Author Archives: vaudevilleshows

Join Grant as we spend some time with the great Bert Lahr and his friends. Also on this pod are Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante.

Join Grant as he shares the Cliff Edwards story, then gets deep into the history of the Ukulele with Winnipeg’s own Uke-guru Kate Ferris. We’ll look at how this little inexpensive instrument became all the rage in vaudeville.

Join Grant in conversation with Brian Glow as we learn about the history of magic from the cavemen to the vaudeville stages which is where Kellar the Great walked onto the stage of the Winnipeg Theatre in May 1900. Brian … Continue reading →

When Selma Bratz walked onto the stage of the Pantages Theatre in downtown Winnipeg 100 years ago today, she was renowned as the worlds best lady juggler. The story of Selma Bratz and the entire history of juggling is discussed … Continue reading →

Dr. Clare Parfitt is one of the leading authorities on the history of the Cancan. Join Grant and Clare as they discuss the history of the this notorious dance that is almost 200 years old – and still going strong. … Continue reading →

Although women of Paris played an integral role in the French Revolution, once the dust Laundresses were among the first cancan dancers, long before it was on the stage. settled they were given a stern message by the new men … Continue reading →

On June 20, 1819 the composer who was destined to pen the cancan theme song was born.  His name was Jacques Offenbach.  Born in Cologne, Germany, he grew to be a virtuoso cellist.  At 14 he was accepted into the … Continue reading →

In her book “DANCING” Lilly Grove describes the invention of the chahut which evolved into the cancan.   “About 1830, a stage dancer called Mazarie played the part of a monkey in the Theatre de la Porte St. Martin.  He … Continue reading →

Although the cancan made its North American debut with Offenbach’s opera Orpheus of the Underworld in 1861, it wasn’t until it appeared in the first American musical that the cancan became a true phenomenon in North America. In 1866 Henry C. Jarrett … Continue reading →