Sometimes a great vaudeville star will be so forgotten and so lost in the mist of time that it is difficult to find out anything about him or her. In the case of JESSIE MAE HALL, THE DAINTY DOLL COMEDIENNE, I became so intrigued with the sheet music I had that I had to find…Continue Reading Jessie Mae Hall: The Dainty Doll Comedienne (Including May Ward and Her 8 Dresden Dolls, Pauline Hall, Blanche Bates and Al Trahern by David Soren
Category: Story
Jimmy Durante: The Great Schnozzola by David Soren
Jimmy Durante (New York City, February 10, 1893 – Santa Monica, California, January 29, 1980) was a unique entertainer and reportedly one of the kindest, sweetest people at the top of the entertainment world. He was an accomplished although self-taught ragtime piano player with a singing voice that sounded like a pneumatic drill glossing over…Continue Reading Jimmy Durante: The Great Schnozzola by David Soren
Joe Cook: The One-Man Vaudeville Show by David Soren
Of all the forgotten geniuses of vaudeville, Joe Cook (born Joseph Lopez in Evansville, Indiana 1890 – died New York State, May 15, 1959) is arguably the greatest. A master of versatility, he could sing, dance, act, juggle Indian clubs, perform acrobatics, rotate another human with his feet while lying on his back, tightrope-walk, mime,…Continue Reading Joe Cook: The One-Man Vaudeville Show by David Soren
Joe E. Lewis: King of the Nightclub by Christopher B. Vasquez-Wright
Joe E. Lewis, king comedian of the nightclub circuit, was born January 12, 1902 and died June 4, 1971. As portrayed in his 1957 biographic film titled, The Joker is Wild, Mr. Lewis started out as a popular crooner in a gang-owned speakeasy during the prohibition years of the 1920’s. He was so successful that…Continue Reading Joe E. Lewis: King of the Nightclub by Christopher B. Vasquez-Wright
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
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)
Eddie Cantor: Vaudeville’s Most Versatile “Kid” by David Soren
Eddie Cantor (New York, January 11, 1892 – Beverly Hills, California October 10, 1964) was one of the most popular, enduring entertainers of the 20th century who was famous for vaudeville, Broadway, records, movies and television. He is the only entertainer to have been so successful in all of these media over such a substantial…Continue Reading Eddie Cantor: Vaudeville’s Most Versatile “Kid” by David Soren