1926: injuries, lost dogs, and "insanity"

Nattova, in Variety, late 1926

     JANUARY: GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLLIES. 1926 was quite a year for Nattova, full of ups and downs. She had only just arrived in the U.S.A. in November of '25. (She sailed the Aquitania to New York on Nov. 6, 1925—Nattova and Myrio's "sailing" to the USA had been noted by Variety on Nov. 4). She and her partner, Myrio, who had been together for years, were signed to perform in the Greenwich Village Follies (G.V.F.), starting in December of '25. (Run: Dec 24 1925 - May 29, 1926)
     As we'll see, she'd eventually be fired owing to her fiery temperament. And she'd lose Myrio as her partner too. It's not clear what caused that.

     Below, we find a description/review of that show, including Nattova & Myrio's efforts in it. She and her partner are "the dance sensation of the show." (The missing part of the article—starting at the bottom of the first column—is in the subsequent image below.) 

Variety, Jan 26, 1926 (a)

Missing part:

Variety, Jan 26, 1926 (b)

     We see that the show (G.V.F.) received a generally positive review here. Nattova and Myrio were standouts:

The dance sensation of the show came via Natache Nattova and Jean Myrio, French team, discovered by Morris Green. Acrobatic and agile, they aroused enthusiasm in both parts of the revue, first with “White Cargo.” The man drops the smallish Mlle. Nattova into the sea from a considerable height. A trampoline is used to break the fall. In the second act and near the close “The Moth and Flame” also ended with Mlle. Nattova accomplishing a drop, this time in full sight of the audience.

     Note Nattova's attraction to danger and action. As we'll see, that would have a price.
     As you'll see, Nattova's association with Mr. Jean Myrio—with whom she crossed the pond—was not to last. They seemed to have a falling out. Over what?

Here's a brief review from the January 2, 1926 New Yorker:

New Yorker, Jan 2 1926

Variety, March 17 1926

     Nattova would have many injuries in the coming years.

Variety, Aug 11 1926

     AUGUST. Wow. As we'll see, it is unlikely that Nattova's partners in this incident included Jean Myrio, for the two evidently broke up at the end of their initial GVF run. Probably, G. Rodion was among Nattova's partners at this point. Harry Glick was a partner let go at about this time. Was he the one who failed to catch her? (See.)

Variety, Sept 1 1926

     SEPTEMBER. A month later, and Nattova (or "Natova") is at the Albee in Brooklyn. What was her recovery like?

Variety, Inside Stuff (vaudeville), Sept 8 1926

     Renoff and Renova complained "anent" (i.e., about) Myrio and Co. "staircase idea." The matter seemed to be settled quickly.

     The writer notes that Nattova, Myrio's former partner, is working in vaudeville as well. The two "split" after the run of GVF.

Variety, New Acts This Week, Oct 6, 1926

     OCTOBER. A month later, and we encounter a further allusion to Myrio and Nattova's splitting, post GVF.

     The writer hints that Myrio was unhappy that Nattova got too much attention. Was that the cause of the Myrio/Nattova breakup? He has changed the spelling of his name from "Jean" to "Gene"—perhaps simply to draw attention to himself—and refuses to reveal the name of his beautiful new partner, a blond. She is not "billed." 

     The last paragraph is odd, and perhaps includes allusions to Nattova's recent fall and the Myrio/Nattova split-up:

This is a good flash-turn, and, as long as Myrio can hold the girl who "supports" him and runs off with the honors, can command time and attention in the best vaudeville and picture theatres.

Variety, Nov 3, 1926

     Yes, but will Nattova remain in the GV Follies? I know that, after the Myrio/Nattova split, still with GVF, Nattova partnered a while, first with two men, then with one, Mr. Rodion. (See.)

Variety, Nov 10, 1926

     NOVEMBER. Nattova, described here as the "dancer of the" GVF show, beat up her protege, an apparent overreaction to the loss of Nattova's dog, the Great Dane Droushka. (See.)

     Nattova was later arrested and provided a story about her protege/servant's having actually sold the dog. That was "refuted" when the dog turned up dead at the animal morgue.

     The protege declared that Nattova is "insane." The judge didn't want to hear about that part.

     Evidently, this story received a week's worth of airplay in the press.

Variety, Nov 10 1926

     ANNOUNCEMENT. Curiously, in the same edition of Variety, we find this full-page ad, by Nattova. She is "tired of imitation." She's about to unveil "a new extraordinary and original dance idea," owned by her and her alone.

     The ad notes that she is presently with GVF at the Appollo in Chicago. 

     But not for long.

Variety, Nov 24 1926

     NATTOVA LOSES GVF GIG. Well, the assault charge goes away when the complaint is withdrawn by Miss Carrol. But Nattova loses her GVF gig over the whole thing. A week earlier, in Chicago, she had been replaced by a dancer named Maslova.
   

Variety, Dec 1 1926

     DECEMBER. Very soon, she finds work at Harry Richman's nightclub where, soon (if not already?), she'll be working with a new partner, G. Rodion.

ADDENDUM:

Variety, Nov 4, 1925

Variety, Dec 2 1925: Nattova & Myrio only mentioned