grandma – Daniel Greene

On Stage – A super-chaged concoction of song, dance, & laughter – The international mirth provoker Gene Sheldon with Linda Preston

Sweet and Demure – Linda Preston – Miss Preston is an assistant to Comedian Gene Sheldon, topliner in the Hippodrome state program, which is being held over for a second week.

Gene Sheldon with Linda Preston in Panto-Mirth – Ben Marden’s Riviera

My maternal grandmother, née Linda Preston, traveled as a singer with comedian Gene Sheldon in 1941. Unfortunately, it seems her tour with him was cut short when her brother, my Uncle Peter, took a curve too fast while driving her and ran the car into a tree. I remember Grandma told me her leg was broken, and got infected. She told me she begged the doctors in the hospital to save her leg rather than amputate it, and they gave her Sulfa drugs — brand new at the time — to kill the infection. They worked, mostly, but she was prone to getting infections in that leg in her old age.

Man on Egyptian Follies truck

Egyptian Follies truck with people posing on the cab

Egyptian Follies cast at back of truck

Egyptian Follies cast, street photo. Grandma third from frame left.

Funny man (who shows up in several of these photos)

“Ash Lane Ohio May 12 -1940” –Linda Preston

Grandma frame left.

Grandma frame right “Logansport, Ind. May 15 & 16 – 1940” —Linda Preston

Egyptian Follies (9 of 18)

Store owner? | J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

Auto mechanic? | J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

This man shows up in several of these photos! | J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

Grandma in middle | J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

Goby with a male cast member (maybe director?) | J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

Goby in diner | J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

J. M. Shafer Staff Photographer Altoona Mirror

I found these photos among my maternal grandmother’s memoirs. Her stage name was Linda Preston, and she was a singer who toured with comedian Gene Sheldon. Apparently, she was also a trouper with Egyptian Follies, a vaudeville variety show in 1940. I searched for information about Egyptian Follies, and I found this mention in a master’s thesis:

Throughout the 1931 – 1940 period scattered mention is made of vaudeville programs still being presented in conjunction with the movies. In 1931, a magic company, Rajah Raboid and His Mysteries of 1932, and the Carr Brothers and their musical follies, were presented at the Arcade; in 1932, another magician, Prince Shah Babar, and the company of Trixie Friganza and Her Discoveries; in 1934, Waxo the miracle man; Belle and Bozeman, adagio champions, and Ben Bernie and his orchestra; in 1935, a one-hour vaudeville program Broadway Bandwagon was presented as part of the Wilbur Cushman circuit, The Blue Paradise Revue, six acts of vaudeville, and The Soldiers of Fortune Revue; in 1937, still another magician, in 1939, The Rhythm Boys, RCA recording artists; and finally in 1940, the Egyptian Follies.

—Patsy Ruth Heidt

Several of these photos were stamped on the back:

J. M. SHAFER
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ALTOONA MIRROR

More on J. M. Shafer in another post. I imagine the other photos were taken by my grandmother and other members of the troupe when they were in different cities.

References

Heidt, P. R. (1951). The history of the theatre in Lake Charles, Louisiana from 1920 to 1950. [Master’s thesis]. Louisiana State University. Retrieved from http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/FTBooks/heidt.htm

Shafer, J. M. (n.d.). [Photographs]. Altoona, PA: Altoona Mirror.

Daniel Greene

Tag: grandma

Grandma’s clippings re: singing with comedian Gene Sheldon

When Grandma was a trouper with Egyptian Follies

References