The New York Clipper (September 1914)

18 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER. September 12 BURLESQUE NEWS THE GROWTH OF BURLESQUE. The cr.iri'Kn having compiled from IN flies a history of the traveling burlesque at- tractions, dating from the earlle.it days nf llils form of entertainment, we ore pleas nI to present much interesting data of the de- velopment of the burlesque business. The present school of burlesque originated with Lydla Thompson. Lydla Thompson was born In London, I'c.i. 19. 1841, and at the outset of her stage rareer earned a considerable reputation as a skillful and accomplished child dancer .n fairy spectacle and burlesque. She made her debut us a premiere In the ballet at Her Majesty's Thootre, London. In 18S2. Use. 20, 1858. she began her career In that line of dramatic business :n which, afterwards, she took the lead In I/ondon, in acting Litilo r'llvcrlinlr it the Haymarket In the Cb.ist- uias spectacle of that name. Her demit In America, at the head of her own troup.\ occurred Sept. 28. 1868, at Wood's Museum. Her company Included Taullne Markhum, L:su Weber, Ada Harlond. Harry Beckett, and M. Connelly, musical director. The bur- lesque was "lxfon." In 1871 abe opened her second tour at Wallack's, bringing Willie Fxlouln, Hetty Tracy and Kate Egcr- ' ton; On tour, over our circuits, she repeated (he triumphs sue liail won In England. Miss Thoinpion made the last of her four Amei- lcan ciipearauces. under the direction of 11. 11. Leavllt. and at tbo head of a burlesque organization. In 1888. She made her last stage sppearance with Mrs. Pat Campbell, la "A Oueen's Horoancc," ut the Imperial The- atre, Iwrdon, In 18l)i'-. She then retired, and died Nov. 7, 1008, at Westminster Hus- sions, England. The original American burlesque troupe was the Uentz-Suntlcy Co., which was or- gunlzed as Madame Itcnts's Lady Minstrels, at the old Olympic, New York, by M. B. 1/vovltt. After several changes had been made It developed Into a show very much like modern burlesque, for a long number of scars tbe company was owned and managed by Abo l«nvltt. A No. 2 company also took the rood to All Oie deronnd. In 1882 the company was tnken to England, returning from there In 188S. One of the members who took the trip was tho late llarry Morris. The Adah Illchmond Burlcsquers started In 1871, with Adah Richmond, Qua Williams. Htnnnl Bob Hart, Klsle Scott. Ada llosliell. The Wallace Sisters Co.. with Geo. For- tosciie, presented opera and burlesques. Elliott was for many years with this or- ganization. Sam T. Jack was manager of the company in 1884. The Ida Slddons Co. was organlz.-d In 188.", opening March 10, at Tom Theill's Theatre, L'roadway. Williamsburg. It then closed, re- organized and opened at the Mulbeiry Sleet Theatre, Newark, N. J. In April. Its first m.nlvcrsary was celebrated at Orcnler's Ly- ceum. Chicago, In 1884. Tub Clipper wai fevored -with the presentation of a satin souvenir program of the performance. It (len alternated at the London Theatre, New Vr.rk: Hyde * Bcbman's, Brooklyn, and otli-.-r available theatres, during the eighties, with the other burlesque companies, house shewn unit traveling variety combinations. The pro- pi U tors were George W. Slddons. II II. Hen- derson and Billy Arnold. Ida Slddons headed tin' organization, playing leads In different burlesques. At various times the company nlpo Included May Howard. Harry Constan- tlre, Harry Lansing, Smith Sisters. Allen Sifters. John H. Merrltt and Bertha Waring, Ada Henry, Griffin and Marks, Phil and Christie Sheridan, Chas. H. Duncan, Con- nors and Kelley. Geary Sisters, Emma Al- fredo, Eva Lester. Etta Corhett Prof. E. A. I'leckbofer. Clever Carroll, Jas. Thorpe, Llda Gardner Burt Queen. Lizzie Mnlvey, Ned West, (icycr and Delhauer, Chas. Queea, Llda Morse, Ada Morse and Gertie Keith. Various managers backed the enterprise dur- ing Its different tours. Among the houses which played burlesque companies at that time were tbe People's Tb.ce.tre, St. Louis: the Howard, Boston; •Smith's Opera House, Grand Rapids: the Ailelpht, Iluffalo; tbe TheatreComique, Wash- ington. D. C.; the Grand Central, Philadel- phia : Theatre Comique, Providence; Stand- ard Theatre, St. Louis; Pence Opera House, Minneapolis: Alliambra, St. Louis; Olympic, Philadelphia ; Park Theatre, Detroit: Levan- llnc'n. Albany; Onern House, Newark;Grand Central, Troy: Monumental, Baltimore; The- atre Cmnlqite, Minneapolis ; Windsor, Hoston : Itucklngham, Louisville; Academy of Music, Plltsburgh, Pa. Sam T. Jack's Lily Clay Co., otherwise the "Adnmless Men," was also a product of the eighties. In 1889 tbe company included M. II. 1.10 WITT. also organized Lillle Hall k Fannie Blood- good's Burlesque Co. In 1887 additional shows were Emily Sol- dene's nnd tbe Night Hawks. In 1888 liarry Morris and Thomas E. Mlaco, who bad been manager for Hallen A Hart's, Harry Kernell's and Rellly & Wood's companies, started i burlesque company, headed by May Howard, and opened Sept. 10, 1883, at Hyde & Bebman's Thcatp-, Brooklyn. Other lady minstrels were: The Polly Daly's Blondes, Little Vic's Minstrels, Ada Teaman's Female Minstrels, Harry Arm- strong's Lady Minstrels. Sum S. Snndford's Blondes and Brunettes, Adn Kennedy's Afri- can Blonde Minstrels. W. II. Reynolds' Fe- 1'iale Minstrels, who mnile n tour of Culia : Villa and Miner's Burlesque Troupe, with Andy Hughes, Annie Hlndlc, Dclchanty nnd Hengler, nnd Jennie Benson; tlie Howard Burlesquers, with Ous Wllllinns. Alice Klrlrt- ln«. Jacques Kruger, and Jolnisuu and Powers. ' At Dan Shelby's Comique, Buffalo. N. V.. Mellndu Naglc's BlisideH played the etttlvr kenson of 1871-72. The company at various times Included: Dou Howe, Lucy Adams. Tom Granger, Lulu Wentwoith, Irn llolston, Ella Wosncr. Carrie Avery, Jennie Hughes, Rosa Lee, linker and drain, B. C. Hart. In the same year the Victoria lxiftus Troupe-of British Blondes Included: Lottie Kllintt, James Collins, Cummlngs and Har- rington Emma Dc Hols, Virginia Marshall, Harry Le Clair, and a big ballet troupe. They presented a burlesque entitled "Atu- lanta.'^ May Flak's English Blondes, Living Art Pictures and Grand Specialty Combination. during the season of 1870-80, Included: Frank nnd Joslc Do Forrest, Chas. II. Dun- can, Mamie Bernard, Nellie Howard, Annie Hlndlc : Add Weaver, Nellie V'arHer. The burlcaqne was "Dutch Justice." • In the Spring of 1870 II. C. -Miner pro- duced a burlesque on "Pinafore," with Gus Williams. Bobby Newcomb, Louise Montague. Louis Kobio (as Dlck.Dcadpyc. made up as Ben Butler), and Mvron I'allce In the i.ist. With the Rentz-Santlcy' company, !n the early eighties, were Dutch, Paly, May How- ard, Woodson and. Bpiiiietti Annie Boyd, tbe Sisters Purvis, Billy Buckley, tho Two Alices, llarry Morris, Llasle Daly, Victoria North, Irene Wcrrcll and Nellie St. John. Lottie ABE LEAVITT. Alice Townsend, Victoria North, Mertle llouck nnd I'alma Schroeder. For a number of years this company gavo an entertainment exclusively by ladles. Tbe red headed girl on tbe white horso was one of tbe features Introduced by Mr. Jack. In 18S2 Lillle Hall headed a company which Included Mile. Zlttella, Bobby New- comb, Charles Duncan, George and Harry Hooker. In 1883 tbe people were Billy Bry- ant, Unasle Hart. Jas. and Lydla Sbeeran, Katie Hart, Smith and X.eopold, Sam Lang and Polly Sharpe, Hazel Blake and Rosa Lee. In 1885 there were tbe Ada Richmond Co., with Virginia Ross, Eld. Connelly. Duncan, Weber and Fields, Ross Sisters, E. H. Talbot, P.'.n O'Urlcn, Ed. Rice, Frank Rice and Dick Morosco, in "The Sleeping Beauty;" May Hake's Co., Llda Gardner's Co., under the management of Billy Arnold; Rellly & Wood's Co., starting as a straight vaudeville i ombl nation, to bo changed in later years into burlesque; May Adams' Chinese Min- strels. Ous Hill's Novelty Co.. Martyne's Met- ropolitan Burlesquors, Maude Russell's Co., Lisa Weber's Co., Tony Denler's Burlesque and Specialty Co., Maude Revelle & Lisa Weber's Co., with Joe McBride, Lille Lan- dls, Chas. R. Landls It. H. Ward, Forrester Sisters, James Van Leer, Mcy Staunton, and the Itolcay Ballet; Lillle Allyn Co, Including 1 .llllo Allyn, Billy and Alice Payne. Noll Smith, Lnndls and Ward, Scnora Monte, Bryant and Holmes, Lady Madlln, Sweeney nnd Clnrk, Jennie Meade, Wm. Devere. and May Adams' Burlesque Co. and Japanese Minstrels, producing "Our Girls," aad In- cluding May Adams, Rartlctt and Lorraine, (irnclo May, the Vlctorcllas, Wills and Adams. Thompson nnd King, Alf. Barker, and Richmond and Glcnroy. Tbe seasons of 1880 and 1887 developed the Nlglit Owls, presented by Robert Man- chester, Sent. 20, 1880, at tbe London The- atre. New York. They played "Paris Life," with Robert Manchester nnd John Jennings as the principal comedians. May Howard was the leading woman. Others were: Lizzie Mulvey and Belle Clifton, Dave Oaks and MAY HOWARD. The May Howard Co. presented a first part, entitled "Tbe Roman Fete," and the burlesque, "A Black Sheep," with Miss How- ard at leading woman ; Harry Morris aa prin- cipal comtdlan: Haute Howard, Annie Will- much Charles T. Adams, Georglc Blake, Jea- nie Mlaco, Carrie Fulton Sadie Lane, Mollis Henderson, Marie Rogtelle, Vede Mansfield, E. H. Barker, G. Donald Melville. Kittle Wells O'Brien, and Fisher and Clark. The company was one of the leading attractions for a number of seasons. After several years' suspension, Miss Howard again head- ed her own company In 1807. and stayed out for several seasons. The Rose Hill Co. was organized by George W. .Rice and Charles Barton at about tbe same time, and came to New York in 1880. The show Included: Rice and Barton, Marie Itostelle, Vede Mansfield, Sadie Lane, Nellie Parks, Clara St. John, Jessie Hall. Caldwell Sisters. Mack and Raymond, Pauline Cook, Nellie Melville, Carr and Tourjee, Toner and Probe], J. H. Barnes and Eddie Cain. Other 1888 troupes were Leavltt's English Folly Co. and the Water Lilies. Mlaco & Morris' The City Club Co., first opened in August, 1800, with a company in- cluding Fannie Everett. Mamie Deigle, Kittle Wells, Jennie Mlaco, Mabel Guyer, Pear! Kradlmrn, Annie Livingston, Clara St. Maur, Harry Bryant, Wilson and Devenport, Harry Soften. Lowery and Evans, and Tommy Roo- ney. Robert Fulton was connected with the staff. Later Tom Mlaco assumed the sole management of this attraction, and it was his favorite enterprise until ha died, May 29, 1900, in New York City. In the same season the Fay Foster Co., managed by Joseph Oppenhelmer, which bad been playing small towns since 1887, opened the season at Miner's Eighth Avenue Thea- tre. Reagan and Klnvan, Charley Frey aad "Pollle" Batcheller were with the company. Sam Bernard was a member of this company for a season. Later on Johnnie Marion be- came a great favorite with this troupe, In a burlesque on "Ermlnle," which was then all the rage. Another new show was John H. .Smith's Henry Burleequers, which presented a first class bill, Including Molncyre and Heath, Crowley (the female impersonator), ICIdora, Wild West, Tom OIBrles and Helen Courtland. This company subsequently !n- Stanton, Violet Griffin, and a large chorus. I.. F. Johns was musical director; F. N. Strauss, treasurer; Phil Stresslnger, agent; John Nolan, properties. Tbe company played to excellent business for several seasons. Pat Rellly and Louie Roble turned the Rellly A Wood Show into a burlesque com- pany, the cast Including: Pat Rellly, Peggy Pride. Allen and Began, Goldle St. Clair, Hughes, McBride and Walton, Fielding, the Juggler, and the Washburn Sisters. "Hades and the 400" was the burlesque. Other 1801 organizations Included: Mabel Snow's Co.. Nlbbe's French Burlesquers. the Valdm Burlesquers, tbe Watson Sisters Co., Ivanhne Burlesquers, May Fostelle's Co., Violet Mascotte's Burlesquers Co.. the Rou- lette Club Co., and the Equcslrlan Bur- lcs-iuer*. Matt Flynn nnd Phil 8herldan rut out tho City Sports and operated during the Beacon In New York, with the followlug company: Thil and Chrlasle Sheridan, Wm. Connors, John Qulelcy, Mile. Sarah, Teodulo. La Ardo Sisters, Flatow. Marlow and Plunkett, Mile Zlttrella. N. Ceballos, Edith Murray and Jennie Sinclair. Joe O. Zlefle was bualne-js manager. The season of 1892-93 brought forth tbe May Russell Co., owned by Batcheller & Stumm, and Including: Pauline Batcheller, l>tta Meredith, Stewart Sisters, Thos. M. Haley. J. Marcus Doyle, Fred Fish, Bo'j Richmond. OdeU and Fage, Zamora. Thos. J. Ryan and Marie Richfield. Sefton & Watson's company Included Harry C. Bryant Jos. J. Fields, Jeanettc Dupree, Layton Sisters, Leonard and Price, Billy and Ella Watson. Morton and Kelly, the Tanakas and Harry Sefton. The Early Birds, managed by Calder * Waldron, included: Nina Bertolinl. Lynch and Lovely, Rose St. Clair. Barrett Brothers. Etlnson and Merton. Slgfried, Shaffer and Blakely, and the 8t Belmos. THOMAS E. MIACO. eluded a number of athcltlc features, Includ- ing boxing and wrestling. Cooke and Clinton, and Texarkana wore members of the com- pany tor several seasons. It was one of tbe burlesque shows that played Niblo's Garden, Now York. In 1890 Sam T. Jack also organized the Creole Burlesquers, the first colored company presenting an entertainment of variety ant burlesque, and It proved to be a tremendous hit. John W. Isham was In advance. Among the well known performers were: Mr. and -Mrs. Sam Lucas, F. J. Piper, Billy Jackson and Irving Jones. Later on Mr. Jack was interested In tbe Sam T. Jack Theatre (later the Princess). New York, and Sam T. Jack's Theatre in Chicago, where burlesque attrac- Jack's Bullfighters included: Agnes T.v, Nettle Huffman. Mlldren Phillips and ite*S Robinson, Le Moyne Brothers, CaPii.-'ln* Rowe Palmer, Clements nnd Barnes, the l'i,.. strom Sisters, Agnes Bebler and Robert "i'\ Oaten. JOHJI W. ISHAM. HARRY MORRIS. The Black Crook Burlcsquers employed: Cooper and Lord, Pearl Rice, the Connellys, Leonzo and Bemls Brothers. Other new shows on tbe road the same season were: Jack's Forty Thieves. Ada Dixon's Co., Agnes Evans' Co. "A Swell Affair" Co., the Busy Bees, the London Sports, the Marie Sanger Co., Henrys English Swells, Williams' Big Folly Co. and Helen Russell's Co. Toe London Belles came season of 1893- 04, with Campbell and Shepp, Rose Sydell. the Sheerans, Howard Sisters, Conley and Madden, and Kelly and St. Clair. Rice k Barton's Bazzle-Dazzlo Co. included Frankle Haines. -Grace Mllbura, Mullen and Dunn, Al. Uellman, Geo. W. Rice, Clara Lawrence, Crawford and Bowers, Frank Emerson, and the Whitney Brothers, C. W. Williams' Show Included Delavoye and Fritz Williams and Barton, Watson and Dupre, Dupon, John and Nellie McCartney, and Nada Reyval. Other ventures were: Jack's "Old Age and Youth" Co., tho American Folly Co., Harry Sefton's Co., Mabel Winner's Co., Pickett's Gaiety Girls, the Gaiety Burlesquers, May Shaw a Co. and Florence Miller's Burlesquers. Tbe season of 1894-05 brought out Rush's While Crooks, with Emma Rosa Lee. J. J. Fenton, Brice and Griffin, Joe Fields, the il'ghleys, Jennie Lamont and Josle Love, and tbe Voujeres. The Casino Girls Included: Alice Gllmore, Bob Richmond, Carmen Bo- shell, Le Vere and Leclair, Wm. Gllmore, Swan and Bambard, Haines and Pettingill, Chas. Semon, and Swinburne and Howard. The Watson Sisters Co. bad May Clark Raz- zllllan, Jeannette Dupree, Geo. C. Razzllllan, W B. Watson, Chas. Eenna, and the Asbton Brothers. The Ladles' Club Co. had I.eonl and Everett, McCabe end Bmmett, Fisher and Carroll, Dally and Bllton, Francis Bry- ant, and O'Brien and Buckley. The Rellly & Wood's, as a burlesque show, Included: Fa- tima, Tessie and Maggie Ferguson, Allen and West. Perry and Ten Brook, tho SnTans, Lillle Laurel and Maude Harvey, Her, Burke and Randall, Eva Armstrong, and Fat Rellly. The Fannie Hill Co. had a brief tour 1895-90. Flynn & 8horldan*s Big Sensation, of white and colored talent, Included: Ida Nicolal, Carrie Dunn, HI Tom Ward. Prince Flatow and Billy Farrell. Isbam's Oeto- The season 1896-97 produced Rush's Ex- ceptor Co., which played at the Third Avenue Theatre, New York, which was given over to burlesque for a season or two. The company included Carrie Rudolph, Turner and Russell, Fish and Quigg, Clayton and Grant, Wally Ilelston, the Kodaks, Dan Barrett and Nellie Sylvester. Louis Roble's Bohemians opened at the Bowery, New York, Sept. 7, 1896, with one of tbe most popular companies ever put together in burlesque. The list: Harry C. Bryant William B. Watson, Billy B. Van, Mae Lov/ery, Jeonette Dupree, Vevi Nobrlga, Marie Carr, Jere Mahoney, the Hill Sisters, und the Rivers Sisters. This company pre- sented a most elaborate production, and en- joyed, up to then, unheard of prosperity. The burlesque closely followed tbe lines of a popular Broadway success of that day. Woods Sisters Co. was organized with Nina Reason, Wm. F. Gould, Lamont and Love. Scanlon and Stevens, Lucler and Greve, and Adgle, as a special attraction. Rice k Bar- ton christened their Big Gaiety Co., Including Chas. Barton, Washburn Sisters. Frankle Haines, Irvln T. Bush. Chas. Newton, Craw- ford and Manning. Mabel Rutherford. Ida Austin, and Fred Bckboff. Irwin Brothers' Burlesque and Specialty Co. opened Dec. 1, 1800, with the Manhattan Comedy Four, Madeline Marshall, Kitty Nelson, Leo and Chapman, Joe Howard, Ida Emerson, Dane nnd Hahn, and W. M. Macart Dave Marlon's Extravaganza Co.. Included: Mons. He Bonell, Mile. Ray, Fonte Bonl Bros.. Richie Foy. Vedder Sisters, Dave Marlon, Byron nnd Langdon. and Pollle Holmes. Joe Oppenbeimcr's "Zero" Co. employed Florence Edwards, Lucy Monroe, Carrie Monroe. Joe Madden, Gilbert Sarony, Topack and Steele. Joe Nestor, Jas. Curran, and Hodges and l.aunchmere. Lawrence Weber's "Olympla" JAS. H. CVRTIN. IIOUKUT MASChlSSTER. Jcslc Boyd. E. D. Gooding, Emma Julau nnl George W. Brown, Hnttlo Wcstcott, Pauline llntcncller. Louise Bliss, Larry Touhey and Lester Howard. "Adonis" was the burlesque. II. S. Hodges was the business manager. For n number of seasons the Night Owls remained under Mr. Manchester's management. It was then controlled by Fred Rider for a few years. During the same season there was tlnns were played. John S. Grieves Burlesque Co. was a pro- duct of the same season, as were Boom's Model Burlesquers, the Parisian Folly Co. Turner's Golden Gaiety Co., Fa-iahaw's Gai- ety Co., Lily McIIenry Burlesquers, tin American Gaiety Girls, Minnie Burough'a Burlesquers and the Parisian Gaiety Girls. In lsoi there came Emily Zola's ParlUna Beauties with F. M. Zola, proprietor; Billy Arnold, business manager, and tho Zola Fam- ily. Charles Adams and tbe Holb.'ooks wer; In the roster of the company. In 1890-91 Louise Dempsey's Co., Brown's Boston Creoles and the Thomas Gaiety Co. vere on tbe rood tor a time. A successful show of this year was Lester k Williams' "Me and Jack'' Co., with Little Polly Mc- Ikmald, John J. Burke, James Smith, Louise lllnnchnrd, Myrtle Tresslder, Helen Dngel- lisrdt. Ella Fay. Estrella Sylvia, Ed. Sanford and Lew Carroll, and Fits and Webster alio In the roster. John Flynn's London Gayety Girls Included Mattle Webb, Bogert and O'Brien, Llda Gard- ner, Maude Raymond. Vedder and Leslie. Three Little Japs, Thompson and Flynn, and Mason and Titus: In 1891 the French Folly Co. was pat on the road by Robert Manchester, with San Bernard as business manager and principal comedian. "Paris Life" was tbe first part, and "Adam and Eve's Daughter" tbe bur- lesque. The company included: Mav Adams, John Fitzgerald, the Wood Sisters, Chas. Kelley, Vernsn and Ernest, James Smith and Thomas Lord, Richmond and Qlenroy, Grace Co. was organized with Letts Meredith, Joseph Leslie, Elmer Tenley, Pauline Black, Gallagher and West Evans and Huffman, Whitney Brothers, Delmore and Lee, ana John Cody. Gus Hill put out his Vanity Fair Co. Nov. 30, 1896, with Fred J. Huber as manager, and Lena Le CouvlerEmma Carus. Mullen and Dunn, Marie De Wolfe. Weston Sisters, Mile. Valeska, Hanley and Jarvls, Heltorclli and Clissando, and Sadie Raymond. Ike Rose was In advance. Other 1897 shows: Al. Beeves' Company, with Perry Burns, Cessy Grant, Milton ami Thatcher, Walker 81aters and Al. Hecves. Fred Rider's Night Owls Included: Watson and Dupree, Edna Aug, Chas. Falke, John nnd Lillian Black, May Clark Van Osten, Ous Solilke, Gordon and Lick. Jack's Ornnce Blossoms, with Howard, Slgfried, Ada »■ Downie, Silvio, and Dan Sherman, l™ Moulin Ronge, with May Adams, Lew n. Carroll, Fitfgerald and Kelly, Sam Col Ins and Idylla Vyner. The Black Pattl Troubu- SAM T. JACK. roons. with Frank Mallorv, Billy Johnson, Fred Piper, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mcintosh, Maude Hyers, Malory Brothers Johnson and Snlpp Madame Flowe.% Belle Davis and the Eldrldges. Louis Roble put on "The Wisn- bum Bisters' Last Sensation," with Lillle and Blanche Washburn, Glen Emery. Jules Garrison, Tony Stanford, Bessie Marlow, Billy Barlow. Ed. Mazier, Jack and Hon Burke and Ruth Deshon. Morris & Wood- hull also launched their Twentieth Century Mald.\ Including: Annie Carter, Leila Trim- ble. Jane Daly, Harry Emerson, Genaro and Coakley. John T. Hanson and Nettle de Cour- sey. In the burlesque on "Svengall," Harry Morris played the title role to perfection. Lillle Trimble was effective as Trilby; Dava KDWIN D. MINCR. Genaro. as "Beppo;" Harry Emerson, as Sandy, and little Nettle De Coursey, ns Billy dours had: Slsseretta Jones (Black Pattl), The show was the sensation of the season. Cole and Johnson, Stella Wiley, Tom Hcln-