Vaudeville Timeline

October 24, 1881

Tony Pastor presents the first “clean” variety show,
playing to both men and women, in New York. The Bill:

Frank McNish Acrobat

Ferguson & Mack “Rough” Irish act; song, dance, slapstick

The Leland Sisters Song and Dance duo

Lester & Allen Eccentric Blackface comedy

The French Twin Sisters “Class” act; singers with costume changes.

Lillie Western Musician; concertina, banjo and xylophone.

Ella Wesner Male Impersonator; Headliner.

Dan Collyer Character Comedian and Singer.

1885 Benjamin Franklin Keith and Edward Franklin Albee introduce the first “continuous” variety show, open from 10 AM to 11 PM, in Boston.

1894 Keith opens the first true “Vaudeville” house in Boston.

1900 Keith and Albee set up the Vaudeville Managers Association and the United Booking Office, thus consolidating their monopoly on the “big-time” with the Keith/Albee Circuit in the east and the Orpheum Circuit, represented by Martin Beck, in Chicago and points west.

1900 George Fuller Golden organizes the male only “White Rats” (“star” spelled backwards) as an actor’s union to counter Keith/Albee.

1907 Theatrical producers Marc Klaw and Abe Erlanger join forces with the Shubert Brothers to form the National Vaudeville Artists Association to compete with Keith/Albee. (They are bought out three months later.)

1910 Formation of the Associated Actresses of America.

March 25, 1913

The Palace Theatre opens in New York City, playing two shows a day,
with reserved seating. The Bill:

Eight Palace Girls Dancers

Hy Mayer Cartoonist

Ed Wynn Comedian

The Eternal Waltz 30-person “flash” act

Taylor Holmes Monologist

Milton Pollock & Co. Comedy Sketch

The Four Vannis Wire act

Otto Gygi Violinist; Headliner

La Napierkowska Pantomimist and Dancer

1913 United Booking Office is sued by booking agent H.B. Marinelli under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The suit is eventually dismissed in 1924.

1914 B.F. Keith dies, E.F. Albee maintains control of monopoly.

1916 Albee forms the National Vaudeville Artists Association as an alternative to the White Rats.

1919 White Rats and Associated Actresses of America merge with Actors Equity, strike against producers. The strike is not successful.

1920’s Albee goes to four or five shows a day in most of his theatres.

1927 Introduction of talking motion pictures.

1928 Albee sells 200,000 shares of his stock to Joseph P. Kennedy, who eventually begins to convert vaudeville theatres into RKO movie houses. (Ultimately Kennedy will sell out to RCA.)

1930 Edward Albee dies.

May 7, 1932

The Palace Theatre stages its last two-a-day Vaudeville show. The Bill:

Bill Demarest M.C.

Allan Mann & Dorothy Dell with Helen O’Shea Song and Dance

Ada Brown Sepia Warbler

Henry Santry & Band (including a performing parrott)

William Demarest & Estelle Collette Comedians

Floyd Gibbons War Correspondent; talked about the Sino-Japanese War

Frank Mitchell & Jack Durant Knockabout Comedy

Charlie Jordan & Johnny Woods A Burlesque of Radio Features

Dave Apollon with his Filipino Orchestra Headliners

Albertina Rasch Girls Adagio Dancers

November 16, 1932

The Palace Theatre stages its last strictlyVaudeville show.

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	Frank McNish	Acrobat
	Ferguson & Mack	“Rough” Irish act; song, dance, slapstick
	The Leland Sisters	Song and Dance duo
	Lester & Allen	Eccentric Blackface comedy
	The French Twin Sisters	“Class” act; singers with costume changes.
	Lillie Western	Musician; concertina, banjo and xylophone.
	Ella Wesner	Male Impersonator; Headliner.
	Dan Collyer	Character Comedian and Singer.

1885	Benjamin Franklin Keith and Edward Franklin Albee introduce the first “continuous” variety show, open from 10 AM to 11 PM, in Boston.
1894	Keith opens the first true “Vaudeville” house in Boston.
1900	Keith and Albee set up the Vaudeville Managers Association and the United Booking Office, thus consolidating their monopoly on the “big-time” with the Keith/Albee Circuit in the east and the Orpheum Circuit, represented by Martin Beck, in Chicago and points west.
1900	George Fuller Golden organizes the male only “White Rats” (“star” spelled backwards) as an actor’s union to counter Keith/Albee.
1907	Theatrical producers Marc Klaw and Abe Erlanger join forces with the Shubert Brothers to form the National Vaudeville Artists Association to compete with Keith/Albee. (They are bought out three months later.)
1910	Formation of the Associated Actresses of America.

	Eight Palace Girls	Dancers
	Hy Mayer	Cartoonist
	Ed Wynn	Comedian
	The Eternal Waltz	30-person “flash” act
	Taylor Holmes	Monologist
	Milton Pollock & Co.	Comedy Sketch
	The Four Vannis	Wire act
	Otto Gygi	Violinist; Headliner
	La Napierkowska	Pantomimist and Dancer

1913	United Booking Office is sued by booking agent H.B. Marinelli under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The suit is eventually dismissed in 1924.
1914	B.F. Keith dies, E.F. Albee maintains control of monopoly.
1916	Albee forms the National Vaudeville Artists Association as an alternative to the White Rats.
1919	White Rats and Associated Actresses of America merge with Actors Equity, strike against producers. The strike is not successful.
1920’s	Albee goes to four or five shows a day in most of his theatres.
1927	Introduction of talking motion pictures.
1928	Albee sells 200,000 shares of his stock to Joseph P. Kennedy, who eventually begins to convert vaudeville theatres into RKO movie houses. (Ultimately Kennedy will sell out to RCA.)
1930	Edward Albee dies.

	Bill Demarest	M.C.
	Allan Mann & Dorothy Dell with Helen O’Shea	Song and Dance
	Ada Brown	Sepia Warbler
	Henry Santry & Band	(including a performing parrott)
	William Demarest & Estelle Collette	Comedians
	Floyd Gibbons	War Correspondent; talked about the Sino-Japanese War
	Frank Mitchell & Jack Durant	Knockabout Comedy
	Charlie Jordan & Johnny Woods	A Burlesque of Radio Features
	Dave Apollon with his Filipino Orchestra	Headliners
	Albertina Rasch Girls	Adagio Dancers