Buster My Love

busterness:

One of the coolest things we got to see today was a volume of Vaudeville “reviews” done by various talent scouts and forwarded to Tony Pastor, the “Father of Vaudeville.”  The volume we looked at was dated 1902, beautifully marbled endpapers, and each “report” was taped neatly to a page.  Some were typed, some carbon, and some even looked like early mimeograph!  Pastor had quite a network! (click on pics to see lg version).

We managed to find the Three Keatons, who got a great review.  Also found good old Ed Gray (who was obviously awake), Thomas Nast (THAT Nast..in Vaudeville???), and Tom Nawn (one of the Union Officers in ‘The General’).   

I’m puzzled by the terminology, though!  The phrases “Can close in one.” “Work in one.”  ”Open in two, close in one.” are common throughout the reports and I’m baffled by their meaning.  ”Can close in one” also appeared on one of Joe Keaton’s handwritten letters - he added it in pen beneath their logo.  

Can any thespians or Vaudevillians out there shed some light on the strange lingo?

I spoke to a friend of mine who studied theatre at Columbia. I do PR for their company on occasion so I asked her about it. Billing or Bill is a list of the acts, basically a play bill. A set is an allotted time period like 20 mins or 30 mins. All in one could mean an act that has singing, acting and dancing. Open generally means to open the show or opening act. Closing would be the same, close the show or closing act. It could also mean to book the act for one week, see how it goes and then book for two. Get one in would probably mean that they should book them on their bill ;)

She said she was going to try and get more information for me from some people who did research on Vaudeville. She also said that Vaudeville actors were considered bottom of the rung and many times couldn’t get jobs, loans, etc. But for many, it launched careers. i.e. Buster

I also found this link that had a list of Vaudeville terms…I like the Vaudeville term for Buster.

Buster — A broadly-performed comic stage fall.

http://www.goodmagic.com/carny/vaud.htm

I wish these reviews had more information on the acts. But apparently, they changed constantly.

mercenarylibrarianlady:

Wow, since so many people reblogged the Keith’s Three Keaton’s midget advert, thought I’d add another gem I found.

Found a review for the Three Keaton’s show at the Hippodrome in Cleveland when they played in December 1913. The picture is above and it reads:

…”But to brighter things. The Christmas season approaches and folks have on a holiday mood. If there’s one thing in vaudeville calculated to afford a good natured wholesome scream of delight, it’s the antics of the Three Keatons. Regular vaudeville patrons have seen little Buster grow up upon the stage. When he was younger his father thew him around unmercifully, and now that he is a young man, his father shows no more mercy. It’s all slapstickest burlesque of the crudest possible variety, but it’s funny and intends to be nothing else. The Keatons have kept up their act, constantly adding new wrinkles, until it is the best of the sort in the business.”

It appears they were much favoured over Berton Churchill. 

Enjoy. :D

(Source: britta1988)