made-up elements to it, as was often the fashion among early…Continue Reading Joseph E. Howard: Vaudeville, Broadway and Television by David Soren

Joe Frisco: The First Jazz Dancer by Barbara Quintana-Bernal

Joe “Frisco” Rooney, was born as Louis Joseph in Milan, Illinois in 1889, and died in Woodland Hills, California in 1958. Joe was not one of the most famous entertainers or dancers in American History, but most of his legacy was left as stories from other show people across the country. Joe Frisco was basically…Continue Reading Joe Frisco: The First Jazz Dancer by Barbara Quintana-Bernal

Jill Corey: The Overnight Sensation by Albert Kopec, David Soren

Jill Corey began her life as Norma Jean Esperanza, youngest of five children in the tiny coal-mining town of Avonmore, Pennsylvania, the youngest of five children. She was always singing and became something of a local celebrity in her teens, but only earning five dollars a night performing in regional shows, at the Lion’s Club…Continue Reading Jill Corey: The Overnight Sensation by Albert Kopec, David Soren

James L. Dempsey: From Vaudeville Composer/Performer Extraordinaire to Corporate Executive by Susan Dempsey (granddaughter)

The following account is taken from information provided to our School of Anthropology vaudeville archive by Susan Dempsey, granddaughter of the famous vaudevillian and composer: This is Susan Dempsey. I promised a write-up to you on my grandfather and, from what little is known of his early life, here goes. James L. Dempsey was born…Continue Reading James L. Dempsey: From Vaudeville Composer/Performer Extraordinaire to Corporate Executive by Susan Dempsey (granddaughter)

Julian Eltinge: Vaudeville’s Most Famous Female Impersonator by David Soren

Julian Eltinge (Newtonville, Massachusetts, May 14, 1883 – New York, March 7 1941) was the most famous female impersonator of the 1910s and 1920s, so famous that the Eltinge Theatre in Manhattan was named after him and has a portrait of him in relief as a Muse on its auditorium ceiling. From his early childhood,…Continue Reading Julian Eltinge: Vaudeville’s Most Famous Female Impersonator by David Soren

Evelyn Nesbit: Fame and Scandal by Kacie Lillejord

Vaudeville star Evelyn Nesbit was born on Christmas Day, 1884 in the village of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. Evelyn had one brother, Howard born several years later. Unfortunately, when Evelyn was just eight years old, her father passed away. His death left the family in financial ruin, and Evelyn’s mother took her children…Continue Reading Evelyn Nesbit: Fame and Scandal by Kacie Lillejord