Posted on August 3, 2014January 16, 2016 in Entertainment, Lifestyle

Grandma’s clippings re: singing with comedian Gene Sheldon

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.

Posted on August 3, 2014January 16, 2016 in Entertainment, Photography

Photos by J. M. Shafer, Altoona Mirror staff photographer, 1940

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 of her time as a vaudeville performer. They were all stamped on the back:

J. M. SHAFER
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ALTOONA MIRROR

These nine photos were among my grandmother’s photos of her time as a trouper with Egyptian Follies. I searched the Internet for information about J. M. Shafer and found this mention of his time as a staff photographer with the Altoona Mirror in an obituary:

Mr. Shafer retired as photographer on May 21, 1980 [sic. Must have been 1970.], after more than 41 years’ service. He began his service with the Mirror on March 8, 1929, as a messenger to Daniel N. Step, president and publisher.

On March 8, 1933, he became the first staff photographer under the late J. Edward Benney, then city editor.

–Altoona Mirror [edits mine]

References

Altoona Mirror. (1983, August 5). Retired Mirror employee dies. Death Record, p. 4. Altoona, Blair County, PA: Altoona Mirror. Retrieved from http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.shafer/739/mb.ashx

Posted on August 3, 2014January 16, 2016 in Entertainment, Photography, Travel

When Grandma was a trouper with Egyptian Follies

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.

Posted on November 8, 2012February 9, 2014 in Entertainment

Singing “Some Other Time” in memory of Mom

My mom, Jonni Greene, died two weeks ago. She was a singer, and singing was something we shared with love. This song came into my head yesterday, and it’s no wonder. The sad thing is, there is no other time after a person is gone. Still, we did spend quality time together before she died, and we did tell each other everything we wanted to– up til then. I’m sure there will be many more things I want to tell or ask my mother as the years go by, and who knows? If there is such a thing as life after death, or reincarnation, we might actually catch up some other time.

The song “Some Other Time” is from the 1944 Broadway musical On the Town, with lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green, and music by Leonard Bernstein.

Posted on June 1, 2011February 9, 2014 in Entertainment

I welcome you to June by singing “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over!”

One of my favorite songs for one of my favorite months: “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over” from the Broadway musical Carousel– music by Richard Rogers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein. Have a great June!

Daniel Greene

Tag: theater

Grandma’s clippings re: singing with comedian Gene Sheldon

Photos by J. M. Shafer, Altoona Mirror staff photographer, 1940

References

When Grandma was a trouper with Egyptian Follies

References

Singing “Some Other Time” in memory of Mom

I welcome you to June by singing “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over!”