Original Listing Description

This is a rare November 19th, 1913 program (playbill) from the one-night (two performances) engagement of GERTRUDE HOFFMANN in Her Own "NEW SPECTACULAR REVUE" at the Grand Theatre in Montgomery, Alabama ..... Originated and Staged by Miss Hoffmann, the revue opened with LEONINO from the Apollo Theatre in Vienna, Austria and the World Famous Chinese Magician CHING LING FOO, by special arrangement with George and Leon Mooser of Shanghai. "GERTRUDE HOFFMANN'S NEW REVUE" starred GERTRUDE HOFFMANN who included in her act impersonations of EDDIE FOY, GEORGE M. COHAN, GABY DESLYS, ANNA HELD, HARRY LAUDER, EVA TANGUAY, ETHEL BARRYMORE, Mme. IDA RUBENSTEIN and ISADORA DUNCAN. Miss Hoffmann was supported by CATHERINE WILSON, OLGA ZAICEFF, HELEN KERLIN, EMMA CUNNINGHAM, DeFOREST LA FLEUR, GERTRUDE ROLAND, MARJORIE ROLAND, LILLIAN DREWRY, MILDRED LA GAY, ROCHEN BAKER, DORIS LLOYD, MARGUERITE CRITTENDEN, LEE CHAPIN, BILLY MACON, JACK CLINTON, STAFFORD PEMBERTON, ESTELLE VERNON and JULIA CARLE. Produced by F. RAY COMSTOCK and MORRIS GEST, the revue was staged by GERTRUDE HOFFMANN with the orchestra conducted by MAX HOFFMANN ..... Biographical note: American vaudeville dancer and choreographer GERTUDE HOFFMANN (sometimes spelled Hoffman) was born Catherine Gertrude Hayes on May 7th, 1885 in San Francisco, California. At her mother's urging, Gertrude – whose early stage name was "Kitty" – took dancing lessons as a young girl and soon began auditioning for roles in the local theaters. She made her vaudeville debut in 1899 at Frederic Belasco's Alcazar Theatre. Gertrude met composer and arranger Max Hoffmann while touring as a dancer, and the two married in 1901. Hoffmann started out as a dancer and impressionist on the vaudeville stage; in her early years she performed imitations of other, more famous performers, including Eva Tanguay and Anna Held. Hoffmann worked with the latter in Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.'s "A Parisian Model" in 1906, shocking many by dressing in drag and dancing with Held. She made her first major impression on audiences in 1908, with her rendition of the then-popular "Dance of the Seven Veils," adapted from the biblical story of "Salome". Hoffmann was repeatedly arrested while touring the United States with the dance, although some historians suggest that the arrests were arranged by vaudeville impresario Oscar Hammerstein to drum up publicity. Despite the scandals, this period marked Hoffmann's change of focus from dancing as entertainment to dancing as a high art. Hoffmann also gained fame when she partnered with theatrical producer Morris Gest to introduce American audiences to the much-lauded Russian ballet company, the "Ballets Russes", in 1911 by hiring European dancers to perform pieces from the company, albeit without choreographer Michel Fokine's permission. Hoffmann continued to perform through the 1910's, although by the mid-1920's she had largely given up her role as a dancer to concentrate instead on directing and choreographing her own group. She formed the Gertrude Hoffmann Girls dance troupe during this time – a chorus line of up to 25 dancing girls whose stage act also included fencing and aerial acrobatics. This group performed on New York stages as well as at Paris' famed Moulin Rouge nightclub through the mid-1930's. (Reprinted in part from the Center for Brooklyn History website) ..... The program also includes the credits for the one-night, Pre-Broadway engagement of the new RACHEL CROTHERS play "YOUNG WISDOM" starring MABEL and EDITH TALIAFERRO on November 20th, 1913. (The Original Broadway production would open January 5th, 1914 at the Criterion Theatre in New York City and run for 56 performances.) ..... MABEL and EDITH TALIAFERRO were supported by AUBREY BEATTIE, MABEL BERT, JUNIUS MATTHEWS, HAYWARD GINN, RICHARD STERLING, REGAN HUGHSTON and LOUIS LA BEY ..... CREDITS: Book by RACHEL CROTHERS; Directed by ROBERT MILTON; Produced by JOSEPH BROOKS ..... DETAILS: The twelve page program measures 6 1/8" X 8 3/4" inches and includes beautiful cover graphics, production credits, cast lists, synopsis of scenes, program notes, schedule of upcoming attractions and wonderful vintage advertising, but no photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of soiling to the back cover, a diagonal crease and moderate edge wear, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.

Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Playbill collectors and appraisers.