Vaudeville

1920 · ref. 59766 — Portland OR New York & Hollywood & Los Angeles CA: Earl Mossman Revue and Productions ACME Commercial Studio Allara Blixt Braun Bruno Allen J. De Lay Photo-Art Commercial Studio et al ca. 1920-1976. Three vols. Thick 4to. 179; 124; 117 leaves unnumbered. all archival mylar sleeves some 2-pocket for 5 x 7 in. material most for holding 8 x 10 in. images. With 425 photographs sized from 4 x 4 in. up to 8 x 10 in. over 90% are 8 x 10 in. most images w/ photographer’s imprints on versos many w/ pencil annotations editing notes camera-ready copy several are negative contact print sheets a few colour images many are signed some have minor tears or creasing a few show remnants of old scrapbook leaves together with several newspaper and magazine clippings printed promotions holiday leaflets. All preserved in three black cloth 3-ring clamshell binders an excellent archive. This unequaled archive of photographs chronicling the successful and colourful Vaudeville and entertainment career of Earl Mossman reveals wealth of musical and theatrical history from the Pacific Northwest during first album in this archive is largely devoted to Earl Mossman’s contributions and managing of his the first half of the 20th Century as well as impact on historic events. The chorus-line all-girl revue shows at the Frontier Village during the 100 day run of the Oregon Centennial Exposition. This re-created town from the 1870’s Old West featured the Golden Nugget dance hall & saloon as well as livery stable church post office and hotel and proved to be the most successful attraction. Mossman’s Can-Can girls put on daily shows and held dances where the daringly dressed women would dance with visitors and hired actors. The 1859-1959 Centennial Exposition lasted from June 10 to Sept. 17 on 65 acres along the Columbia River formerly Vanport wiped away in the tragic 1948 flood and also featured a Gayway Amusement Park Garden of Tomorrow & Adventureland. The photos depict not only Mossman’s Can-Can girl revue but also steam locomotives Modernist sculptures and murals by Louis Bunce and other Oregon artists as well as photos of the Mid-Century Modern Lumber Industry Pavilion and the striking Hall of Religious History in the Garden of Tomorrow which featured murals of Carl Morris. Also shown are neon sculptures the filled arena showing the opening ceremonies which featured actor Raymond Burr as master of ceremonies the Nelson Picket Dancers the Golden Nugget and Frontier Trading Post from the air and more. The second album includes as well more images from the Centennial as well as many from Earl Mossman’s “Productions” talent agency and entertainment group who supplied vaudeville dance and music acts such as Beverly Short Eleanor Malcolm Gary Marvin Ginger McClane Gwen Gibson Jerry Brown Freddie Keller’s Orchestra and Maury Meriweather’s Band to Portland OR and surrounding Pacific Northwest clubs and venues. Photos included here depict as well the Nelson Pickett Dancers The Glenns “originating new tricks in a dancing mood;” The Carsony Brothers; the Earl Mossman Girls featuring models from the Gloria LaVonne modeling agency; along with Walter Blacke Jacqueline Clark Earl Mossman’s Dolls for “Delta Dome” and more. Other notable names include Billy Daniels d. 1988 with photos of his ‘The Masculine Touch” recorded live at the Mocambo on the Sunset Strip well-known African-American singer form the mid-1930’s to 1986 who launched his career in the Harlem Renaissance; along with Jeanne Gayle who sang with Bob Crosby and starred in the Great Gildersleeve 1954 Jack Nagel and even Shirley of the Hoti PocaDot Bikini Contest.The many photos also depict Mossman meeting and greeting celebrities rolling into Portland running for mayor of Portland OR he never won: touting and promoting the “Straw hat day May 15” by not only wearing straw hats himself but inducing his all-girl revues to wear as well along with leading parades including the 1972 Merrykhana Parade where he was appointed “King of the Parade.” Many of the images show him with many different canes drawn from his large collection signing contracts for the American Legion seated in limousines and Porsches and even attending dinners. One photo includes dinner guests of Miracle Oxygen which featured the editor of The Oregonian Dick Nokes Paul Hauron stage feature writer the Todds and others. Of additional interest are the photos of Mossman showing off his scrapbook filled with images from his long career as well as images while convalescing with his bevy of beauties in the Shriner’s Hospital in Portland OR. Mossman 1894-1976 was an Oregon native and grandson of Isaac Mossman who had fought in the 1855-1856 Indian Wars rode with the Washington Territory’s Pony Express out of Walla Walla and was the first Washington Territorial librarian in 1870. Earl Mossman began running away from home as a young boy to perform in taverns and saloons in downtown Portland later worked for Pacific Power & Light Co. as an office boy and in 1913 after marrying his childhood sweetheart Catherine Groos launched his career on the Vaudeville Circuit. He initially played with the Basco Comedy Co. and later with Connie & Mack’s and the Bert Levy Circuit. Walter Winchell coined him as the “Beau Brummel of Broadway” during the 1920’s and by the 1930’s was performing with Norma Lawton in Broadway productions such as “The Dancing Producer” and performed with his partner Ray Vance at the Lotus Isle Amusement Park and the Peacock Ballroom. He would marry five different times performed at civic activities Rose Festivals and beauty pageants across the Pacific Northwest.Over half the photographs in this collection were shot by Allen J. De Lay photographer with The Oregonian from 1947 until the newspaper strike of 1960 who was not only an extraordinary photographer but also musician and competitive swimmer. He is perhaps best remembered for his photographs of the darker seamier side of Portland in the post-World War II era. Other Oregon photographers represented include Maxwell Allara Paul Blixt Kirk Braun Bill Gray Hodge Kennell-Ellis Verne Lewis Alfred Monner Dick Slater Don Thompson Donald Wilson and others. Of particular interest are noted theatrical photographers such as Bruno in Hollywood and James J. Kriegsmann 1909-1994 celebrity & theatrical photographer from 1929 to the 1980’s. We could find no similar archive of Mossman related photos in any institutional holdings except for a few images. See: Ellis Lucia Earl Mossman Oral History Recording pacific University Archives 1914-1918 Washington County Oral Histories; Walkathons - Dance Marathons Al Painter’s Lotus Isle Walkathon Organization PDX History 2022; David Kludas Centennial Exposition of 1959 Oregon Encyclopedia 2022. Earl Mossman Revue, and Productions, ACME Commercial Studio, Allara, Blixt, Braun, Bruno, Allen J. De Lay, Photo-Art Commercial hardcover