The Falcon Trio Vaudeville Collection consists mostly of scrapbook pages that cover the career of the Falcon Trio. Included are photographs of the Trio while performing, those probably used for publicity purposes, some personal photographs, and photographs of fellow vaudevillians. Most of the images are unidentified, but beside the Trio, there are images of other acts that were on the same circuit. The collection also includes newspaper clippings of advertisements, write-ups featuring the Trio, and of the numerous theaters where they played for up to a week's engagement. There is also correspondence between Falcon and the many booking agents who handled the act. In addition, there are railroad stubs and ephemera belonging to Ed Maziarz, mementos of the Falcon's travels.
The material is not in chronological order making it difficult to compare the gains in salaries through the years, particularly from 1918 through the 1920s, and also to compare the cost of railroad travel.
Most of the contracts were between Ed Falcon, signing for the Trio, and the managers of the theaters where they performed. The terms of the contracts covered rehearsal time, publicity material the act was to provide, personal behavior, the commission percentage, billings, and
length of time of performance. Some letters from the Falcon's agents suggested ideas for publicity that might be utilized by the performers. One mimeographed letter from E. F. Albee (B. F. Keith circuit) to the vaudeville artists reminded them to provide good photographs, have good costumes, to keep up standards, to keep the act interesting, not to use old material, and to keep the act fresh and clean.
Many of the contracts, in the early years especially, provided that no act could play in the same city within a year or two years. The act's name may have been changed to get around these provisos.
Several letters are of special interest because they give an idea of the relationship with the booking agents and their efforts on behalf of their clients. Bookings were obtained keeping in mind that travel should be cheap and easy. Occasionally there was trouble with lost baggage. From the letterheads and from the contents of the letters, one can see the variety of specialties of the booking agents such as those only working with circuits, with fairs, or in certain geographic areas.
The collection should be of particular use to those interested in the vaudeville days and booking of acts.
Biographical / Historical:
Edward F. Maziarz (Eddie Falcon) was born on September 12, 1891 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By the fall of 1911, he, Edward Bykowski, and Anton (Tony) Walker had begun their aerial act. From photographs, it seems they did their stunts from airplanes. Once on the vaudeville circuit, their act was done on aerial rings on stage. In their publicity, they stressed the difference between rings and the use of bars and the trapeze. The latter provided a foundation on which to sit or stand or rest, aerial rings required the performers to continue the routine until it was accomplished without any stalling. There was comedy throughout the six to eight minutes of the trio's performance. It is assumed that Eddie Falcon was the comic because of several of the images in which he appears.
Except for an interruption while Eddie Falcon served in the Navy (1918-1919), the group performed quite steadily from 1912 to 1931. The Trio played tour circuits, such as Pantages, Keith, Lowes, Hippodrome, and state and county fairs. They had contracts with a number of booking agents to whom they paid a commission of 5%, and were solicited by other booking agents who wanted to represent them. From press write-ups and letters from their own agents and those soliciting them, it appears that the Falcon Trio had a good reputation and did not often have open dates.
Provenance:
Transferred from the Division of Home and Community Life, April 1985.
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.
Collection includes several turn of the century favorites, predominantly consisting of Buster Brown comics but containing other examples as well.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into one series by title listing.
Separated Materials:
Materials Located at the National Museum of American History, Division of Work and Industry
Medal award given to Charles Sumner Tainter, Exposition Internationale d'Electricite, Paris, 1881. See Accession #: ME.313452.02
Gold medal award given to Charles Sumner Tainter. Panama - Pacific Exposition, 1915. See Accession #: ME.313452.01"
Provenance:
Collection donated by Verna G. (Mrs. Curtis B.) Patterson,1983, December 21.
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.
The collection includes numerous newspaper clippings of the Superman comic strip, 1940-1950, promotional material using the Superman character, Superman comic books, 1944-1978 and illustrations of Superman drawn by Terry Austin in 1984. Dramatic scripts for TV and movie portrayals of Superman in 1977 and 1982 as well as a novel by George Lowther about Superman published in 1942 are also parts of the collection.
Arrangement:
Collection organized into six series.
Series 1: Superman illustrations by Terry Austin, 1984
Series 2: Superman motion picture scripts by Alexander Salkind, 1977-1982
Series 3: Superman comic books, 1944-1978
Series 4: Superman (novel) by George Lowther, 1942
Series 5: Superman promotional material, 1947-1985
Series 6: Superman newspaper clippings and comic strips, 1940-1950
Biographical / Historical:
The Superman character was created and illustrated in the 1930s by two Cleveland high school students, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. At first unable to achieve publication as a comic strip, they got the character incorporated into a 1938 comic book, which was an immediate success. Since then Superman has been syndicated widely in newspapers, books, radio and TV programs, movies and animated cartoons. The character has been extensively used in commercial and public interest advertising campaigns.
Related Archival Materials:
Superman artifacts and additional documentary material from D.C. Comics in Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) collections (separate transaction, accession no. 1987.0213). See also AC0106, Mrs. Curtis B. Patterson Comic Book Collection, 1901-1917.
Provenance:
This collection was donated by D.C. Comics Incorporated, through Paul Levitz, Vice President, Spring, 1987.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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
Container:
Map-folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1954
Scope and Contents:
Featured are: Superman Flies Again, Superman and Scotland Yard, Psuperman's Peril, Superman in Exile, and Superman and the Jungle Devil.
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1977, 1979, 1982
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 2
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1977
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 3
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1979
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 4
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1982
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Map-folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1944-1978
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 6
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1942
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 7
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1947-1985
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1918, 1940-1948
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Map-folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1918
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 8
Map-folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1940-1948
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 2
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1940s-1950s
Restrictions:
As a preservation measure, researchers must use reference copies.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 5
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1940s-1950
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 5A
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
bulk 1940s
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 3, Folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Books
Date:
1923
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 3, Folder 2
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1937-02
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life Search this
Container:
Box 3, Folder 3
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1939
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
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:
Superman Comic Book Collection, circa 1930s-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
