Neil Richards Collection Finding Aid

Historical note

Born and educated in Ontario, but based in Saskatchewan since 1971, Neil Richards (1949 - ) is an active participant in local, provincial and national gay organizations since the early 1970s. His activist work included participation in the Committee to Defend Doug Wilson in 1975, the organization of the 1976 convention of the National Gay Rights Coalition in Saskatoon, and many of the earliest AIDS awareness efforts in Saskatchewan. In conjunction with his work at the University of Saskatchewan Library, he produced many exhibitions and public events concerning AIDS and gay history and life.

Scope and content note

This collection dealing with the history of theatrical
transvestism and gender impersonation was begun by Neil Richards during his research for the physical and digital exhibition  All Frocked Up: Glimpses of Cross-Dressing in Saskatchewan (2003).To provide historical and international
context to the images from Saskatchewan, Richards collected, principally
through EBay, paper ephemera featuring female and male impersonators who had achieved fame on British music hall and American vaudeville stages during the first half of the 20th century. The collection contains material relating to
the careers of Vesta Tilley; Julian Eltinge; John Graffton; Millie Gold; Hetty
King; Danny Brown; Doc Benner; Danny LaRue; Charles Pierce; Jim Bailey; Rae
Bourbon; Lynn Carter; Divine; Hinge and Bracket; Rex Jameson; T. C. Jones;
Hector Nicol; Nellie Kolle; Grace Leonard; Dixie Norton; Claire Romaine; Ella
Shields; Florenze Tempest; Bert Errol; William Lingard; Tom Martelle and Karyl
Norman.

1. Periodicals.
2. Postcards.
3. Photographs.
4. Programs and Flyers.
5. Sheet Music.
6. Recordings.
7. Videos/DVDS.
8. Books.

Provenance

Neil Richards

Finding aids: Yes.

Restrictions on access: No restrictions to access.

Location: University of Saskatchewan Archives

Retrieval numbers: MG 355

BOOKS

Maitland, Sara. Vesta Tilley.

London: Virago Press, 1986.

Tierney, Tom. Danny’s Boys. A Female Impersonator Paper Doll. (2 Versions)

NY: Parody Productions, 1997.

PERIODICALS

Female Mimics

Vol. 1 # 7, 9

POSTCARDS

Female Impersonators

Julian Eltinge

# 1 Julian Eltinge in the Fascinating Widow. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n., n.d.]

Eltinge in drag holds fan. This is a promotion card produced for the Boston Theatre

#2 Julian Eltinge in the Fascinating Widow. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n., n.d.]

Promotional card for production at English’s Opera House, Indianapolis

#3 Julian Eltinge in the Fascinating Widow. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n., n.d.]

Eltinge in drag posed against a Japanese screen. This is a promotion card produced for the Olympic Theatre, St. Louis, Missouri

#4 Portrait of Eltinge in Male Attire. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n, n.d.]

Autographed Sincerely yours, Julian Eltinge

#5 Julian Eltinge in the Fascinating Widow. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n., ca. 1912] Postmarked 1912

A promotional card for a performance at the Columbia Theatre. Features five images of Eltinge in a canoe.

John Graffton

#6 John Graffton, Damimitator. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n., n.d.]

Swedish postcard of female impersonator

Male Impersonators

Millie Gold

#7 Millie Gold. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n., n.d.]

Hetty (Hettie) King

#8 Miss Hettie King in Blue Boy. [Postcard]

[S.l.]: Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

Vesta Tilley

#9 Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3104A) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Company, [n.d.]

#10 Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.]: Rotophot Postal, [ca. 1905]

#11 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.]: Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

Colored photograph

#12 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.]: Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

#13 Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n., [ca. 1905]

#14 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.: s.n., n.d.]

#15 Miss Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3147F) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [n.d.]

#16 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.: Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

#17 Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l .] : Real Photo Series, [n.d.]

#18 Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

London : The Philco Publishing Co., [ca. 1907]

#19 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Rotary Photographic Series, [ca. 1906]

#20 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

London: Beagles & Co., [ca. 1906]

#21 Miss Vesta Tilley . [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Real Photographs, n.d.]

#22 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

London, The Philco Publishing Co., [ ca. ????? ] Check this card

#23 [Vesta Tilley] [Postcard]

[S.l] : Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

#24 [Vesta Tilley] [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

#25 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Real Photographs, [n.d.]

#26 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard

London: The Rapid Photo Printing Co., [n.d.]

#27 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

#28 Miss Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3172A) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [n.d.]

#29 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Rotary Photographic Series, [ca. 1911]

#30 Miss Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3172 C) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [ca. 1907]

#31 Miss Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3172 B) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [n.d.]

#32 Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Real Photo Series, [n.d.]

#33 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

#34 Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3117 B) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [n.d.]

#35 Miss Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3171 D) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [ca 1906]

#36 Miss Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3171 C) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [ca 1906]

#37 Miss Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3171 B) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [n.d.]

#38 Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 3147 A) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [n.d.]

#39 Miss Vesta Tilley. (Philco Series 2026 B) [Postcard]

London: The Philco Publishing Co., [n.d.]

#40 Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Real Photo Series, [n.d.]

#41 Miss Vesta Tilley. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : s.n., n.d.]

Comic and Miscellaneous

#42 Chinese Actor Impersonating a Female Character. Chinese Theatre, San Francisco

San Francisco: Britton & Rey, [n.d.]

#43 A Man’s a Man For All That.

[S.l.: s.n. n., n.d.]

#44 Sir, How Dare You!

[S.l. : s.n. n., ca. 1908]

Comic card

#45 Would Some Nice Young Man Like to Make a Pet of Me?

Holmfirth: Bamforth & Co, [n.d.]

Comic card

#46 Sing Me To Sleep

Philadelphia : [s.n., n.d.]

Comic card

#47 The Babes in the Wood

[S.l . : s.n., n.d.]

Comic card

#48 A Hair Restorer

[S.l. : s.n., n.d.]

Comic card

#49 I Don’t Know Where I’m Going. But I’m on My Way

Holmfirth: Bamforth, [n.d.]

Comic card

#50 Untitled

London: The Fancy Dress Studio, [n.d.]

Studio portrait of two women in men’s evening attire

PHOTOGRAPHS

Autographed sepia photograph of Julian Eltinge. Autographed 1917

Five stills from the 1987 Canadian motion picture Too Outrageous starring Craig Russell

PROGRAMS AND FLYERS

Danny and Doc Present the New Jew Box Revue (Black and Gold on White)

Danny Brown and Doc Benner Present The Jewel Box Revue

It’s Been a Pleasure - Jewel Box Revue (Pink Type on blue)

Finocchio’s. Glamorous. Unusual (Program from San Francisco Club featuring Female Impersonators.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (1977 Program from the NY Travestie Ballet)

Two Flyers from British Productions Starring Female Impersonator Danny LaRue

a) Aladdin

b) A Night at the Music Hall

RECORDINGS (AUDIO)

CDs

Charles Pierce

Charles Pierce at Bimbos.

Pierced Ears. Rare live Performance

Masculine Women & Feminine Men

Compilation of recorded songs from male and female impersonator stars of English music hall and cabaret including Vesta Tilley, Ella Shields, Hetty King and Douglas Byng.

RuPaul

Supermodel of the World

LPs

Jim Bailey

Jim Bailey

Live in Concert Jim Bailey

Rae Bourbon

Around The World in 80 Ways

An Evening in Copenhagen with Rae Bourbon

Let Me Tell You About My Operation

Rae Bourbon In Selections from Don’t Call Me Madam

(Mr.) Lynn Carter

She’s A He

Divine

The Best of Divine (Double Album)

Little Baby (45 RPM)

Shoot Your Shot (45 RPM)

Walk Like A Man/Man Talk (45 RPM)

Hinge and Bracket

An Evening With Hinge and Bracket.

Rex Jameson

The Amazing Mrs. Shufflewick.

T. C. Jones

T.C. Jones Himself.

Hector Nicol

Queen Of The Road

MOTION PICTURE SOUND TRACKS

Blake Edward’s Victor Victoria

To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar

Tootsie

Yentl. (Barbra Streisand)

SHEET MUSIC

Female Impersonator Sheet Music

Julian Eltinge

Come Over on My Veranda. [Music] / Music by Lester W. Keith; words by John Kemble.

Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1905. Check this one

Don’t Go in the Water, Daughter (Julian Eltinge’s Bathing Song). [Music] / Music by Jean Schwartz; words by William Jerome. New York: Shapiro Music Publishing Company, 1911.

The Fascinating Widow [Music] / Music by Kerry Mills. New York: F.A. Mills, 1910.

The Fascinating Widow. [Music] / Music by Kerry Mills; words by E. Rae Goetz. New York: F.A. Mills, 1910.

Friends. [Music] /By Howard Johnson, Joseph H Santly and George W. Meyer. New York: Leo Feist, 1919.

I’m At Your Service Girls. [Music] / Music by Ted D. Ward; lyric by Edward Grossmith. New York: Bernard Granville Publishing Co., 1915.

In My Dream Of You. [Music] / Music by Percy Wenrich; lyrics by Julian Eltinge. New York: Leo Feist, 1914.

Merry Wedding Bells. [Music] / Music by Jean Schwartz; words by Edward Madden. New York: Jerome & Schwartz, 1912.

Sometimes The Dream Comes True. [Music] / Music by Ted. D. Ward; lyric by Edward Grossmith. New York: Bernard Granville Publishing Company, 1915.

Those “Come Hither” Eyes. [Music] / Music by Jerome Kern; words by Schuyler Greene. New York: T.B. Harms, 1915.

When Martha Was A Girl. [Music] / Music by Percy Wenrich; words by Julian Eltinge. New York: Wenrich-Howard Company, 1914.

When You Skate With a Wonderful Girl. [Music] / Music by Percy Wenrich; lyric by Edward Madden. New York: Leo Feist, 1916.

Bert Errol

Beautiful Roses (Ballad). [Music] / By Earl Carroll and Anatol Friedland. New York: Leo Feist, c. 1914.

Honolulu Eyes. [Music] / Music by Violinsky; words by Howard Johnson. New York: Leo Feist, c. 1920.

Tony Traviata. [Music] / By Earl Carroll and Arthur Behim. New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., 1914.

William Lingard

As Through the Park I Go. [Music] / Written, composed and sung by William Lingard. New York: William A. Pond, 1868.

Tom Martelle (aka Tom Martell)

The Gay Young Bride. [Music] / Words and music by Tom Martell. New York: The Century Play Co., 1923.

Love Blooms But Once. [Music] / Words and music by Tom Martelle. New York: Century Play Co., 1924.

Naughty Mam’Zelle. [Music] / Words and music by Tom Martelle. New York: Century Play Co., 1924.

Karyl Norman

All That I Need Is You. [Music] / Music and words by Lester Santly and Abel Baer. New York: Leo Feist, 1921.

Beside A Babbling Brook. [Music] / Music by Walter Donaldson; lyric by Gus Kahn. New York: Jerome H. Remick, 1923.

California. [Music] / By Cliff Friend and Con Conrad. New York: Jerome H. Remick, 1922.

Childhood Days. [Music] / By Henry Creamer, Joe Darcy and Dave Franklin. New York: Jerome H. Remick, 1922.

Don’t Leave Me Mammy. [Music] / Music by Henry W. Santley and Con Conrad; lyric by Benny Davis and B. G. de Sylva. New York : Jerome H. Remick, 1922.

I’m Through (Shedding Tears Over You). [Music] / Music by Edwin J. Weber; lyric by Karyl Norman. New York : Jerome H. Remick, 1922.

In a World of Our Own. [Music] / Music by Joseph Santly and Henry H. Santly; lyric by Howard Rogers. New York : Jerome H Remick, 1924.

Midnight Rose (Fox-trot Ballad). [Music] / Music by Lew Pollack; lyric by Sidney Mitchell. New York : M. Witmark & Sons, 1923.

Nobody Lied (When They Said That I Cried Over You). [Music] / Music by Edwin J. Weber; lyric by Karyl Norman and Hyatt Berry. New York: Jerome H. Remick, 1922.

Sun God (Won’t You Bring Him Back To Me). [Music] / Music by Edwin J. Weber; lyric by Karyl Norman. New York : Jerome H. Remick, 1922.

Suppose Nobody Cared. [Music] / Music by Edwin J. Weber; lyric by Karyl Norman. New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co., 1923.

Male Impersonator Sheet Music

Billy Glason

You Ought to See Her Now. [Music] / By Harry Pease, Ed Nelson and Bob Russak.

New York: Jack Mills Inc, 1920.

Hetty (Hettie) King

Fill ‘Em Up. [Music] / Music by L. Silberman; words by H Rule, T. McGhee and J. Walsh. London: L. Silberman., c1920.

If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie. [Music] / By B. G. De Sylva. London: Keith Prowse & Co., 1925.

I’ve Got the Time – I’ve Got the Place. [Music] / Music by S. R. Henry; words by Ballard MacDonald. London: Jos. W. Stern & Co., 1910.

Nellie Kolle

Feather Your Nest. [Music] / By Kendis & Brockman and Howard Johnson. Melbourne: Allan & Co., 1920.

How Sorry You’ll Be (Wait’ll You See). [Music] / Words and music by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. (Cut down sheet missing publisher). Check this in OCLC

I’m Going Right Back Home. [Music] / Words and music by Jack Rollett. Sydney: Nash’s Ltd., [n.d..]

I’m Sending a Letter to Santa Claus. [Music] / By Lanny Rogers & Spencer Williams. Sydney: J Albert & Son, 1939.

The King’s Navee. [Music] / By Charles Dunn. Sydney: J. Albert & Son, 1935.

One For the Road. [Music] / Words and music by Nellie Kolle. Sydney: J. Albert & Son, 1939.

Timmy Clancy (King of the Clancy Clan). [Music] / By Joe Edney. Sydney: Jarvis Limited, [n.d.]

Where Are the Lads of Australia To-night? [Music] / Music by Hermann E. Darewski; words by R. P. Weston; Australian version by P. C. Cole. Melbourne: Allan & Co., 1914.

Grace Leonard

Keep On the Sunny Side. [Music] / Music by Theodore Morse; words by Jack Drislane. New York: F. B. Haviland, 1905.

Helene Mora

Bright Happy Days. [Music] / Music by Barclay Walker; words by Marshall Locke.

New York: Jos. W. Stern, 1896.

Dixie Norton

I Don’t Want To (Oh, Come On). [Music] / By A. Seymour Brown. New York: Broadway Music Store, 1913.

Claire Romaine

I Only Want to Whisper In Your Ear. [Music] / Music by Hermann E. Dareewski Jr.; words by Ballard McDonald. New York: Francis, Day and Hunter, 1918.

When I Marry You. [Music] / Music by Albert Gumble; words by Alfred Bryan. New York : Jerome H. Remick, 1918.

Ella Shields

A-U-Double S-I- E (Song fox trot). [Music] / Words and music by Moya Crossley. Melbourne: Allans Music Publisher, 1925.

Dream Sweetheart. [Music] / Words and music by Bud Green. Sydney: J. Albert & Son, 1932.

Everybody’s Singing. [Music] / By Maurice Scott and Frank Wood. Sydney: W. H. Palling & Company, 1927.

If You knew Susie Like I Know Susie. [Music] / By B. G. De Sylva. Sydney: J Albert & Son, 1925.

I’m Going Back Again to Yarrawonga. [Music] / Written and composed by Cpl. Neil McBeath, A. I. F. Sydney: J. Albert & Son, 1919.

I’m Sitting On Top of the World (Just Rolling Along –Just Rolling Along. [Music] / Music by Ray Henderson; lyrics by Lewis and Young. Melbourne: Allans Music Publishers, 1925.

Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long. [Music] / Music by Victor Young; lyric by Sam E. Lewis. Sydney: J. Albert & Son, 1932.

Let Bygones Be Bygones. [Music] / By Jos. Geo. Gilbert. Sydney: J. Albert & Son, 1933.

Let Us Be Sweethearts Over Again. [Music] / By Jos. Geo. Gilbert. Sydney: J Albert & Son, 1937.

Roll’em Girls (Roll Your Own). [Music] / By Micky Marr, Bobby Heath and Archie Fletcher. Sydney: J. Albert & Son, 1925.

Sorry. [Music] / Music by Dick Adamson; words by Geo. H. Lewis. Melbourne: Allans Music Publishers, 1926.

Sewanee Butterfly. [Music] / Music by Walter Donaldson; lyric by Billy Rose. Sydney: J Albert & Son, 1925.

That’s What I Call Keen. [Music] / Music by Ted Fiorito; lyric by Gus Kahn. New York: Jerome H. Remick, 1928.

When The Bloom Is On The Heather. [Music] / By Harry Carlton and Frank W. Carter. Melbourne: E. W. Cole, 1925.

Florenze Tempest

I Love The Ladies. [Music] / Music by Jean Schwartz; words by Grant Clark. New York: Waterson, Berlin & Snyder, 1914.

Oh! What a Beautiful Dream. [Music] / Music by Joe Cooper; words by Dave Oppenheim. New York: Shapiro Music Publishing Co., 1912.

You Ought to See Her Now. [Music] / By Harry Pease, Ed Nelson and Bob Russak. New York: Jack Mills Inc, 1920.

VIDEOS/DVDS

First A Girl. The Original 1935 British musical version of “Victor/Victoria” starring Jessie Matthews.93 minutes (video)

Madame Behave. 1925 silent black and white feature film starring Julian Eltinge in and out of drag. 54 minutes (video)

Outrageous. Director Richard Benner’s 1977 Canadian cult classic starring Craig Russell, a female impersonator from Toronto who seeks stardom in the clubs of New York. 100 minutes (video)

Saved By The Bells. 2003 film by Quebec director Ziad Touma exploring Montreal’s nightlife underbelly. One of the principal characters is gender illusionist Sheena Hersey.

“Scans like Moulin Rouge on E’ - John Griffin, the Gazette 90 minutes (DVD)

The items listed below are part of a promised gift by Neil Richards to supplement his initial gift.

Female Impersonators

The Follies in the Bustler of Bath. Burlesque on the Beauty of Bath . (Philco Series 3300E) [Postcard]

London: Philco Publishing Company, [n.d.]

Male Impersonators

Hetty (aka Hettie) King

Miss Hettie King. [Postcard]

[S.l.] : Rotary Photographic Series, [n.d.]

SHEET MUSIC

Female Impersonator Sheet Music

Karyl Norman

Manzanilla. [Music] / Lyric by Hal Billings; music by H. Joseph Tandler.

New York: Jerome H Remick, 1923.

Sweet Indiana Home. [Music] /Lyric and music by Walter Donaldson.

New York: Jerome H Remick & Co., 1922.

Francis Renault

Then I’ll be Happy (I “Wanna” Go Where you Go – Do What You Do. [Music] / Words by Sidney Clare and Lew Brown; music by Cliff Friend. New York: Irving Berlin Inc., 1925.

Male Impersonator Sheet Music

Lulu Darrett

Way Down Yonder in the Cornfield (The Famous Alabama Song). [Music] / By Cobb & Edwards. New York: F. A. Mills Music Publisher, 1901.

Hetty (aka Hettie) King

Follow the Car Tracks. [Music] / Lyrics by Ballard Macdonald; music by Alfred Solman. London: Jos. W. Stern, 1910.

Ship Ahoy! (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor). [Music] / Written by A. J. Mills; composed by Bennett Scott. London: Star Music Publishing Co., 1909.

Babe Lund

Ev’ry Little Bit Helps. [Music] / Music by Fred Fischer; words by George Whiting.

New York: Harry Von Tilzer Music Pub. Co, 1904.

Claire Romaine

Call ‘Round Any Old Time. [Music] / Words by E.W. Rogers; music by J Chas. Moore

New York: Maurice Shapiro, 1908.

There Never Was a Girl Like You.[Music] / Words by Harry Williams; music by Egbert Van Alstyne

New York: Jerome H. Remick, 1907.

Ella Shields

Bravo! Territorials (While Jack is busy on the sea). [Music] / Written and composed by William Hargreaves and Chas. Collins. London: The Lawrence Wright Music Co., 1914.

I Live Up-Town. [Music] / Words by Alfred Bryan; music by Geo. W Meyer. New York: F. B. Haviland, 1911.