National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Michaels, Dewey, 1898- (theater owner, director, producer) Search this
Names:
Palace Burlesque Theatre (Buffalo, N.Y.) Search this
Extent:
0.33 Cubic feet (2 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Clippings
Photographs
Place:
Buffalo (N.Y.) -- photographs -- 1920-1970
Date:
late 1920's-1967
Scope and Contents:
Newspaper clippings; advertising brochures; and photoprints of performers at the Palace Theatre (including studio publicity portraits). The majority of the items are silver gelatin photoprints. Some photographers are listed below as index terms. Subjects of photographs include strippers and comedians; photographs of women include portraits as well as full-length figures, nude or in costume.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into one series. Arranged alphabetically by subjects' names within categories.
Biographical / Historical:
George Dewey Michaels (1898-1982) was owner, director, general manager and producer of the Palace Burlesque Theater in Buffalo, New York until it closed on September 29, 1977, when Michaels was 79 years old. Michaels started in the business when he was 19 years old. Through the years, he featured Abbott and Costello, Phil Silvers, Jerry Lewis, Red Buttons, and Sammy Davis, Jr. who was then a dancer with the Will Master Trio which included his father and uncle. The Palace Burlesque was part of a 40-city circuit. Michaels was married in 1920 to Phyllis Boasberg. She died in 1969, leaving two sons and one daughter. On December 4, 1980, Michaels donated a backdrop, used in the theatre, to the Smithsonian. The backdrop had a musical theme with a clarinetist and notes rendered in extravagant art nouveau. Michaels was then 83 years old. Other backdrops were distributed to other theatres and collectors. They were 60-100 years old, painted in Diamond Dye, and worth about $1,000 apiece.
Related Materials:
Theatrical backdrops and director's chair located in the Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life).
Provenance:
Collection donated by Mr. Dewey Michaels, January 31, 1981.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Michaels, Dewey, 1898- (theater owner, director, producer) Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Scope and Contents:
The Sparkling Seminole Aurora by Maurice Seymour; Honey Bee, 2 prints of different poses, ink on verso, photographer unidentified; Carmen Baby by Maurice Seymour; Tinker Bell, photographer unidentified; Tinker Bell as Cleopatra, photographer unidentified "The Sins of Cleopatra" in pencil on verso; Tinker Bell as Cleopatra, with snake; photographer unidentified "The Sins of Cleopatra" in pencil on verso; Tinker Bell by James Kriegsmann
Virginia Bell (in ink on verso), color print by "Freddy" (gold stamp, lower right); Bust portrait, Virginia Ding Dong Bell by Gene Laverne, Buffalo, New york; Seated full-figure portrait, "Virginia Bell" by Gene Laverne, Buffalo, New York; Virginia Ding Dong Bell, standing portrait, by Paul Winik of Boston; Dancer with dummy in front of "The Bon Bon Lounge" sign; handwork applied to print; Same dancer in 4 poses on same print, with handwork applied to print; Bon-Bon, composite print of 6 images, stamped "Two-O-Clock Club / 414 E. Balto. St." on verso.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Dewey Michaels Burlesque Collection, circa 1920s-1967, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Michaels, Dewey, 1898- (theater owner, director, producer) Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 2
Type:
Archival materials
Scope and Contents:
Unidentified dancer by Maurice Seymour; Bobbie Bruce (pencil on verso) by Garbo / Chicago; Camille 2000 by Maurice Seymour; Carmella / The Sophia Loren of Burlesk [sic] by Gene Laverne of Buffalo, N.Y.; --- Cassidy [pencil on verso], photographer unidentified; Charmaine [pencil on verso] by Bloom / Chicago; "Charming" Charmaine [sic] by Gene Laverne of Buffalo, N.Y.; Marie Cord [pencil on verso], fully dressed woman with hat, by Bruno of Hollywood, New York City; Marie Cord [pencil on verso] by Bloom / Chicago; Alice Crystal, photographer unidentified; Dolores Dawn [ink on verso] by Bruno of Hollywood; Dolores Dawn [ink on verso] by Bruno of Hollywood, second pose; Dolores Dawn [pencil on verso, plus ink autograph on front: "To Mr. Eisenberg / Just a reminder / Dolores Dawn," by Bruno of Hollywood, third pose; The Elegance of Miss Jeri Dean by James J. Kriegsmann.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Dewey Michaels Burlesque Collection, circa 1920s-1967, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Diagonal composition. Imprints below image: "Mercer Ellington / And His Orchestra" (left) and "1775 Broadway / Room 431" (right, below Kriegsmann's stylized signature within the print).
Local Numbers:
AC0704-0000001.tif (AC Scan)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but copyright held by the donors. The Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Michaels, Dewey, 1898- (theater owner, director, producer) Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 3
Type:
Archival materials
Scope and Contents:
Dolores Del Raye [pencil on verso] by Maurice Seymour; Dolores Del Raye [pencil on verso] by Maurice Seymour, second pose; Dolores Del Raye [pencil on verso] by Bruno of Hollywood; Rita De Marco [pencil on verso] by Maurice / Chicago; damaged print, loss in upper right corner; Sheree Denise / The Jungle Goddess by Gene Laverne
Sheree Denise / The Jungle Goddess by Gene Laverne, second pose; Simone De Ville by James J. Kriegsmann
Hope Diamond / The Gem of Exotics by Murray Kovillan [?], N.Y.: standing pose; Hope Diamond / The Gem of Exotics by Murray Kovillan [?], N.Y.: kneeling pose; Hope Diamond / The Gem of the Exotics by Boris Backchy [?], N.Y.: standing pose; Hope Diamond / The Gem of Exotics by Murray Kovillan [?], N.Y.: head only; Hope Diamond by Gene Laverne of Buffalo, N.Y., standing pose; Presenting / Hope / Diamond: folded publicity leaflet with reproductions of photographs by Gene Laverne, Buffalo, N.Y.; Barbi Doll by Madison Geddes, Cleveland, standing pose; Barbi Doll by Madison Geddes, Cleveland, another standing pose, same costume.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Dewey Michaels Burlesque Collection, circa 1920s-1967, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
