New York Public Library Unveils Vaudeville Nation Exhibit

A free exhibition titled Vaudeville Nation will be presented in the Donald and Mary Oenslager Gallary at the New York Library for the Performing Arts/Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center (40 Lincoln Center Plaza) from November 15 through April 1.

The exhibit examines the history of vaudeville from the 1880s through the 1940s in its many manifestations, such as comedy, dancing, singing, magic,and animal acts. Among the items on display are joke books, photographs, flyers, scripts, designs, songs, contracts, and scrapbooks — including a 1913 poster for a show starring Sophie Tucker, a rotogravure of actress Marie Dressler, and a promotional postcard for the 1924 Orpheum Circuit appearances of Dainty June and her Newsboy Songsters, who were immortalized in the musical Gypsy.

Also included are multimedia components such as Fats Waller and Eubie Blake tickling the ivories, Bill Robinson singing Doin’ the New Low Down, and film clips featuring The Foy Family, Eddie Cantor, and George Burns and Gracie Allen.

For more information, phone 212-870-1630 or visit www.nypl.org.