Lew Leslie

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Lew Leslie (1888-1963) was a Broadway writer and producer. Although white, he was the first to present black artists on stage. He became famous for his stage shows at the Cotton Club and later for his Blackbirds revues, which he mounted in 1928, 1930, 1933, and 1939. Leslie began his career doing a patter act in vaudeville. He had two well-known wives, torch singer Belle Baker and Ziegfeld Follies showgirl Irene Wales.

Lew Leslie's Foreign Birth Discovered

On his World War I draft registration card of June 1917, Leslie stated that he was an alien and was born in Russia on April 15, 1888. His brother Saul Leslie's draft card gives Saul's birth date as May 26, 1886; Saul was also listed as an employee of his theatrical producing brother, Lew. He also appears on the 1910 census as Louis Lesinsky, with his parents Max and Mary Lesinsky and brother Saul (also known as Sol); they lived in Manhattan and Max, aged 50, was a butcher. In the 1920 census they appear again, but this time as Max Leslie, 60, Mary Leslie, 54, Sol Leslie, 32, and Louie Leslie, 30; all were listed as born in Russia, except for Lew who is now listed as born in "England." But the year of emigration to America is the same, 1890. These historic records can be found on the website, www.ancestry.com.