While the initial origins of vaudeville are obscure, historians acknowledge that the opening of Tony Pastor's Fourteenth Street Theatre in New York City on 24 October 1881 marks the beginning of American vaudeville. Pastor had refined the rough variety acts into something wholesome enough for women and children. Other theatre owners quickly picked up on Pastor's new style of vaude and theatres began springing up like weeds and would continue in a quick pace until the 1920s. Vaudeville kept the pace up as well reaching its height around 1915. These heights included an industrialization of the business of vaudeville. Following this climax, vaudeville began to struggle with competition from film and in the following decade, radio. These mediums competed not only for audiences, but talent as well. Towards the end of the 1920s, vaudeville theatres began to be converted to cinemas or closed altogether with entire circuits. After the blow dealt the world by the economic downturn of the Great Depression, vaudeville's pulse quickly weakened. Just as historians mark the date of the "birth" of vaude, the date of its death is marked as well. New York's Palace Theatre on Broadway, was the palace of vaudeville; a place where only the greatest of vaude's performers performed. On 16 November 1932, the last vaudeville bill was played there and the Palace became a full-time movie house. Vaudeville did continue to struggle on, but it never again reached the heights attained in 1915.[1]
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Performance Notes |
Reference |
Wilton Lackaye |
30 September 1862 |
22 August 1932 |
American |
Actor. |
[2] |
Bert Lahr |
13 August 1895 |
4 December 1967 |
American |
Comic actor. |
[3] |
Bessie Lamb |
c. 1878 |
30 October 1907 |
American |
Singer and mimic. Credited with bringing ragtime to vaudeville. |
[4] |
Professor Lamberti |
1891 |
13 March 1950 |
American |
Comic musician. |
[5] |
Dorothy Lamour |
10 December 1914 |
22 September 1996 |
American |
Actress in a Fanchon & Marco revue. |
[6] |
Burt Lancaster |
2 November 1913 |
20 October 1994 |
American |
Academy Award-winning actor, who started out in his teens an acrobat with Nick Cravat, Lang & Cravat. |
[7] |
Harry Langdon |
15 June 1884 |
22 December 1944 |
American |
Comedian who formed an act called "Johnny's New Car" with Rose Francis in 1903 and toured the Orpheum Circuit until finding greater success in silent films. |
[8] |
Lillie Langtry |
13 October 1853 |
12 February 1929 |
British |
Actress, widely known as the mistress of Edward VII. |
[9] |
Grace LaRue |
14 June 1895 |
17 July 1971 |
American |
Dancer and singer. Performed with a group of pickaninnies in an act called "Grace Larue and Her Inky-Dinks." |
[10] [11] |
Jesse L. Lasky |
13 September 1880 |
13 January 1958 |
American |
Actor who later co-founded Paramount Pictures with Adolph Zukor. |
[12] |
Alfred Latell |
|
|
American |
Animal impersonator. |
[13] |
Sir Harry Lauder |
4 August 1870 |
26 February 1950 |
Scottish |
Singer and comedian from the British Music Hall who made 22 tours of the US. |
[14] |
Laurel and Hardy |
16 June 1890 |
23 February 1956 |
British |
Comic duo with Stan Laurel (16 June 1890 - 23 February 1956) and Oliver Hardy (18 January 1892 - 7 August 1957). Both started in vaudeville and started their act there before going into film. |
[15] |
Joe Laurie, Jr. |
1892 |
29 April 1954 |
American |
Monologist and comedian. |
[16] [17] |
Al Lee |
|
|
American |
Comedian and "straight man" for Eddie Cantor. |
[18] |
Gypsy Rose Lee |
9 February 1911 |
26 April 1970 |
American |
Dancer and actress. |
[19] |
Jane and Kathryn Lee |
|
|
Scottish |
Sister act with Jane (1912 - 20 April 1957) and Kathryn (b.1909). |
[20] |
Lila Lee |
25 July 1901 |
13 November 1973 |
American |
Actress. |
[21] |
Richard LeGrand |
29 August 1882 |
29 June 1963 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Lillian Leitzel |
1891? |
15 February 1931 |
Hungarian |
Aerialist. After being trained as a concert pianist, Leitzel joined her mother's aerial act, the "Leamy Ladies." She arrived in the United States in 1910 and worked in vaude for sometime, creating a sister aerial act, the "Leitzel Sisters." Leitzel died after falling during a performance in Copenhagen. |
[22] |
Charles LeMaire |
1897 |
1985 |
American |
A former vaudeville performer, LeMaire began working on costumes for Broadway shows in 1921. While in New York, he designed costumes for the Ziegfeld Follies, George White's Scandals and Earl Carroll's Vanities. By the mid 40's he was a costume exec and wardrobe director with Twentieth Century Fox where he was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won 3. |
[23] |
Dan Leno |
20 December 1860 |
31 October 1904 |
British |
Considered one of the greatest British Music Hall comedians who first toured the US in 1897. |
[24] |
Eddie Leonard |
18 October 1883 |
29 July 1941 |
American |
Blackface minstrel. |
[25] |
Ruggero Leoncavallo |
23 April 1857 |
9 August 1919 |
Italian |
Composer and conductor. Toured with an Italian symphony orchestra. |
[26] |
Mervyn LeRoy |
15 October 1900 |
13 September 1987 |
American |
Singer. Later a Hollywood director and producer. |
[27] |
Stella LeSaint |
17 December 1881 |
21 September 1948 |
American |
Actress with her own vaudeville troupe, Stella Razeto and Company. |
|
Joan Leslie |
26 January 1925 |
|
American |
Singer, began performing at the age of nine with her sisters in an act called, "The Three Brodels." She worked briefly as a model and by 1936 was in Hollywood as a child star billed as Joan Brodel. In 1940, she signed with Warner Bros. as an ingenue. |
[28] |
Lew Leslie |
1886 |
1963 |
American |
Singer. |
|
The Great Lester |
1878 |
|
American |
Singer, pianist, comedian and actor. |
[29] |
Ethel Levy |
22 November 1880 |
27 February 1955 |
American |
Actress and singer. Wife of George M. Cohan from 1900-1906. |
[30] |
Ted Lewis |
6 June 1890 |
25 August 1971 |
American |
Bandleader, clarinetist and singer known for using the phrase, "Is everybody happy?" He appeared in small-time vaudeville before 1917. He appeared in a singing duo ("Giesler & Lewis") and later toured with his dance band, appearing at the Palace in 1919, billed as "The Jazz King." He appeared at the Palace again in the late 1920s. |
[31] [32] [33] |
Tom Lewis |
|
|
American |
Comedian. |
[34] |
Winnie Lightner |
17 September 1900 |
5 March 1971 |
American |
Singer known as "The Song-a-Minute Girl." |
[35] |
Beatrice Lillie |
29 May 1894 |
20 January 1989 |
Canadian |
Comedienne, known for her absurd double entendres. |
[36] |
John Lind |
1877 |
1940 |
American |
Female impersonator, often billed as "Lind?." |
[37] |
Little Jack Little |
28 May 1900 |
9 April 1956 |
British |
Bandleader, singer and songwriter. |
[20] |
Little Tich |
21 July 1867 |
10 February 1928 |
British |
Comedian, patter-singer and dancer. |
[38] |
Mary Livingstone |
23 June 1905 |
30 June 1983 |
American |
Comedienne and wife of Jack Benny. |
|
Alice Lloyd |
20 October 1873 |
16 November 1949 |
British |
Singer and sister of Marie Lloyd. |
[39] |
Marie Lloyd |
12 February 1870 |
7 October 1922 |
British |
Singer. |
[40] |
Cecilia Loftus |
22 October 1876 |
12 July 1943 |
British |
Actress, mimic and singer. |
[41] |
Guy Lombardo |
19 June 1902 |
5 November 1977 |
Canadian |
Bandleader, best known for his "Auld Lang Syne" every New Year's Eve. |
[42] |
Long Track Sam |
1885 |
|
Chinese |
Magician and acrobat. |
[43] |
Vincent Lopez |
30 December 1895 |
20 September 1975 |
American |
Pianist and bandleader. |
[44] |
Montagu Love |
15 March 1877 |
17 May 1943 |
British |
Actor. |
|
Edmund Lowe |
3 March 1890 |
21 April 1971 |
American |
Actor. He later married vaudevillian, Lilyan Tashman. |
|
Ed Lowry |
1 February 1898 |
17 August 1983 |
American |
Comedian and saxophonist. |
[45] |
Nick Lucas |
22 August 1897 |
28 July 1982 |
American |
Singer and guitarist. |
[46] |
Sam Lucas |
1850 |
5 January 1916 |
American |
Minstrel, actor, singer and comedian. He and his wife were among the first African-Americans to play vaudeville. |
[47] |
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Performance Notes |
Reference |
Moms Mabley |
19 March 1894 |
23 May 1975 |
American |
Comedienne billed as "The Funniest Woman in the World." |
|
June MacCloy |
2 June 1909 |
5 May 2005 |
American |
Actress and singer who appeared in the Earl Carroll Vanities and the George White Scandals. Later she appeared in vaudeville. |
|
Jeanette MacDonald |
9 October 1890 |
27 September 1944 |
American |
Singer and actress. |
|
Machinson Sisters |
|
|
British |
British take on the Barrison Sisters. |
|
Willard Mack |
18 September 1873 |
18 November 1934 |
Canadian |
Actor. |
[48] |
Violet MacMillan |
4 March 1887 |
29 December 1953 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Fred MacMurray |
30 August 1908 |
5 November 1991 |
American |
Actor, got his start by touring with the California Collegiates as a saxophonist. |
[49] |
Uncle Dave Macon |
7 October 1870 |
22 March 1952 |
American |
Banjo player, singer, songwriter and comedian. In 1916, a talent scout for the Loew's circuit heard him play in Birmingham, Alabama and booked him to tour the circuit in the South. |[50] |
Will Mahoney |
5 February 1894 |
8 February 1967 |
American |
Comedian and xylophonist. |
[51] |
Marjorie Main |
24 February 1890 |
10 April 1975 |
American |
Actress and comedienne. Later a character actress in many films. |
[52] |
Boots Mallory |
22 October 1913 |
1 December 1958 |
American |
Dancer and later a Ziegfeld girl. Mallory debuted in vaudeville as the banjo player for a girls' band at the age of 12. By the age of 16, she was working as a dancer and she made her screen debut in 1932. |
[53] |
Edna Malone |
1 February 1899 |
|
Canadian |
Dancer. |
|
Leon Mandrake |
1911 |
1993 |
Canadian |
Magician. |
|
Martha Mansfield |
14 July 1899 |
30 November 1923 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Rabbit Maranville |
11 November 1891 |
5 January 1954 |
American |
Baseball player who appeared in vaude in an act with Eddy McHugh. |
[54] |
Fay Marbre |
|
|
American |
Singer and dancer. |
[55] |
Marceline and Sea Lion |
|
|
British |
An act with a sea lion and its trainer. The act appeared in the mid-1920s. |
[56] |
Pigmeat Markham |
18 April 1904 |
31 December 1981 |
American |
Comedian, singer, dancer and actor. |
|
Rube Marquard |
9 October 1886 |
1 June 1980 |
American |
Baseball player who appeared in vaude in 1911 with Annie Kent. He appeared twice with Blossom Seeley and later with Billy Dooley. |
[57] |
Sara Martin |
18 June 1884 |
24 May 1955 |
American |
Blues singer. Martin toured vaude in the Chicago area around 1915 and then New York in 1922. |
[58] |
Marx Brothers |
|
|
American |
Comic team of five brothers: Chico Marx (22 March 1887 - 11 October 1961), Harpo Marx (23 November 1888 - 28 September 1964), Groucho Marx (2 October 1890 - 19 August 1977), Gummo Marx (23 October 1893 - 21 April 1977) and Zeppo Marx (25 February 1901 - 29 November 1979). Gummo left the act in 1918 to enlist in the war effort. Stage hits included 1924's I'll Say She Is, 1925's The Cocoanuts (adapted to film in 1929), and 1928's Animal Crackers (adapted to film in 1930). Zeppo left the act in 1933 (after scoring several more hit films with his Brothers (including Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and Duck Soup) to become an agent. Groucho, Chico, and Harpo then signed with MGM in 1935 to make A Night at the Opera. |
[59] |
Will Maston |
1903 |
1975 |
American |
Dancer and singer. Toured with Sammy Davis, Sr., father of Sammy Davis, Jr.. |
[60] |
Christy Mathewson |
12 August 1880 |
7 October 1925 |
American |
Baseball player who appeared in vaude with catcher Chief Meyers in an act with May Tulley called Curves. |
[57] |
Virginia Mayo |
30 November 1920 |
17 January 2005 |
American |
Actress. Appeared in an act with Andy Mayo. Best known for her roles in Warner Bros. film noirs such as White Heat. |
|
Winsor McCay |
26 September 1867(?) |
26 July 1934 |
American |
Cartoonist and animator who toured vaude with his creation, Gertie the Dinosaur. |
[61] |
Bessie McCoy |
1888 |
16 August 1931 |
American |
Singer and dancer known as "The Yama-Yama Girl." |
[62] |
Paul McCullough |
1883 |
25 March 1936 |
American |
Comedian who teamed up with Bobby Clark. |
[63] |
Jimmy McFadden |
|
|
American |
Tap dancer. |
|
Owen McGiverney |
4 May 1884 |
31 July 1967 |
British |
Quick-change artist. |
[64] |
Terry McGovern |
9 March 1880 |
22 February 1918 |
American |
Boxer who held world bantamweight and featherweight titles. |
[65] |
Tex McGuire |
29 February 1909 |
2 August 1992 |
American |
Guitar, banjo and dobro player. |
|
McIntyre and Heath |
|
|
American |
Minstrel duo composed of James McIntyre (1857 - 1937) and Thomas Heath (1852 - 1938). |
[66] |
Victor McLaglen |
10 December 1886 |
7 November 1959 |
British-American |
Academy Award-winning actor, appeared also as a boxer and acrobat. Later became famous in films working as a character actor mostly under John Ford's direction. |
[67] |
Aimee Semple McPherson |
9 October 1890 |
27 September 1944 |
American |
Evangelist. |
[68] |
Raquel Mellar |
10 March 1888 |
26 July 1962 |
Spanish |
Chanteuse. |
[69] |
Rose Melville |
30 January 1873 |
8 October 1946 |
American |
Singing-comedienne. |
[70] |
Adolphe Menjou |
18 February 1890 |
29 October 1963 |
American |
Actor and comedian, later known as a character actor in films such as the original A Star Is Born. |
|
Ethel Merman |
16 January 1909 |
15 February 1984 |
American |
Singer and actress, possibly the most the pre-eminent star in Broadway musicals. |
[71] |
Chief Meyers |
29 July 1880 |
25 July 1971 |
American |
Baseball player who appeared in vaude with catcher Chief Meyers in an act with May Tulley called Curves. |
[57] |
Charles B. Middleton |
3 October 1874 |
22 April 1949 |
American |
Character actor who often played commanding or villainous characters in films in the 1920s. |
[72] |
Lizzie Miles |
31 March 1895 |
17 March 1963 |
American |
Blues singer. Toured the south in theatres and circuses. She also toured with minstrel shows. |
[73] |
Miller and Lyles |
|
|
American |
Comic duo and well known comic writers. Duo was composed of Flourney E. Miller (14 April 1887 - 6 June 1971) and Aubrey L. Lyles (1884 - 28 July 1932). |
[74] |
Emmett Miller |
2 February 1900 |
1962 |
American |
Minstrel and singer noted for his yodel-like falsetto voice. |
|
Marilyn Miller |
1 September 1898 |
7 April 1936 |
American |
Dancer, starred in several Ziegfeld shows such as Sally, Sunny, and Rosalie where she played the all-American girl to full extent. Also appeared in numerous editions of the Ziegfeld Follies. |
[75] |
Mills Brothers |
|
|
American |
Vocal quartet with John Jr. (1911 - 1936) basso and guitarist, Herbert ( Apr. 1912 - 12 April 1989) tenor, Harry (19 August 1913 - 20 June 1982) baritone, and Donald (29 April 1915 - 13 November 1999) lead tenor. The famed vocal group began in small-time vaude and worked their way up to the big-time, appearing at the Palace the week of 23 January 1931. |
[76] [77] |
Florence Mills |
25 January 1896 |
1 November 1927 |
American |
Comedienne, singer and dancer. |
[78] |
Borrah Minnevitch and His Harmonica Rascals |
|
|
Russian |
Borrah Minnevitch put together this act with midgets playing harmonicas. This act is credited with popularizing the harmonica in America. |
[79] |
Rhea Mitchell |
10 December 1890 |
16 September 1957 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Tom Mix |
6 January 1880 |
12 October 1940 |
American |
Sharpshooter who joined the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show in 1909. He appeared in Western films starting in 1910 and when he appeared at the Hippodrome in New York, 1928, he broke all attendance records. |
[80] [81] [82] |
Marshall Montgomery |
1886 |
30 September 1942 |
American |
Comic musician and ventriloquist. |
[83] |
Montrose and Allen |
|
|
American |
Comic duo consisting of Billy Allen and his wife, Belle Montrose (23 April 1886 - 26 October 1963). |
[84] [85] |
Florence Moore |
1886 |
23 March 1935 |
American |
Singer-comedienne. First female emcee at the Palace. |
[86] |
Tim Moore |
9 December 1887 |
13 December 1958 |
American |
Comedian and actor. |
|
Victor Moore |
24 February 1876 |
23 July 1962 |
American |
Comedian, later became famous as a character actor on both stage and screen. |
[87] |
Polly Moran |
28 June 1883 |
25 January 1952 |
American |
Actress and comedienne, best known for her films opposite Marie Dressler. |
[88] |
Mantan Moreland |
3 September 1902 |
28 September 1973 |
American |
Actor and comedian, performed on the "Chitlin Circuit" for many years. |
|
Helen Morgan |
2 August 1900 |
8 August 1941 |
American |
Singer and actress, known for reinvigorating the torch song with her performance in Show Boat and for leading a somewhat tragic life. |
[89] |
Clara Morris |
17 March 1849 |
20 November 1925 |
Canadian |
Actress. |
[90] |
Johnnie Morris |
15 June 1887 |
7 October 1969 |
American |
Comedian and actor. |
|
Lily Morris |
1884 |
3 October 1952 |
British |
Singing-comedienne. |
[91] |
Ernie Morrison |
20 December 1912 |
24 July 1989 |
American |
Dancer. |
|
Lee Morse |
1904 |
16 December 1954 |
American |
Blues singer known for her trademark yodeling. |
[92] |
Charles Morton |
28 January 1907 |
26 October 1966 |
American |
Actor. |
|
James J. Morton |
25 December 1861 |
10 April 1938 |
American |
Comedian known as "The Boy Comic." |
[92] |
Jelly Roll Morton |
20 September 1885 |
10 July 1941 |
American |
Pianist, bandleader and composer, one of the founders of modern day jazz. |
|
Mosconi Brothers |
|
|
American |
Dance duo consisting of brothers Louis (d. 1 August 1969) and Charles Mosconi (d. 1 March 1975). |
[93] |
Bennie Moten |
13 November 1894 |
2 April 1935 |
American |
Jazz pianist and bandleader of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra. Count Basie was recruited to play piano with the band in 1929. Moten toured on the TOBA circuits. |
[94] [95] |
Ona Munson |
16 June 1903 |
11 February 1955 |
American |
Singer and actress. |
[96] |
Billy Murray |
25 May 1877 |
17 August 1954 |
American |
Singer. |
|
J. Harold Murray |
17 February 1891 |
11 December 1940 |
American |
Singer. |
[97] |
Jan Murray |
4 October 1916 |
2 July 2006 |
American |
Comedian, later known for his appearances on The Hollywood Squares and many TV variety shows. |
|
Ken Murray |
14 July 1903 |
12 October 1988 |
American |
Actor and singer. Served as the emcee at the Palace. |
[98] |
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Performance Notes |
Reference |
Alfred Naess |
26 April 1977 |
6 July 1955 |
Norwegian |
Speedskater who toured with Austrian skater, Frieda Meyer (c. 1890 - 1976). |
|
Conrad Nagel |
16 March 1897 |
24 February 1970 |
American |
Actor, began as an acrobat in vaude but switched professions. Later became a matinee idol once signed to MGM. |
[99] |
John Nash |
1830 |
1901 |
British |
British Music Hall performer, first to tour the US. |
[100] |
Mary Nash |
15 August 1885 |
3 December 1976 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Carrie Nation |
25 November 1846 |
9 June 1911 |
American |
Leader in the Temperance movement. |
[101] |
Alla Nazimova |
22 May 1879 |
14 July 1945 |
Russian |
Actress, known for her flamboyant acting style and offscreen life. |
[102] |
Harriet Nelson |
18 July 1909 |
2 October 1994 |
American |
Singer and actress. Wife of Ozzie Nelson and mother of Ricky Nelson. |
|
Ozzie Nelson |
20 March 1906 |
3 June 1975 |
American |
Bandleader for the Ozzie Nelson band. Husband of Harriet Nelson (the band's singer) and father of Ricky Nelson. |
|
Evelyn Nesbit |
25 December 1884 |
17 January 1967 |
American |
Dancer. Nesbit was the focal point of a love triangle between her lover, architect Stanford White and her husband, millionaire Harry K. Thaw. Following White's shooting death at the hands of Thaw, Nesbit became a popular attraction onstage. |
[103] |
Alfred Newman |
17 March 1900 |
17 February 1970 |
American |
Pianist. Later a film composer, conductor and music director. |
|
Fred Niblo |
6 January 1874 |
11 November 1948 |
American |
Minstrel and blackface monologuist. Niblo began touring with George M. Cohan's troupe and appeared in some of his Broadway shows. After marrying Cohan's sister, Josephine, Niblo moved to Hollywood where he worked with Thomas Ince as an actor and moved on to directing. His wife, Josephine died in 1916 under odd circumstances creating a feud between Cohan and Niblo. |[103] [104] [105] |
Nicholas Brothers |
|
|
American |
Tap dancers, brothers Fayard ( 20 October 1914 - 24 January 2006) and Harold (27 March 1921 - 3 July 2000). Found greater fame appearing in such movies as Stormy Weather and Sun Valley Serenade. |
[106] |
Alice Nielsen |
1872 |
1943 |
American |
Operatic singer. |
|
Marian Nixon |
20 October 1904 |
13 February 1983 |
American |
Former vaudeville chorus girl who entered films in 1922. |
[107] |
Karyl Norman |
1896 |
23 July 1947 |
American |
Female impersonator billed as "The Creole Fashion Plate." |
[108] [109] |
Bobby North |
2 February 1884 |
13 August 1976 |
American |
Singer, dancer, actor and Jewish comedian. |
[110] |
Ruby Norton |
|
|
American |
Singer accompanied by Clarence Senna. |
[111] |
Red Norvo |
31 March 1908 |
6 April 1999 |
American |
Xylophonist with Paul Whiteman. |
[112] |
Jack Norworth |
5 January 1879 |
1 September 1959 |
American |
Singer and actor. Husband of Nora Bayes. |
[113] |
Annie Oakley |
13 August 1860 |
3 November 1926 |
American |
Famed sharpshooter, later the subject of the Broadway musical and film Annie Get Your Gun. |
|
Buck O'Brien |
9 May 1882 |
25 July 1959 |
American |
Baseball player who appeared with the Boston Red Sox Quartette in 1912. The quartet included Hugh Bradley, Marty Hale and Bill Lyons. |
[57] |
Donald O'Connor |
28 August 1925 |
27 September 2003 |
American |
Actor and dancer, was a member of his family's vaudeville act. |
[114] |
Geoffrey O'Hara |
2 February 1882 |
31 January 1967 |
Canadian |
Singer and songwriter. |
[115] |
Walter O'Keefe |
18 August 1900 |
26 June 1983 |
American |
Singer and songwriter. |
|
Chauncey Olcott |
21 July 1858 |
18 March 1932 |
American |
Actor, minstrel, and monologist. |
[116] |
Charley O'Leary |
15 October 1882 |
6 January 1941 |
American |
Former baseball player who had an act with Germany Schaefer. |
[117] |
Olsen and Johnson |
|
|
American |
Comic duo with Ole Olsen (6 November 1892 - 26 January 1963) and Chic Johnson (15 March 1891 - 28 February 1962). Biggest success came with the revue Hellzapoppin'. |
[118] |
Patrick H. O'Malley Jr. |
3 September 1890 |
21 May 1966 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Nance O'Neill |
1874 |
1965 |
American |
Actress. |
[48] |
Original Creole Orchestra |
|
|
American |
Early jazz band also known as the Original Creole Band and the Original Creole Jass Band. The 11 member band included the founder, Bill Johnson (jazz musician) (10 August 1872 - 3 December 1972), on mandolin and cornetist Freddie Keppard (27 February 1890 - 15 July 1933). In 1916, Victor offered to record the orchestra, which would have made them the first jazz band to record, but they refused. |
[119] |
Michael O'Shea |
17 March 1906 |
4 December 1973 |
American |
Toured with Jack Johnson's vaudeville show in 1923 and worked on the legit stage. O'Shea worked as a leading man in films in the 1940s and 1950s. |
[120] |
Jack Osterman |
8 April 1902 |
8 June 1939 |
American |
Comedian known as the "Bad Boy of Broadway" In the 1920s Osterman was earning $1750 a week as a headliner and revue star. He played the Palace in March, 1924 and April, 1932. He also appeared in a number of musical comedies. |
[121] |
Jack Owens, The Cruising Crooner |
17 October 1912 |
26 January 1982 |
American |
Singer. |
|
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Performance Notes |
Reference |
Earl Palmer |
25 October 1924 |
|
American |
Singer and dancer who toured in vaudeville with Ida Cox. In 1947, Palmer took up the drums and became a noted drummer. |
[122] |
Harry Palmer |
12 July 1889 |
5 October 1972 |
American |
Actor and comedian in a comic duo with Jo Hayden, Palmer and Hayden. |
Antonio Pantojas |
25 November 1948 |
|
Puerto Rican |
Actor, comedian, dancer, vaudeville performer, and female impersonator. |
Eddie Parkes |
1893 |
24 July 1985 |
American |
Song and dance man. |
[123] |
James Parrott |
2 August 1898 |
10 May 1939 |
American |
Singer and comedian. |
|
Tony Pastor |
28 May 1837 |
26 August 1908 |
American |
Singer and actor. Credited as one of the founders of vaudeville. |
[124] |
Miss Patricola |
1886 |
23 May 1965 |
American |
Singer; billed as Miss Patricola. Full name Isabel or Isabella Patricola. |
[125] |
Hank Patterson |
9 October 1888 |
23 August 1975 |
American |
Pianist and actor. |
|
Pauline |
1874 |
11 November 1942 |
American |
Stage hypnotist who was billed simply as Pauline. |
[126] |
Edna Payne |
5 December 1891 |
31 January 1953 |
American |
Actress. |
|
John Payne |
23 May 1912 |
6 December 1989 |
American |
Singer, later became one of Fox Studio's frequent leading men in their movie musicals. |
|
Eddie Peabody |
19 February 1902 |
7 November 1970 |
American |
Banjo player. |
[126] |
Jack Pearl |
29 October 1894 |
25 December 1984 |
American |
Comedian once teamed with Ben Bard. |
[127] |
Peerless Quartet |
|
|
American |
All-male vocal quartet. |
|
Joe Penner |
5 January 1879 |
1 September 1959 |
Hungarian-American |
Comedian, known for his catchphrase "Wanna buy a duck?". |
[42] |
Ann Pennington |
23 December 1892 |
7 November 1971 |
American |
Dancer known as "The Girl With the Dimpled Knees." |
[128] |
Jack Pepper |
14 June 1902 |
1 April 1979 |
American |
A juvenile comedian, Pepper appeared in vaudeville in the mid 1920's with his sisters, Helen and Winnie Mae and Frank Salt in an act called "Salt and Pepper." In 1929, Pepper made his film debut in an MGM short film. |
[129] |
Olga Petrova |
10 May 1884 |
30 November 1977 |
British |
Known for her undefinable act which might include acting, recitations or singing. |
[130] |
Molly Picon |
1 June 1898 |
5 April 1992 |
American |
Actress, known for her Yiddish songs and skits and close ties to the Jewish community. |
[131] |
Polaire |
13 May 1879 |
14 October 1939 |
French |
Singer and actress. |
[132] |
Daphne Pollard |
1892 |
1978 |
Australian |
Comedienne and actress. |
[133] |
Rosa Ponselle |
22 January 1897 |
25 May 1981 |
American |
Operatic soprano. She toured with her sister, mezzo-soprano Carmella, as "Those Tailored Italian Girls." |
[134] |
Eleanor Powell |
21 November 1912 |
11 February 1982 |
American |
Dancer and actress who started with Gus Edwards. Later found greater fame after signing with MGM. |
[96] |
Evelyn Preer |
16 July 1896 |
27 November 1932 |
American |
Singer and actress. |
|
George E. Price |
5 January 1900 |
10 May 1964 |
American |
Song and dance man. |
[135] |
Kate Price |
13 February 1872 |
4 January 1943 |
Irish |
Actress who toured vaudeville with her husband, Joseph Price Ludwig. |
|
Primrose and West |
|
|
American |
Blackface song and dance team composed of George H. Primrose (12 November 1852 - 23 July 1919) and Billy West. |
[136] |
F. F. Proctor |
1851 |
4 September 1929 |
American |
Juggler. Later Proctor would be a major vaudeville impresario. |
[137] |
Eva Puck |
27 November 1892 |
25 October 1979 |
American |
Singer-comedienne and dancer. |
[138] |
Mae Questel |
13 September 1908 |
4 January 1998 |
American |
Actress and comedienne, best known as the voices of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. |
[139] |
Eddie Quillan |
31 March 1907 |
19 January 1990 |
American |
Actor with family act the age 7. |
[140] |
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Performance Notes |
Reference |
Jackie Rae |
14 May 1922 |
5 October 2006 |
Canadian |
Singer and songwriter, began performing with his brother, Saul (31 December 1914 - 9 January 1999) and sister, Grace, at the age of three. The three performed as The Three Little Raes of Sunshine. |
|
George Raft |
26 September 1895 |
24 November 1980 |
American |
Actor, began as a dancer in the Orpheum and Keith circuits and in Texas Guinan's nightclub. |
[141] |
Ma Rainey |
September 1882 |
22 December 1939 |
American |
Famed blues singer. |
[142] |
Esther Ralston |
17 September 1902 |
14 January 1994 |
American |
Actress and comedienne who made her appearance in her parent's act at the age of 2. At 14, she made her screen debut and following a few small roles eventually became one of America's highest paid stars of the era. Appeared at the Palace the week of 14 June 1930. |
[81] [143] |
Majorie Rambeau |
15 July 1889 |
6 July 1970 |
American |
Actress. |
[48] |
Sally Rand |
2 January 1904 |
31 August 1979 |
American |
Dancer known for her famous fan dance which had Rand arrested several times, most notably at the 1933 World's Fair. Rand also danced with a bubble and dressed as Lady Godiva, horse and all. |
[144] |
Doris Rankin |
1880 |
1946 |
American |
Actress who appeared in a tab sketch of How Do You Know? in 1925. She was the daughter of McKee Rankin and wife of Lionel Barrymore. |
|
Albertina Rasch |
|
2 October 1967 |
Austrian |
Dancer who headed a ballet troupe. |
[145] |
Enrico Rastelli |
19 December 1896 |
13 December 1931 |
Italian |
Juggler and acrobat. |
[146] |
Don Raye |
16 March 1909 |
29 January 1985 |
American |
Song and dance man and songwriter. |
|
Martha Raye |
27 August 1916 |
19 October 1994 |
American |
Comedienne and actress born in Butte, Montana where her vaudevillian parents had been stranded. Raye debuted with her parents at the age of 3 and by 13 was touring as a singer in a band. Raye first began working in film in 1935. |
[147] |
Ada Reeve |
3 March 1874 |
25 September 1966 |
British |
Light comedienne and singer. |
[148] |
Al Reeves |
30 May 1865 |
26 February 1940 |
American |
Singer and banjo player. |
[149] |
Wallace Reid |
15 April 1891 |
18 January 1923 |
American |
Toured in a sketch called The Girl and the Ranger. |
[150] |
Francis Renault |
c. 1893 |
29 May 1955 |
American |
Female impersonator billed as "The Original Slave of Fashion." |
[151] |
The Revelers |
|
|
American |
All-male close harmony group. |
|
The Rhythm Boys |
2 May 1901 |
14 October 1977 |
American |
Male singing trio consisting of Bing Crosby (2 May 1901 - 14 October 1977), Al Rinker (20 December 1907 - 11 June 1982) and Harry Barris (24 November 1905 - 13 December 1962). The group began as a duo between Crosby and Rinker who called themselves "Two Boys and a Piano." The group began singing with Paul Whiteman and his orchestra in 1926, nearly a year after the two young men joined forces. The duo became a trio in 1927 when pianist, singer and songwriter Barris joined them. The group disbanded when Crosby left to start a solo career in 1931. |
[152] [153] |
Lieutenant Gitz Rice |
5 March 1891 |
16 October 1947 |
Canadian |
Singer and songwriter. |
[154] |
Buddy Rich |
30 September 1917 |
2 April 1987 |
American |
Drummer and bandleader who appeared in his parents vaude act before the age of 2. |
[155] |
Frank "Cannonball" Richards |
|
|
American |
Performer whose act involved taking heavy blows to his belly. |
|
Harry Richman |
10 August 1895 |
3 November 1972 |
American |
Song and dance man and songwriter. |
[156] |
Rin Tin Tin |
c. 10 September 1918 |
10 August 1932 |
|
German shepherd dog which had become famous in silent films and later in radio. Rin Tin Tin appeared at the Palace in May of 1930. |
[157] |
Blanche Ring |
24 April 1876 |
13 January 1961 |
American |
Singer and actress. |
[158] |
Thelma Ritter |
14 February 1905 |
5 February 1969 |
American |
Actress. |
[159] |
Ritz Brothers |
|
|
American |
Trio of brothers who danced and performed slapstick and acrobatic comedy. The trio was composed of Al (August 27, 1901 - December 22, 1965), Harry ((October 4, 1904 - November 17, 1985) and Jimmy Ritz ((May 22, 1907 - March 29, 1986). They were managed by their brother, George. Al won an amateur vaudeville contest as a dancer and began working the circuits followed by his brothers as each finished high school. The brothers first appeared as a team on Coney Island, 1925. They were one of the top attractions of the era and appeared in Earl Carroll's Vanities. |
[160] |
Edith Roberts |
17 September 1899 |
20 August 1935 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Joe Roberts |
2 February 1871 |
28 October 1923 |
American |
Actor who toured with his wife, Lillian Stuart Roberts, as part of a rowdy act called Roberts, Hays and Roberts. |
|
George Robey |
20 September 1869 |
29 November 1954 |
British |
British music hall actor and comedian. |
[161] |
A. Robins |
c. 1886 |
17 December 1950 |
American |
Clown novelty act. Robins later performed under the name Banana Man. |
[162] |
Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson |
25 May 1878 |
25 November 1949 |
American |
Tap dancer, who heavily influenced Fred Astaire and later appeared in many movie musicals for Fox, most notably opposite Shirley Temple. |
[163] |
Rock and White |
|
|
American |
Comic duo composed of William Rock (1875 - 27 June 1922) and Frances White (1898-24 February 1969). |
[164] |
Blossom Rock |
21 August 1895 |
14 January 1978 |
American |
Singer and actress, sister of Jeanette MacDonald and who toured initially (as Marie MacDonald) with Eve Sully. Later known for her role as Grandmama Addams on TV's The Addams Family. |
[165] |
George L. "Doc" Rockwell |
1890 |
2 March 1978 |
American |
Comedian billed as "Dr. Rockwell, Quack, Quack, Quack." |
[166] |
"Klondike Kate" Rockwell |
1873 |
1957 |
American |
Dancer. |
|
Ginger Rogers |
16 July 1911 |
25 April 1995 |
American |
Dancer, singer and actress first appearing with Eddie Foy's troupe in Fort Worth, Texas in 1925. Working as a dancer, she toured alone and later with husband, Jack Pepper, as "Ginger and Pepper" in 1928. She sang with the Eddie Lowry Band in Chicago and the Paul Asch Orchestra in New York City. Rogers's first film appearance was in a 1930 film short for Paramount Pictures. |
[167] [168] |
Will Rogers |
4 November 1879 |
15 August 1935 |
American |
Actor, singer, comedian and social commentator. Appeared in numerous editions of the Ziegfeld Follies and was considered the highlight by many. |
[169] |
Ruth Roland |
26 August 1872 |
22 September 1937 |
American |
Actress and singer. Appeared at the Palace in March, 1930 in a playlet, "Wanted." |
[81] |
B. A. Rolfe |
24 October 1879 |
23 April 1956 |
American |
Cornetist and bandleader. |
[12] |
Mickey Rooney |
23 September 1920 |
|
American |
Debuted in his parents vaude act as a midget at the age of 2 years as "Sonny Yule." Hired by an MGM talent scout n New York, the producers insisted that his mother dye his hair black and change his name to "Mickey Looney". Both of his parents disagreed and settled on Rooney. |
[170] [171] |
Pat Rooney, III |
1909 |
5 November 1975 |
American |
Comedian. |
[172] |
The Rooneys |
|
|
American |
Irish comic duo consisting of Pat Rooney, Jr. (4 July 1880 - 9 September 1962) and his wife, Marion Bent (23 December 1879 - 28 July 1940). |
[172] |
Fred Rose |
24 August 1897 |
1 December 1954 |
American |
Pianist, singer and songwriter of mostly country songs. Worked with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. |
[173] |
Harry Rose |
2 December 1893 |
10 December 1962 |
British |
Comedian. |
[174] |
Julian Rose |
1879 |
13 September 1935 |
British |
Jewish comedian. |
[175] |
Baby Rose Marie |
15 August 1923 |
|
American |
Child star and singer, later found fame on TV's The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Hollywood Squares |
[176] |
Edward Roseman |
14 May 1875 |
16 September 1957 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Lillian Roth |
13 December 1910 |
2 May 1980 |
American |
Toured with her sister, Ann as Lillian Roth & Co. or The Roth Kids from the age of 6. Roth starred in the Ziegfeld Midnight Frolics and Earl Carroll's Vanities, in the late 20s and 30s. Her autobiography I'll Cry Tomorrow later became a feature film. |
[177] [178] |
Adele Rowland |
10 July 1883 |
8 August 1971 |
American |
Singer. |
[179] |
Ruth Royce |
6 February 1893 |
7 May 1971 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Ruth Roye |
|
|
American |
Ragtime singer. |
[180] |
Benny Rubin |
2 February 1899 |
15 July 1986 |
American |
Jewish dialect comedian. |
[181] |
David Rubinoff |
1897 |
6 October 1986 |
Russian-American |
Violinist. |
[182] |
Harry Ruby |
29 October 1895 |
23 February 1974 |
American |
Pianist and songwriter. |
[84] [183] |
Yvette Rugel |
1899 |
|
American |
Singer. |
[184] |
Fred Russell |
29 September 1862 |
14 October 1957 |
British |
Ventriloquist. Credited as "The Father of Modern Ventriloquism" as the first to use a dummy on his knee. His dummy was named "Coster Joe." |
[185] |
Lillian Russell |
4 December 1861 |
6 June 1922 |
American |
Actress and singer. |
[186] |
Babe Ruth |
6 February 1895 |
16 August 1948 |
American |
Baseball Hall of Famer who appeared in vaude with Wellinton Cross of Cross & Josephine in 1921. |
[54] |
Peggy Ryan |
28 August 1924 |
30 October 2004 |
American |
Child performer on the vaudeville stage and onscreen beginning at age 13. Ryan later appeared in movie musicals for Universal Studios opposite Donald O'Connor. |
[187] |
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Performance Notes |
Reference |
Ruth St. Denis |
16 April 1889 |
21 July 1968 |
American |
Dancer. |
[188] |
Marin Sais |
20 January 1879 |
31 December 1971 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Charles "Chic" Sale |
25 August 1885 |
7 November 1936 |
American |
Actor, monologist and writer. |
[189] |
Rae Samuels |
1886 |
24 October 1979 |
American |
Comic singer. |
[190] |
Fred Sanborn |
23 November 1899 |
9 March 1961 |
American |
Drummer, xylophonist and stooge. |
[191] |
Elvera Sanchez |
1 September 1905 |
2 September 2000 |
American |
Dancer. |
|
Eugen Sandow |
2 April 1867 |
14 October 1925 |
German |
Strong man, who was managed by Florenz Ziegfeld and appeared at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. |
[192] |
Jimmy Savo |
1895 |
6 September 1960 |
American |
Pantomimist. |
[193] |
Bert Savoy |
c. 1888 |
26 June 1923 |
American |
Female impersonator with "straight man" Jay Brennan. His lines and mannerisms may have influenced Mae West. |
[194] |
Germany Schaefer |
4 February 1877 |
16 May 1919 |
American |
Former basbeball player who had an act with Charley O'Leary. |
[117] |
Fritzi Scheff |
30 August 1879 |
8 April 1954 |
Austrian |
Actress and singer. |
[195] |
Ernestine Schumann-Heink |
15 June 1861 |
17 November 1936 |
German |
Operatic contralto. |
[196] |
Malcolm Scott |
7 March 1872 |
7 September 1929 |
British |
Female impersonator billed as "The Woman Who Knows." |
[197] |
Fred F. Sears |
1913 |
1957 |
American |
Dancer on the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) circuit. Later, Sears would become a film director for Columbia Pictures. |
|
Rolfe Sedan |
20 January 1896 |
16 September 1982 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Blossom Seeley |
16 July 1891 |
17 April 1974 |
American |
Singer. |
[57] |
William Selig |
14 March 1864 |
15 July 1948 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Larry Semon |
16 July 1889 |
8 October 1928 |
American |
One of the highest-paid film comedians of the 1920s, Semon also directed many of the films he starred in. After problems with the Vitagraph studio in 1922, he began working as a comedian on the vaudeville stage. |
[195] [198] |
Ted Shapiro |
31 October 1899 |
26 March 1980 |
American |
Pianist and songwriter. |
|
Wini Shaw |
25 February 1910 |
2 May 1982 |
American |
Actress in her parent's vaudeville act. |
|
Ella Shields |
26 September 1879 |
5 August 1952 |
American-British |
Male impersonator and singer. |
[199] |
Ethel Shutta |
1 December 1896 |
5 February 1976 |
American |
Actress and later Ziegfeld Girl who toured with her mother, Augusta, and her brother, Jack, as The Three Shuttas. |
|
Martinus Sieveking |
24 March 1867 |
26 November 1950 |
Dutch |
Pianist and composer who toured with Eugen Sandow. |
|
Phil Silvers |
11 May 1911 |
1 November 1985 |
American |
Originally a singer in vaudeville at the age of 13, Silvers appeared in some early movie musicals. After appearing in burlesque at Minsky's in 1934, he made in feature film debut in 1940. He appeared in Broadway and on TV in the 1950s where he won and Emmy Award. |[200] [201] |
Howard Simms |
|
|
American |
Tap dancer. |
|
Penny Singleton |
15 September 1908 |
12 November 2003 |
American |
Actress and comedienne, later found fame playing Blondie in a series of films and voicing Jane Jetson. |
|
Singer's Midgets |
|
|
mostly Austrian and Hungarian |
A troupe of midgets under the management of Lee Singer (d. 5 March 1951). Best known for playing the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz. |
[202] |
Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake |
|
|
American |
Musical act with Sissle (10 July 1889 - 17 December 1975) and Blake (7 February 1887 - 12 February 1983). Blake was originally a member of Jimmy Europe's "Society Orchestra" which had accompanied Vernon and Irene Castle's ballroom dance act. Blake and Sissle joined forces shortly after World War I, forming the "Dixie Duo," a musical act. The pair went on to create the groundbreaking musical, Shuffle Along. Following their breakup, Sissle continued to work with various other duos from 1928-9. |
[203][204][205] |
Red Skelton |
18 July 1913 |
17 September 1997 |
American |
Comedian, who later found fame on both the big and small screen. |
[206] |
Ted Sloan |
10 August 1974 |
21 December 1933 |
American |
Former thoroughbred racing jockey who briefly starred in a one-man vaudeville show with a monologue written by George M. Cohan. Legend has it that Cohan's musical, Little Johnny Jones is based on Sloan's life story. |
[207] |
Phillips Smalley |
7 August 1875 |
2 May 1939 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Roy Smeck |
6 February 1900 |
5 April 1994 |
American |
Guitar, banjo, ukelele and Hawaiian guitar virtuoso. |
[208] |
Smith and Dale |
|
|
American |
Comic duo of Charles Marks (6 September 1881 - 16 November 1971) and Joseph Sultzer (16 February 1884 - 22 February 1981). |
[209] |
Ada "Bricktop" Smith |
14 August 1894 |
1 February 1984 |
American |
Singer and dancer. |
[210] |
Bessie Smith |
15 April 1894 |
26 September 1937 |
American |
Legendary blues singer. Smith was ranked as the top performer on the T.O.B.A. circuit in the 1920s. |
[142] [211][212] |
Chris Smith |
12 October 1879 |
4 October 1949 |
American |
Musician. Songwriter of "Ballin' the Jack." |
[211] |
Clara Smith |
c. 1894 |
2 February 1935 |
American |
Blues singer. Smith began working in vaude around 1910 and by 1918 was one of the biggest names on the TOBA circuit. |
[213] |
"Whispering" Jack Smith |
31 May 1898 |
13 May 1950 |
American |
Singer known for his "whispering" style of singing. |
|
Kate Smith |
1 May 1907 |
17 June 1986 |
American |
Singer, known for her renditions of "God Bless America" and "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain" and for her "Hello, everybody!". |
[214] |
Mamie Smith |
26 May 1883 |
16 September 1946 |
American |
Blues singer. Smith toured nationally as "Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds," in the 1920s. |
[142][215] |
Pinetop Smith |
11 June 1904 |
15 March 1929 |
American |
Jazz pianist. |
|
Trixie Smith |
1895 |
21 September 1943 |
American |
Blues singer. Toured the TOBA circuits from 1918. |
[216] |
Willie "The Lion" Smith |
25 November 1897 |
18 April 1973 |
American |
Jazz pianist. |
|
John Philip Sousa |
6 November 1854 |
6 March 1932 |
American |
Composer and band conductor. |
[217] |
Eddie South |
27 November 1904 |
25 April 1962 |
American |
Jazz violinist. |
|
Elsie Southgate |
1890 |
1946 |
British |
Violinist, billed as "The Royal Violinist." |
|
Leora Spellman |
13 July 1890 |
4 September 1945 |
American |
Singer and actress. |
|
Victoria Spivey |
5 October 1906 |
1976 |
American |
Blues singer. |
|
George Stallings |
17 November 1867 |
13 May 1929 |
American |
Baseball player who appeared in vaude as a monologist. |
[54] |
Aileen Stanley |
1897 |
24 March 1982 |
American |
Singer. Had an act with her brother, Stanley & Aileen. |
[218] |
John Steel |
1895 |
1971 |
American |
Singer. |
[219] |
Julius Steger |
4 March 1870 |
25 February 1959 |
American |
Actor in a playlet he wrote himself, The Fifth Commandment. |
[220] |
Harry Steppe |
March 1888 |
22 November 1943 |
Russian-American |
Actor, Jewish dialect comedian and hobo clown. |
|
Cal Stewart |
1856 |
1919 |
American |
Comic monologist. |
|
Dorothy Stickney |
21 June 1896 |
2 June 1998 |
American |
Singer and dancer. |
|
Frank Stokes |
December 1887 or January 1888 |
12 September 1955 |
American |
Singer, blues musician and blackface minstrel. |
|
Fred Stone |
19 August 1873 |
6 March 1959 |
American |
Acrobat, tightrope walker, minstrel, and actor. |
[221] |
Charley Straight |
16 January 1891 |
22 September 1940 |
American |
Pianist, bandleader and composer. |
|
Gabby Street |
30 September 1882 |
6 February 1951 |
American |
Baseball player who appeared in vaude. |
[117] |
Dana Suesse |
3 December 1909 |
16 October 1987 |
American |
Dancer, songwriter, lyricist and pianist. |
|
Anne Sullivan |
14 April 1866 |
20 October 1926 |
American |
Teacher to Helen Keller who appeared with her when she lectured. |
[222] |
Gus Sun |
7 October 1868 |
1 October 1959 |
American |
Juggler and minstrel. Later, the owner of the Gus Sun Circuit. |
[223] |
Valeska Suratt |
22 June 1882 |
2 July 1962 |
American |
Actress. |
[224] |
Mack Swain |
16 February 1876 |
25 August 1935 |
American |
Comedian who later appeared in Mack Sennett's Keystone comedies. |
[225] |
Blanche Sweet |
18 June 1896 |
6 September 1986 |
American |
Actress, Appeared with her parent's vaude act at the age of 18 months. She was billed as "Baby Blanche" or "Sweet Little Blanche." |
[226] |
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Performance Notes |
Reference |
Chief Tahachee |
4 March 1904 |
9 June 1978 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Taliaferro Sisters |
|
|
American |
Sister act with Edith (21 December 1893 - 2 March 1958) and her sister, Mabel Taliaferro (21 May 1887 - 24 January 1979). |
[227] |
Eva Tanguay |
1 August 1878 |
11 January 1947 |
Canadian |
Singer. |
[102] [228] |
Julius Tannen |
16 May 1880 |
3 January 1965 |
American |
Monologist. |
[229] |
Lilyan Tashman |
23 October 1899 |
21 March 1934 |
American |
Actor, singer and dancer. Started out as a principle actress for Gus Edwards and ended up as a Ziegfeld girl. |
[230] |
Dub Taylor |
26 February 1907 |
3 October 1994 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Eva Taylor |
22 January 1895 |
31 October 1977 |
American |
Singer and dancer. Was a "pickaninny" or "pick" for Phina and Her Picks (later Josephine Gassman and Her Pickaninnies). |
[11] |
Tell Taylor |
14 October 1876 |
24 November 1937 |
American |
Singer and songwriter. |
|
Lou Tellegen |
26 November 1881 |
29 October 1934 |
Dutch |
Actor who appeared in a sketch from his play, Blind Youth. |
[48] |
Fay Templeton |
25 December 1865 |
3 October 1939 |
American |
Actress and singer. |
[231] |
Dame Ellen Terry |
27 February 1847 |
21 July 1928 |
British |
Actress who also appeared with her sister, Kate Terry. |
[227] |
Denman Thompson |
15 October 1833 |
11 May 1991 |
American |
Actor. |
[232] |
Lydia Thompson |
19 February 1836 |
17 November 1908 |
American |
Actress. |
[233] |
Bonnie Thornton |
c. 1871 |
13 March 1920 |
American |
Singer known as "The Original Tutti-Frutti Girl." |
[234] |
Richard Thorpe |
24 Febreuary 1896 |
13 January 1961 |
American |
Singer and actor. Later in Hollywood films. |
[235] |
Howard Thurston |
20 July 1869 |
13 April 1936 |
American |
Magician. |
[236] |
Dox Thrash |
1893 |
1965 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Three Stooges |
|
|
American |
A comic trio consisting of brothers Moe (19 June 1897 - 4 May 1975) and Shemp Howard (4 March 1895 - 22 November 1955), and friend Larry Fine (5 October 1902 - 24 January 1975). |
[237] |
Three X Sisters |
|
|
American |
Harmony singing trio consisting of Pearl Santos, Violet Hamilton, and Jessie Fordyce. |
[238] |
"Big Bill" Tilden |
10 February 1893 |
5 June 1953 |
American |
Tennis player and monologist. |
[239] |
Vesta Tilley |
13 May 1864 |
16 September 1962 |
British |
Male impersonator. |
[240] |
Tim and Irene |
|
|
American |
Comic duo composed of Tim Ryan (5 July 1889 - 22 October 1956) and his wife, Irene Ryan (17 October 1902 - 26 April 1973). |
|
Herman Timberg |
1892 |
16 April 1952 |
American |
Comedy monologist who would often exit the stage on all fours and perform trick violin playing. |
[241] |
Joe Tinker |
27 July 1880 |
27 July 1948 |
American |
Baseball player who appeared in vaude around 1911. |
[117] |
Frank Tinney |
29 March 1878 |
28 November 1940 |
American |
Blackface comic who would perform trick violin playing. |
[242] |
Lydia Yeamans Titus |
1866 |
30 December 1929 |
American |
Character actress and singer. |
[243] |
Eddie Tolan |
29 September 1908 |
30 or 31 July 1967 |
American |
Sprinter who appeared briefly with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. |
|
Rudy Toombs |
1914 |
28 November 1962 |
American |
Song and dance man. |
|
Raquel Torres |
1908 |
1987 |
Mexican |
Actress. |
|
Toto |
1888 |
15 December 1938 |
Swiss |
Clown who performed with his dog, Whisky. |
[243] |
Patsy Touhey |
1865 |
1923 |
Irish-American |
Player of the uilleann pipes. |
|
Arthur Tracy |
25 June 1899 |
5 October 1997 |
Russian-American |
Singer (baritone) of sentimental songs. |
[243] |
Doris Eaton Travis |
14 March 1904 |
|
American |
Singer, dancer and Ziegfeld girl. |
|
Sophie Tucker |
13 January 1884 |
9 February 1966 |
American |
Singer, known as "The Last of the Red Hot Mamas." |
[244] |
Ben Turpin |
19 September 1869 |
1 July 1940 |
American |
Comedian. |
[245] |
Lurene Tuttle |
29 August 1906 |
28 May 1986 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Two Black Crows |
|
|
American |
Blackface comedy duo that starred Charles Mack (1888 - 1934) and others including John Swor, Bert Swor and George Moran (1881 - 1949). The duo name changed with each new partner, so Mack began using the name Moran & Mack (The Two Black Crows). |
[246] [247] |
Myrtle Vail |
7 January 1888 |
18 September 1978 |
American |
Tap dancer. |
|
Rudolph Valentino |
6 May 1895 |
23 August 1926 |
Italian |
Ballroom dancer with Bonnie Glass, former dance partner of Clifton Webb's. Later became a major "matinee idol" in silent films. |
[248] |
Rudy Vallee |
28 July 1901 |
3 July 1986 |
American |
Singer, actor and bandleader. |
[249] |
Egbert Van Alstyne |
4 March 1978 |
9 July 1951 |
American |
Pianist and songwriter. One of his most well-known songs is "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree." |
[250] |
Van and Schenck |
12 August 1886 |
12 March 1968 |
American |
Comic and musical duo composed of Gus Van (12 August 1886 - 12 March 1968) and Joe Schenck (c. 1891 - 28 June 1930). |
[251] |
Woody Van Dyke |
21 March 1889 |
5 February 1943 |
American |
Child actor, later became renown for directing such films as Trader Horn, Tarzan the Ape Man and The Thin Man. |
|
Frank Van Hoven |
1887 |
December 1929 |
American |
Magician. |
[252] |
Billy B. Van |
3 August 1871 |
16 November 1950 |
American |
Comedian. |
[246] |
Clarice Vance |
14 March 1871 |
24 August 1961 |
American |
Singer. |
[253] |
Gertrude Vanderbilt |
1880 |
18 December 1960 |
American |
Singer and dancer. |
[254] |
Vasco |
1871 |
9 May 1925 |
British |
Magician. |
[255] |
Dai Vernon |
11 June 1894 |
1992 |
Canadian |
Magician known for his card tricks. |
|
Jules Vernon |
2 April 1867 |
17 May 1937 |
British |
Ventriloquist. |
[256] |
Vesta Victoria |
26 November 1873 |
7 April 1951 |
British |
Singer. |
[257] |
Nedra Volz |
18 June 1908 |
20 January 2003 |
American |
Actress who appeared as Baby Nedra. |
|
Harry Von Tilzer |
8 July 1872 |
10 January 1946 |
American |
Pianist and songwriter. Among some of his most well-known sonsg are "Wait 'til the Sun Shines Nellie" and "Bird in a Gilded Cage." |
[258] |
Name |
Birth |
Death |
Nationality |
Performance Notes |
Reference |
Ted Waldman |
12 February 1899 |
1 February 1987 |
American |
Harmonica player. |
[259] |
Fats Waller |
21 May 1904 |
15 December 1943 |
American |
Pianist and songwriter. Waller toured in vaudeville as an accompanist beginning around 1919. Among his many songs are "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose." |
[260] [261] |
Dorothy Walters |
1877 |
17 April 1934 |
American |
Actress. |
|
Henry B. Walthall |
16 March 1878 |
17 June 1936 |
American |
Actor. |
[48] |
Florence Walton |
1890 |
7 January 1981 |
American |
Dancer. |
[262] |
Fannie Ward |
22 June 1872 |
27 January 1952 |
American |
Actress. |
[263] |
Frederick Warde |
23 February 1851 |
17 February 1935 |
British |
Shakespearean actor, monologist and actor in playlets. |
[264] |
David Warfield |
1866 |
1951 |
American |
Actor. |
[265] |
Fred Waring |
9 June 1900 |
29 July 1984 |
American |
Bandleader of the band Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians |
[266] |
George Dewey Washington |
1 May 1898 |
|
American |
Singer. |
[267] |
Ethel Waters |
31 October 1896 |
1 September 1977 |
American |
Singer and actress. Waters made a very easy transition from vaude to nightclubs. Waters is credited with making the song, "Stormy Weather" popular. |
[268] [269] [270] |
Donald "Monk" Watson |
|
|
American |
Actor. |
|
Kitty & Fanny Watson |
|
|
American |
Comic sister act with Kitty (1886 - 3 March 1967) and Fanny Watson (1885 - 17 May 1970). |
[271] |
Ned Wayburn |
30 March 1874 |
2 September 1942 |
American |
Singer and dancer. |
[272] |
Guy Weadick |
1885 |
1953 |
American |
Wild West performer and, with his wife (Weadick and LaDue), creator of the "Stampede Act." |
[80] |
Clifton Webb |
19 November 1889 |
13 October 1966 |
American |
Actor and dancer partnered in the 1920s with Mary Hay. The Webb and Hay played the Palace in January of 1929. |
[273] [274] |
Weber and Fields |
|
|
German-American |
Comic duo composed of Lew Fields (1 January 1867 - 20 July 1941) and Joe Weber (11 August 1867 - 10 May 1942). |
[275] |
Ben Welch |
? |
2 September 1926 |
American |
Jewish comic. |
[276] |
Niles Welch |
29 July 1888 |
21 November 1976 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Señor Wences |
17 April 1896 |
20 April 1999 |
Spanish-American |
Ventriloquist, best known for his appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. |
[277] |
Mae West |
17 August 1893 |
22 November 1980 |
American |
Actress and comedienne, known for breaking the mold with her taboo performances on both stage and screen. |
[278] |
Roland West |
20 February 1885 |
31 May 1952 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Wheeler and Woolsey |
|
|
American |
Comic duo with Bert Wheeler (7 April 1895 - 18 January 1968) and Robert Woolsey (14 August 1888 - 31 October 1938). |
[279] |
Albert Whelan |
5 May 1875 |
19 February 1961 |
Australian |
Eccentric dancer. |
[280] |
Dan White |
25 March 1908 |
7 July 1980 |
American |
Actor. |
|
George White |
1890 |
10 October 1968 |
Canadian-American |
Dancer. |
[281] [282] |
Sammy White |
1894 |
1960 |
American |
Song and dance comedian. |
[283] |
Thelma White |
4 December 1910 |
11 January 2005 |
American |
Dancer with The White Sisters and later as a Ziegfeld girl. |
|
Paul Whiteman |
28 March 1890 |
29 December 1967 |
American |
Bandleader. |
[284] |
Annabelle Whitford |
1878 |
30 November 1961 |
American |
Modern dancer. |
[285] |
Whiting and Burt |
|
|
American |
Song and dance duo consisting of George White (6 August 1884 - 18 December 1943) and Sadie Burt (? - 6 December 1966). |
[286] |
Marshall P. Wilder |
19 September 1859 |
10 January 1915 |
American |
Hunchbacked dwarf monologist. |
[287] |
Jess Willard |
29 December 1881 |
15 December 1968 |
Spanish-American |
Boxer and actor. |
[288] |
Bert Williams |
12 November 1874 |
4 March 1922 |
British West Indian |
Actor, pantomimist and singer. |
[289] [290] |
Bransby Williams |
1870 |
1961 |
British |
Actor, comedian and monologist. |
[291] |
Clarence Williams |
8 October 1898 |
6 November 1965 |
American |
Minstrel, singer and pianist. |
[292] |
Herb Williams |
1884 |
1 October 1936 |
American |
Comedian. |
[293] |
Jay Williams |
31 May 1914 |
12 July 1978 |
American |
Comedian. |
|
Nat Wills |
11 July 1873 |
9 December 1917 |
American |
"The Happy Tramp" monologist. |
[294] |
Edith Wilson |
1906 |
30 March 1981 |
American |
Blues singer. |
[295] |
Francis Wilson |
7 February 1854 |
7 October 1935 |
American |
Minstrel and comedian. |
[296] |
Walter Winchell |
7 April 1897 |
20 February 1972 |
American |
Actor and singer. |
[297] |
Charles Winninger |
26 May 1884 |
27 January 1969 |
American |
Trapeze artist and actor with his family's act, the Winninger Family Concert Co. |
[80] |
Basil Wolverton |
9 July 1909 |
31 December 1978 |
American |
Actor. |
|
Daisy Wood |
15 September 1877 |
19 October 1961 |
British |
Singer and sister to Marie Lloyd. |
[298] |
Wee Georgie Wood |
17 December 1895 |
19 February 1979 |
British |
Midget comedian who played children. |
[299] |
Bessie Wynn |
1876 |
8 July 1968 |
American |
"The Lady Dainty of Vaudeville" singer. |
[300] |
Ed Wynn |
9 November 1886 |
19 June 1966 |
American |
Comedian and actor. Known as "The Perfect Fool." |
[301][300] |
Clara Kimball Young |
6 September 1890 |
15 October 1960 |
American |
Actress who appeared in a sketch called "The Adorable Wife." Headlined at the Palace, April, 1925. |
[302] |
Lester Young |
27 August 1909 |
15 March 1959 |
American |
Clarinetist and saxophonist. |
|
Margaret Young |
1900 |
3 May 1969 |
American |
Singer. |
|
Henny Youngman |
16 March 1906 |
24 February 1998 |
British-American |
Comedian, bandleader and violinist. |
[303] |
Joe Yule |
30 April 1894 |
30 March 1950 |
Scottish |
Comedian and father to Mickey Rooney. |
[171] |
George Zucco |
11 January 1886 |
28 May 1960 |
British |
Character actor who toured with his wife, Frances in a satirical sketch about suffragettes. |
|
Yetta Zwerling |
25 December 1889 |
17 January 1982 |
Austrian |
Actress, performed primarily in Yiddish vaudeville and on the British Music Hall stage. Once she perfected her stage Yiddish, Zwerling worked in Yiddish theatre and in the 1930s in Yiddish film. |
[304] |