The Jewish History of Vaudeville

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Title: The Jewish History of Vaudeville
Description: Jews have had an immense role in the creation of the American entertainment history. Many performers, songwriters, and producers had Jewish backgrounds. It was not uncommon for the entertainment on a vaudeville stage to include an element of the performer's Judaism, typically as it relates to Jewish culture. This collection includes various images and other media representing the role Jewish identity had on vaudeville. From images of performers to sheet music, The Jewish History of Vaudeville demonstrates how Judaism shaped popular American entertainment. Please note that this collection includes images that may make viewers uncomfortable, such as the use of blackface by Jewish performers which was often used a tool for assimilation into a white and Christian society. These images are included so as to depict a holistic view of Jewish vaudeville which did include stereotypes which were racist then and are racist now.

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Reuben Rag
Sheet music for "Reuben Rag," a song performed by Sophie Tucker and illustrated by Gene Buck.
"Goldie, Fields, and Glide" from The Jack Benny Program
Jack Benny, George Burns, and Bing Crosby perform an intentionally awful vaudeville routine on The Jack Benny Program television show.
Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars
Recording of the song "Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars" about a dying Jewish man who wants another Jewish man to pay his debt before he passes away. The record describes the song as a "Hebrew dialect song."
Sadie Salome (Go Home)
Recording of the song "Sadie Salome (Go Home)" about a Jewish man who finds out that his Jewish girlfriend has become an actress. The song, written by Irving Berlin, was popularized by Fanny Brice.
Publicity Photo of Fanny Brice from Palace Theatre
Photograph of comedian Fanny Brice from the Palace Theatre where she headlined in 1923.
Weber and Fields Pool Hall Routine
Vaudeville comedy duo Joe Weber and Lew Fields perform their famous pool hall routine which was part of their "Dutch act" in this early sound-on-film short.
Smith and Dale - Blackface Song and Dance Men
Photograph of the vaudeville duo (Joe) Smith and (Charlie) Dale in blackface makeup.
My Yiddisha Mammy
Sheet music for "My Yiddisha Mammy: Novelty Fox Trot Song" sung by Eddie Cantor in Make It Snappy.
Walter Winchell Gang: On the Sidewalks of New York
Photograph with caption: "On the Sidewalks of New York. In a 1910 Gus Edwards skit, Winchell appeared with Eddie Cantor, George Jessel and a number of other urchins, as shown above. A hard-hitting bodyguard now accompanies Winchell, who has been socked on several occasions, once by Al Jolson, who alleged a Winchell movie scenario reflected on Ruby Keeler, Jolson's wife... Among Walter's close friends is Ben Bernie, the orchestra leader. The two recently made a picture, "Wake Up and Live," for Twentieth Century-Fox. The off-guard pictures on this page were made on the movie set.
Excerpt from Glorifying the American Girl
"Joe's Blue Front" (also known as "Belt in the Back") sketch from Glorifying the American Girl (1929) starring Eddie Cantor, Louis Sorin, and Lew Hearn.