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GEOFFREY WHALEN : 1920s ORIGINAL, FASCINATING MANUSCRIPT NOTEBOOK AND JOURNAL OF A VAUDEVILLE COMEDIAN AND VOCAL MEMBER OF THE WHITE RATS UNION OF AMERICA

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is a fascinating, original manuscript journal handwritten by a comedian at the height of vaudeville theatre. Geoffrey Whalen was a vaudeville comedian who performed his stand-up act at the height of the vaudeville heyday. Lasting from about 1881 until the late 20s vaudeville finally succumbed to the competition from movies and radio. The Great Depression pretty much sealed its fate. Whalen was also a Chief Deputy Organizer for the White Rats Actors Union of America. The journal, entitled A Voice From Vaudeville, contains his jokes and stand-up routines. While to Whalen this was a compilation of routines and gags to researchers and historians this book offer a multi level insight to the day and age and this segment of the entertainment business. Many of the jokes are socially aware barbs ranking with the satire of political cartoons. Here are some excerpts: He is a foolish fellow who would seek advice from a physician that the local embalmer recommends [p 15], Selling and serving Chop Suey has saved many a tong man from a life in a laundry [p 31]. The real pleasure of walking through a 5 and 10 cents store in preference to any other kind of store lies in the fact that you can make a purchase if you want to. [p 34]. There are no references to his work in the Union other than a several rather barbed entries which are part of his stand-up routine: Vaudeville booking agents are people who have just brains enough to know how to make a living on the brains other people possess but seldom use [p18] Vaudeville is a mystical land where thousands of Broadway legends imagine they live when in reality these poor dreamers are down and out. [p18] Historians would find this an interesting glimpse into a long-forgotten entertainment world. It certainly shows how humour has changed over the decades. The social commentary contained in some of the jokes points to the much harder underlying reality of life in the early 20th century. Measuring 7.5 inches by 5 inches, the journal contains 172 pages and is about 60% complete. The binding is in fair condition and all pages are sewn in. The handwriting is legible.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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