Category: Story

Doreen Rae: Fanchon and Marco Star by David Soren

“ Feature movies were often accompanied by Fanchon and Marco prologues known as “Fanchon and Marco Ideas”, theme shows like this one known as “Baby Songs” Pearl Hoff’s family came to Long Beach from Toronto. She first performed at age five as “Lil” Miss Long Beach. By age seven she was performing on the Pantages…Continue Reading Doreen Rae: Fanchon and Marco Star by David Soren

Edward Albee: Controversial Father of Vaudeville by Anna Jennings

Edward Franklin Albee II was born in Machias, Maine on October 8th, 1857 to Nathan and Amanda Albee (“Deaths”). In his youth, he attended primary school in Boston, Massachusetts, where he later sold newspapers and worked as a delivery boy for a department store (“E.F. Albee”). His first exposure to show business came with an…Continue Reading Edward Albee: Controversial Father of Vaudeville by Anna Jennings

Elsie Janis: Vaudeville’s Heroine of World War I by David Soren

Elsie Janis (Born Delaware, Ohio 1-16-1889 – Died Beverly Hills, California 2-26-1956) was an American vaudevillian, Broadway superstar and World War I heroine who was once one of the most famous women in show business. While a little child she showed a gift for mimicry which was encouraged by her divorced mother Jennie, who was…Continue Reading Elsie Janis: Vaudeville’s Heroine of World War I by David Soren

Emma Carus: Vaudeville’s First Lady of the Land by David Soren

Emma Carus (March 18, 1879 Berlin, Germany – November 18, 1927, Venice, California) was the daughter of an opera singer and a classical music concert manager, although very little is certain about her early life. As a child in Berlin, she had voice training and remained with her family for some years, no doubt learning…Continue Reading Emma Carus: Vaudeville’s First Lady of the Land 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

Frank J. Sidney: The Great Sidneys in Vaudeville by David Soren

This series consists of photographs, negatives, papers, and an ad printing block, documenting the career of Frank J. Sidney. The photographs depict a circus tour in India as The Great Sidneys, a performance troupe tour in Australia in 1908, troupe portraits in Johannesburg in 1913, and some acrobatic acts. Some of the photographs are annotated….Continue Reading Frank J. Sidney: The Great Sidneys in Vaudeville by David Soren

Fred Astaire: 1930s Iconic Dancer by David Soren

The University of Arizona has a considerable collection of Fred Astaire sheet music from his earliest days partnering with sister Adele Astaire through his golden period with RKO Pictures. Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was considered the most graceful partnered dancer in vaudeville, theater and movie history. He was not, as…Continue Reading Fred Astaire: 1930s Iconic Dancer by David Soren