Research Catalog

Title

Joe Laurie, Jr. papers, 1877-1954 (bulk 1912-1954).

Author

Laurie, Joe, 1893-1954.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

.84 linear foot (2 boxes)

Summary

Joe Laurie, Jr. (1893-1954) was a comedian, actor, and writer who began his career as a vaudeville performer in the 1910s, touring with Aleen Bronson as Laurie and Aleen. He later worked as a staff columnist for Variety and wrote frequently on the history of vaudeville. In 1953, he published Vaudeville: From the Honky-tonks to the Palace. The Joe Laurie, Jr. papers date from 1877 to 1954 and contain correspondence, writings, scripts, autograph books, and ephemera from Laurie's career. In addition to containing Laurie's papers, the collection contains some papers of his son, Joseph Bryant Hughes Laurie; correspondence of Variety editor Abel Green; and administrative records from vaudeville organizations. The earliest materials in the collection are autographs that date from about 1877 to 1886 and are labeled as being from the "Joe Laurie, Jr. Vaudeville Collection." Materials from Laurie's vaudeville career in the 1910s include an autograph book with inscriptions to Laurie and Aleen and a letter written by Laurie regarding a possible booking. The collection contains some of Laurie's writings, including a typescript of a 1938 article he wrote titled "Vaudeville Memories." For the article, Laurie asked colleagues to name their favorite vaudeville act, and the collection contains letters he received in response to his query. Laurie's correspondence includes a large number of letters from performer and writer William Kerry (Bill) Halligan, dating mostly to the 1950s, which include Halligan's recollections about his career in vaudeville and theater. There is one folder of letters from writer O.O. McIntyre to Abel Green. The collection also includes a handwritten draft of an article by George M. Cohan titled "Nice Things about Managers We've Met," dated 1942. The collection includes two undated scripts: one handwritten script for a burlesque titled Ixion, and a typewritten script for Fern Cliff by William Haworth. The collection contains administrative papers of the Association of Managers of the Eastern Circuit of Burlesque Theatre and the Eastern Booking Agency of the Eastern Circuit Association; these include contracts, meeting minutes, and financial papers, and date from about 1901 to 1910. Papers of Laurie's son, J.B.H. Laurie, date to the 1940s, and include letters from Joe Laurie, Jr., letters from friends and colleagues, and military records including letters from the Royal Canadian Air Force and the American Air Force.

Subjects

• Variety
• Green, Abel, 1900-1973
• Burlesque (Theater)
• McIntyre, O. O (Oscar Odd), 1884-1938
• Vaudeville > History and criticism
• Halligan, William Kerry, 1883-1957

Access (note)

• Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Terms of Use (note)

• The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.

Source (note)

• Donated by the estate of Joe Laurie, Jr., 1955.

Call Number

*T-Mss 1954-001

OCLC

904401371

Author

Laurie, Joe, 1893-1954.

Title

Joe Laurie, Jr. papers, 1877-1954 (bulk 1912-1954).

Restricted Access

Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Terms Of Use

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.

Source

Donated by the estate of Joe Laurie, Jr., 1955.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Request Access to Theatre Division Special Collections material

Research Call Number

*T-Mss 1954-001