Description: This is a rare program (playbill) from the week of August 23rd, 1909 for the "High-Class Vaudeville" bill at the historic SHEA'S THEATRE in Buffalo, New York ..... Headlining the current bill were EUGENE HOWARD and WILLIE HOWARD "The Hebrew Messenger and the Thespian" ..... Biographical note: WILLIE HOWARD (April 13th, 1883 – January 14th, 1949) and EUGENE HOWARD (July 7th, 1880 – August 1st, 1965), billed as the "Howard Brothers", were Silesian-born American vaudeville performers of the first half of the 20th century. They were two of the earliest openly Jewish performers on the American stage. After performing in amateur night competitions, the brothers began separate professional theatre careers. Soon they were appearing together in burlesque and vaudeville, where, over the course of a decade, they established their reputation. The brothers were hired by the Shubert family in 1912 to perform in a series of successful annual musical revues on Broadway over the next decade called The Passing Show. These were followed by the George White's Scandals, another popular series of Broadway revues in the 1920's and 1930's. They appeared in a few additional Broadway musicals, notably George Gershwin's Girl Crazy, with Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman. In between these Broadway seasons, the brothers continued to be in great demand on the vaudeville circuit and made a few (mostly short) films. In the 1940's, Eugene retired from the stage to manage his brother's career. Willie continued to star in revues and musicals and to perform in night clubs. Willie's last Broadway shows were: Crazy with the Heat (1941 musical revue at New York's 44th Street Theatre); Priorities of 1942 (musical revue at New York's 46th Street Theatre) – Willie starred in this successful vaudeville-style show for nearly a year; My Dear Public (1943 Broadway musical at New York's 46th Street Theatre); Sally (short-lived 1948 revival of Jerome Kern's musical comedy which closed after only 36 performances) and Along Fifth Avenue (1949 Broadway musical) – During the Pre-Broadway tryouts at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia, Willie had to withdraw due to illness. He died one day after the show opened at New York's Broadhurst Theatre ..... Other on the vaudeville bill included VERONICA and HURL-FALLS "Comedy Tumblers"; BASQUE QUARTETTE "Vaudeville's Favorite Vocalists"; UNA CLAYTON and Her Players including Francis Morey and Mona Ryan in "His Local Color"; England's Sparkling Comedienne NELLIE WARING Direct from the London Music Halls; First American Appearance of Mr. FRED SINGER in the Musical Novelty "The Violinmaker of Cremona"; MAUD ROCHEZ "A Night in a Monkey Music Hall" and the MANGEAN TROUPE "The World's Greatest Acrobats" ..... DETAILS: The 24 page program measures 4" X 9 1/4" inches and includes list of entertainers, schedule of upcoming attractions and wonderful vintage advertising, but no photos or bios ..... CONDITION: (Please Note!) There is soiling to the covers, a vertical fold and moderate edge wear. Despite these flaws, this rare program will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
Price: 69.99 USD
Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon
End Time: 2024-09-08T00:34:00.000Z
Shipping Cost: 4.95 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Industry: Theater
Product: Playbills / Programs
Genre: Vaudeville
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Original / Reproduction: Original - U.S.
Date: 1900 - 1909
