Search Results

Photographer:

Garbo (Chicago)  Search this

Laverne, Gene (Buffalo, NY)  Search this

Kriegsmann, James J.  Search this

Maurice (Chicago)  Search this

Seymour, Mamie (New York)  Search this

Bruno (Bernard? of Hollywood New York City)  Search this

Bakchy, Boris (New York)  Search this

Collector:

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.

Topic:

Glamour photography -- 1920-1970  Search this

Striptease -- 1920-1970  Search this

Stripteasers -- 1920-1970  Search this

Nudity in the performing arts  Search this

Theatrical producers and directors -- 1920-1970  Search this

Comedians -- 1920-1970  Search this

Entertainers -- 1920-1970  Search this

Musicians -- 20th century  Search this

Burlesque shows -- 1920-1970  Search this

Burlesque (Theater) -- 1920-1970  Search this

Entertainment -- Photographs -- 1920-1970  Search this

Genre/Form:

Clippings -- 20th century

Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 19th-20th century

Citation:

Dewey Michaels Burlesque Collection, circa 1920s-1967, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0065

See more items in:

Dewey Michaels Burlesque Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep896ac7af6-87c2-4acc-9b9c-9fc959e4fa84

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0065