Central Library

Valeska Suratt was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. She became known as “The Vampire Woman” on the silent screen and appeared in vaudeville with Billy Gould. She began acting on film after being noticed by producer Edward Edelston. The “flapper age” put an end to her obsolete vampy style resulting in her early retirement...

Gus Edwards was a songwriter and vaudevillian. Over the course of his career, he wrote and produced numerous vaudevillian classics and later established his own company through which many notable stars such as Eddie Cantor and Ina Ray Hutton gained fame. His success as a music producer led him to start the Gus Edwards...

Beth Beri was a dancer who appeared in two musical revues, "Jack and Jill" (1923) and "Rufus LaMaire's Affairs" (1927). Between those gigs, she played in the musical comedy "Kid Boots" (1923) which was successful enough to be produced in print and on Broadway. She is depicted here in humble costume wearing cut-off ov...

This unknown figure stands confidently with hands on her hips and directing her gaze to the right with a slightly bemused smile. The model is dressed in a dark jacket embellished with light colored scroll work on the long cuffs, pockets, and fur lined collar. Her simple "V" necked dark dress, is accentuated with a do...

Pearl Magley, and her husband Guy Magley were a popular vaudevillian dance duo that toured both nationally and internationally. One of their better known dance routines, titled “Dance Stories”, was popular during 1921. This publicized act featured other dance troupes such as the La Rouge Sisters and Seven Eleven. Thi...

Flo Lewis was a vaudeville entertainer. She is recognizable by her crystalline eyes and long eyelashes. In this three-quarter view photograph, a paisley patterned fabric wraps her figure while a satin sheet drapes over her arms. She holds out a vase with a few thin limbs of foliage coming out of it. The vase appears to...

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Jan Rubini was an actor, concert violinist, and composer. He was known for Clancy Street Boys (1943), Bal Tabarin (1952) and Jan Rubini and Orchestra (1937). He stands erect in this photograph in concert attire while holding his violin in ready position. His facial expression appears focused....

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Marjorie Gateson was an actress of stage, film and television. At the age of 21, Gateson made her Broadway debut in the 1912 musical “The Dove of Peace”. Other Broadway productions were soon to follow including the 1913 play “The Little Café”, the 1917 musical “Have a Heart”, the 1927 musi...

This portrait of an unknown vaudevillian actress offers plenty for the eye to explore. A layer of black tulle is draped over her head, creating a loose hood that encloses the rest of her torso. The folds and shadows of the material distort her percieved nude figure beneath while also inciting intrigue. The material doe...

Margret Breen was originally born in Missouri but moved to California to pursue an acting career. She was busy in the 1930s, starring in films such as "Heads Up" (1930), "Selling Shorts" (1931) and "It Might Be Worse" (1931). She was married to fellow actor Art Hamburger. Here we see a frontal view of her holding her h...