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Later his act featured Allen as a clumsy juggler and once his wife joined, she would act as the "straight man" to his bad juggling routine.
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His original act featured Allen as a ventriloquist, the comedy coming from his lack of talent (at one point the dummy would fall apart). Juggler and comedian who also performed in a comic duo with his wife, Portland Hoffa (Janu– December 25, 1990). She toured in American vaudeville from 1916 to 19 to 1920. After performing it first at London's Palace Theatre, in March 1908, she appeared at New York's Palace Theatre January 20, 1910. He also swallowed and regurgitated nuts and live goldfish.Ī dancer, Allan created the famous "Salome Dance", a dance of her own creation. After regurgitating the kerosene and setting it ablaze, he would put out the flames with the regurgitated water. Regurgitator, billed as "The Egyptian Enigma", who performed an act where he swallowed kerosene followed by water. Russell would become one of the greatest of circus music composers. The group performed a comedy act with some blackface but also performed virtuosic feats on their instruments. It was Newton who first formed the act, called "The Exposition Four", which consisted of Newton, Woodruff, James Brady and Willie Patten.
#Artful yarn vaudeville tv
He is the father of TV and film actor Alan Alda.Įuphonium virtuoso and musician who performed in a novelty musical act with his brothers, Newton and Woodruff. After working in vaudeville and burlesque, Alda appeared on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for the role of Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. After vaudeville, Albertson worked in burlesque, on Broadway and in Hollywood, winning a Tony Award, an Emmy Award and an Academy Award.Īctor, singer and dancer whose vaudeville career began in earnest after winning a talent contest. Perhaps his most notable song is "Dinah", which has been covered by such artists as Bing Crosby, the Mills Brothers and Fats Waller.Īctor, comedian, dancer and singer. Pianist and songwriter, Akst accompanied singers including Al Jolson, Nora Bayes and Frank Fay. Ahern told jokes and performed rope tricks while his wife, using a Mexican accent, sang and danced. He wrote for the stage and Hollywood and composed the song, " Happy Days Are Here Again" with lyrics by Jack Yellen.Ĭowboy comedian and entertainer who performed in a comic duo with his wife, Gladys Reese.
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Ager worked in vaudeville prior to 1910 as an accompanist. One of her best known roles was as Aunt Martha in the play, Arsenic and Old Lace. Adair usually played mothers and elderly aunts onstage following her New York debut in 1922. Singing comedienne with piano accompanist she was the lead female performer in Bombo with Al Jolson.Īctress of the legitimate stage who appeared in vaudeville in a sketch, Maggie Taylor, Waitress. The duo went on to work in radio and film.Īctress known primarily for her work on film and as the first wife of Rudolf Valentino. Later, he began working as a comic "straight man." Abbott and Costello met around 1929 and possibly performed together in vaudeville in the very early 1930s. Abbott began working in vaudeville in 1918, producing a "tab show" on the Gus Sun circuit with his wife. A vaudeville performer is sometimes known as a "vaudevillian".Ĭomic duo consisting of William (Bud) Abbott (Octo– April 24, 1974) and Lou Costello (Ma– March 3, 1959).
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#Artful yarn vaudeville series
Vaudeville took the form of a series of separate, unrelated acts each featuring a different types of performance, including classical and popular musical acts, dance performances, comedy, animal acts, magic and illusions, female and male impersonators, acrobatic and athletic feats, one-act plays or scenes from plays, lectures, minstrels, or even short films. Developing from many sources, including saloon shows, minstrel shows, freak shows, dime museums, British pantomimes, and other popular forms of entertainment, vaudeville became one of the most popular types of entertainment in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Vaudeville was a style of variety entertainment predominant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The source in the citation included with each entry confirms their appearance and cites information in the performance notes section. Inclusion on this list indicates that the subject appeared at least once on the North American vaudeville stage during its heyday between 18. This is a partial list of vaudeville performers.
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