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Sunday, December 05, 2010
Ground Acts #7
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14 comments:
Another young 'lady' who looks suspiciously unladylike. 'Her', and of course at least one of the Netty Caroll gals.
I'm wondering if, in the day when male performers sometimes played the part of women, did they dress and act like men in the backyard? Did others on the show know? Did they dress in the men's dressing tent? The whole subject could be fodder for an article or tv documentary.
I think it was quite common in vaudville too, and all the way back to Astley and Sanger days.
What a great idea.
The documentary could be opened with Christine Jorgensen's famous quote:
"Doctor, cut this thing off and make it snappy!"
Anonymous,
"I'm wondering if, in the day when male performers sometimes played the part of women, did they dress and act like men in the backyard? I can't speak to back in the day, but I know on Circus Vargas they normally didn't, they stayed in character.
"Did others on the show know?" Again, I don't know about back in the day, but on Circus Vargas, yes it was common knowledge.
Wade Burck
Apparently, Anonymous's
observations lend New meaning to "Impalement" Act...
Ah The great deceptions of the Circus World: Years ago we were in the reception tent after a Big Apple performance and some woman with a young child asked us if we had seen Grandma. I unwittingly replied, "Yes, he's right over there." The woman's quite startled response was, "Grandma's a guy ?!?"
Paul Gutheil
I suspect they wore thin steel t-shirts and knickers. But those battle axes are another safety issue. Dennis
They were not uncommen on alot of shows. Most famous would be "Barbette" [definetly homosexual] who took off his wig and "tipped hisw mitt" in final bow and "Herberta Beeson" [Slats Beeson and Straight]. He did not reveal any manliness and the public was unaware at the fact. hE did a great act dancing on the wire on major tent shows in the early bturn of the last century. Back in my young days they were known as "female impersonaters". Johnny
Bobby Kaye told me that he played the female role in an Adagio Act that ended the show on some tent show in the depression. It was so bad, he would run to his car, and hide, rubbing off his makeup in case the "townees" were chasing them.
Michael:
I wonder if our readers are old enough to know what an Adagio is. They used to be quite popular in vaude and then in night clubs.
Well, I know SOME of them are old enough...
I'm one of the ones, Whitey, who is old enough to remember. ~frank
Buckles didn't that quote end in
"and make it a snapper"
Does anyone remember the "Jewel
Box Revue" of the 60s & 70s
WELCOME BACK CHIC!
I heard about that ruckus you raised overseas. :-) ~frank
Chic: I remember the Jewel Box Revue. Never saw one live but a co worker back then brought a program (actually a book ?!?) to work one day. As I recall there was supposed to be one genuine woman in there and the idea was to try to find her. Impossible. Did Billy Barton ever get involved in this ?
Paul Gutheil
I worked on a few spot dates with
them Paul & they were terrific
Billy was never involved with it
Truly a 1st class variety drag
show with great costumes & very
good choreography & comedy
The only girl (Stormy) was the
M C in a man's tux (not a dancer)
There were about 16 "showgirls"
& a couple of variety types that
included a big fat momma like
Sophie Tucker (good singer)
I worked with 1 other stagehand
to hang the softgoods & lights
I operated the frontlight while
he ran the sound (quite a show)
Really good to be back home Frank
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