Vaudeville News, July 1925 - June 1929

     According to Wikipedia, "Vaudeville News (1920-19??) was a weekly newspaper created by the Vaudeville tycoon E.F. Albee in 1920. It was intended for Vaudeville actors and their managers to provide news, information, and advertising to those in the business."

     I made an effort to skim through VN, looking for references to Nattova and, occasionally, to others in her saga.

Vaudeville News July 17 1925

     A reference to Nattova's notorious "slapping" episode. (See here and here.) Upon being offended by Toots Pounds, an Australian comedienne, Nattova slapped her and then refused to perform at the next show. But the saga did not end there, evidently. Silly stuff.

Vaudeville News August 21 1925

     Nattova partnered with at least two dancers: Mr. Myrio (a pseudonym) and a Mr. Rodion (see). (Both men, post-Nattova, continued with other partners or companies. Myrio and his new partner gained some fame.) Both pairings seemed to flourish in the mid to late 20s. At some point in the late 20s, Nattova developed a so-called "adagio" act (which is perhaps more precisely characterized as an acrobatic dancing act, for it was uncommonly vigorous), one involving three "assistants" and permitting such splashy stunts as Nattova-as-jump-rope, and Nattova-handed-off-from-man-to-man, etc. (All of this can be seen in the 1929 "Hollywood Review" film.) She seemed to develop a very different act, involving the "machine age" theme and huge flower and paper-mache furnace props, in 1929 or so. That seemed to be the natue of her act, with assistants, in the early 30s. She seemed to take these innovations very seriously, having legally patenting the approach and issued warnings against would-be plagiarists and other fiends.

Vaudeville News Sept 1926

     I suppose this item suggests that the "Vaudeville News" catered to the small world of vaudevillians, even handling their mail, I guess.

Vaudeville News Aug 27 1927

     One senses that Nattova had a brief time in the London and New York spotlight--from about 1924 to maybe 1929--but then faded from prominence, descending into the status as one among many vaudeville acts endlessly touring the country. Is that correct?

Vaudeville News Oct 1927

Vaudeville News Oct 15 1927

     Here's an instance of Nattova (or perhaps just the writer) dropping a "t" from her name. It seems to me that, early in her career, she consistently spelled her name "Nattova," but then vacillated between the two spellings, starting perhaps in 1927 or so.

Vaudeville News Nov 1927

Vaudeville News Nov 1927

Vaudeville News Jan 12 1929

Vaudeville News Jan 26 1929

Vaudeville News Feb 1929

Vaudeville News Feb 16 1929

Vaudeville News April 3 1929

Vaudeville News Apr 6 1929

Vaudeville News April 13 1929

Evidently, Nattova was still very well-known in 1929.

Vaudeville News April 20 1929

Vaudeville News April 27 1929

Vaudeville News May 1929

Vaudeville News May 1929

Vaudeville News May 1929

Vaudeville News May 1929

Vaudeville News June 8 1929

Sully & Thomas

     I noticed that one of the acts that often appears on the same bill as "Nattova and Co"—at least during the first half of 1930—is "Sully & Thomas."
     I do believe that Sully and Thomas are none other than John Sully and Muriel Thomas, who seem to have enjoyed a long career in vaudeville (I found a newspaper account of their act in 1951).
     An early review:

New York Clipper, 28 June 1922
Vaudeville News:
[81st Street show]
…Johnny Sully and Muriel Thomas, who occupied the second spot, did as well as they could under the circumstances. They got a lot of laughs, showed some very clever stepping, and proved rather entertaining. Sully is an exceptionally clever dancer, besides which he gives promise of developing into a good light comedian. He handles a number very nicely too. Miss Thomas is of the soubrette type, very snappy, and a good foil for Sully. Their material is rather clever, although it might stand a slight revision. They fared well, closing to good applause….

Here's a brief review from July 14, 1951 (The Billboard):

     An article about these two appeared in the May 24, 1929 issue of the New York Daily Star:

Sully and Thomas in 1943

     Sully was a member of a famous vaudeville family. I found this obituary for Johnny Sully's father (and younger brother) that appeared in Variety, in 1919. It makes reference to that family and how it was regarded among the vaudeville community:

I'm guessing that, when Johnny joined the act in 1903,
he was about six years old. If so, he was born c. 1897.

I found this 1900 U.S. census  record:

Name:	John F Sully [John F Sally]
Age:	3
Birth Date:	Dec 1896
Birthplace:	New York
Home in 1900:	Manhattan, New York, New York
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Name:	John A Sully
Father's Birthplace:	Washington DC
Mother's name:	Grace Sully
Mother's Birthplace:	New York
Occupation:	View on Image
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age John A Sully 34 Grace Sully 28 William Sully 5 John F Sully

--And this from the 1905 census:

Name:	John F Sully
Birth Year:	abt 1897
Birth Place:	United States
Age:	8
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Residence Year:	1905
Residence:	Manhattan, New York, New York, USA
Relationship to Head:	Son
Assembly District:	22
Election District:	11
Household Members:	Name Age John F Sully 39 Grace Sully 34 Estelle Sully 16 William T Sully 10 John F Sully 8 Vincent Sully

John Sr. and Estelle indicate that they are actors.

Vaudeville News, Oct. 15, 1920

Naro and Zita Lockford

     I came across a blog (here) that described an act that surely made contact with Nattova and her world of performers. According to that blog,

Naro and Zita Lockford were a French brother-sister adagio act who came over to the U.S. in the early 20s from the Folies Bergere. In 1922 the two appeared in the Broadway show The Rose of Stamboul, and for at least the next four years they were a big time vaudeville staple. In 1928, Naro was telling the papers that Zita has retired and returned to France. He soldiered on with larger, more elaborate acts, at least until midway through the 1930s.

     Nattova, too, considered herself French and performed at the Folies Bergere. She, too, specialized in what came to be called an "adagio" act. It appears that this duo came to the U.S. about three years before Nattova.

Variety, 1931

March, 1931, Brooklyn

     Here we see Nattova's evident decision to spell her surname (or her stage surname) with one "t." But why?

Variety, 1931 

January 

Nil 

February 

Nil 

March 

Brooklyn (“Natova”) 

New York (again “Natova”)

Variety, April 1931

Nil

Variety, May 1931

Nil

Ran across this. You'll recall that Nattova teamed with G. Rodion in the twenties.
Is this the same Rodion? Seems likely.

Variety, 1930: lawsuits and injuries

Variety, January, 1930

Variety, Jan, 1930

CHICAGO Palace (18) 6
Davillos, Chesleigh & Gibbs,  Natacha Nattova,   Bob Hope Co.,  Webb Entertainers,  Harry Holmes Co,  Van Schenck,  Dakotas

Chicago, Jan, 18.
     Two names on this bill, but it is still an applecart overweighted with hokum and mediocrity. Van and Schenck showed who they are and what by wowing them, and were forced to do encores for nearly 10 minutes in next-to-closing. Natacha Nattova, in third spot, sold herself on the Death adagio with Nicholas Daks. Her other adagio, with the three men in the troupe assisting, was carelessly done.
     Surprise of this show came in the deuce with the first of the hokum artists, Irene Chesleigh and Ruth Gibbs. A bit hardboiled in cross-fire, but going exceptionally well with a Saturday mat audience. Show was opened, by the Dakotas, whip-cracking and lariat trio of two men and a girl. Filling, out the time is weak dancing and singing. Act was moved to closing after the first performance.
     Fourth came Bob Hope, combining his monologistic hoke with Harry Webb and Webb's band of 10 for a double act layout. Hope went none too well, and although he has been working with Webb in other places, where both were on the same bill, he doesn't improve the Webb act any. Two novelties by the bandsmen, one an old maid satire, gave the act something. Also the hoofing of a colored youngster.
     Harry Holmes, "The Pessimist," at the piano cap-gunned some as the first act after intermission, earning applause with his planted reactions. Followed by Van and Schenck. Over well as ever. Six Davillas, four men and two girls, closed with spring-board work and tumbling. Changed to opening after the first show.
     Business was off, due in part to the sub-zero temperature. Loop. Akron Palace St clair sis B & J Creighton Nattova co Evans & Mayer Local beauty c’test

Variety, Jan 1930

Nattova Suit Settled 

    Suit of Jack Vincent against Natacha Nattova for breach of contract was settled out of court this week for more than was originally asked.

    Vincent, through Attorney Thos. J. Ryan, claimed he had a four-year contract with Miss Nattova and that she broke away after the first year. He demanded $250. Action was called off when Miss Nattova forked over $430.

Variety Feb 1930 
Akron:
Chinese show boat, Fred Leightner, St Clair Sis & O'D,  B & J Creighton,  Nattova Co,  Evans & Moyer (One to AU)
MINNEAPOLIS Orpheum (16) Jack Major Danny Duncan Co Sully & Thomas Natacha Nattova MINNEAPOLIS Orpheum (22)
Helena Junta & c Manny King Co,  John Steel,  Burns & Allen,  Marveltone (15) Jack Major,  Danny Duncan Co,  Sully & Thomas,  Natacha Nattova

Nattova's Leg Injury 
     Minneapolis, Feb. 25. Natcha Nattova was forced to leave the Orpheum bill here last Tuesday because of a leg muscle injury. Danny Manahan's "Co-Eds" replaced.
      Miss Nattova resumed her tour Saturday in St. Paul.

St. Paul:
Rin Tin Tin, Sully & Thomas, Natacha Nattova
Winnipeg: Lomas Tr, Tyler Mason, Natacha Nattova, Sully & Thomas
PROVIDENCE …

Variety, March, 1930: 

WINNIPEG Capitol (8) Frabell's Frolics Manny King Co Nan Halperin Burns & Allen Lomas Company Tyler Mason Natacha Nattova Sully & Thomas
SPOKANE ■ Orpheum (15) Lomas Tr Tyler Mason Natacha Nattova Sully & Thomas 
UNION Hall
 Capitol 1st half (22-25) Natacha Nattova Sully & Thomas
SEATTLE Orpheum (29) Thomas Tr Tyler Mason Sully & Thomas Natacha Nattova
Vancouver Orpheum Lamas Troupe Tyler Mason Natacha Nattova Sully & Thomas
Vancouver….

Variety, April, 1930: 

Seattle
Tacoma
Portland
Denver
Oakland
San Francisco

Variety, May, 1930:

LOS ANGELES Hillstreet (10)
Lomas Tr,  Tyler Mason,  Sully & Thomas,  Natacha Nattova

OAKLAND Orpheum (10) Frabell's Follies,   Manny King Co,  Nan Halperin,  Burns & Allen,  (3) Lomas Tr,  Tyler Mason,  Sully & Thomas,  Natacha Nattova Co

[Article about RKO:]
     After Lomas on the four-act Coast unit this week is Tyler Mason, a blackface single. One of those singles who entertains nicely while he's on. A reliable deucer. Then Sully and Thomas, comic, and girl with much varied material. The act grows better with progress, finishing with a corking radio bit announced as from some previous issue of "Vanities." It's not a sensational week for comedy at the RKO, but it'll get along.
      Closing is Natacha Nattova, featured in the unit with three male assistants. Miss Nattova was among the first, if not the first, to present quartet adagio, and has dressed it novelly as an interpretation of the machine age. This number is from John Murray Anderson's "Almanac," and highlights an enjoyable act. Before this routine is a dance of death, also presented cleverly in adagio. On the screen is "He Knew Women" (Radio). And trade Thursday afternoon was nice.
      Only a philosopher could open or close a bill, by the way.

LOS ANGELES Hillstreet (17) Frabell's Follies,  Manny King Co,  Nan Halperin,  Burns & Allen,   (10) Lomas Tr, Tyler Mason, Sully & Thomas, Natacha Nattova

San Diego (same)

Salt Lake City, Orpheum
Lomas Tr, Tyler Mason, Sully & Thomas, Natacha Nattova

Variety, June 1930 

SALT LAKE CITY Orpheum (7) Frabell's Frolics,  Manny King & Co,  Nan Halperin,  Burns & Allen,   (31) Lomas Tr,  Tyler Mason,  Sully & Thomas,  Natacha Nattova

OMAHA Orpheum (14) Cherry Blossom & J D, Duncan & Co,  Nan Halperin,  Burns & Allen (7) Lomas Tr,  Tyler Mason,  Sully & Thomas,  Natacha Nattova

ST. LOUIS Keith's (81) Lomas Tr,  A Wycoft & Co,  Manny King & Co,  N Nattova Co,  Evans & Mayer,   Danny Dungan Co,  Nan Halperin,  Burns & Allen,  Mike Special & Bd,   (21) Lomas Tr,  Audrey Wycoff Co,  Manny King Co,  Evans & Mayer,  Natacha Nattova

KANSAS CITY Keith's (21) Danny Duncan Co,  Nan Halperin,  Burns & Allen,  Relay Kids (14) Loma Tr,  Tyler Mason,  Manny King & Co,  Evans & Mayer,  Natacha Nattova

Variety, July 1930

STATE-LAKE
(Vaudfilm) Chicago, July 5.
     This town hasn't seen so many solid variety names in a month of Sundays, taking in this house and the rival spot, the Palace." At the second show here Saturday, these names showed what good standard acts can do with any audience. Opening was Tom Lomas and Co. (seven), with hoke comedy, using a comedy prop horse for laughs, and closing with a flash of the performers on stilts. With youngsters, surefire.
     Joe Termini made the deuce a neat spot, and gathered in laughs and returns in his nonchalant manner. Solid material that never fails. Danny Duncan and Co. (five) managed several laughs with their skit of family quarrels, and squeezed in a couple of song and dance bits to break up the routine. Nan Halperin demonstrates a new phase with amusing impressions of worldlier ladies than she used to know. Especially noteworthy is Miss Halperin's easy transition from the little Alice to the hot queen Catherine, and finally to the tragic Harlem gal. Big.
     Natacha Nattova, with the help of three men, closed with a fine dance flash. Outstanding was the double adagio, and the closing "Mechanism," an Impression of this modern machine age. Done well.
     "Fall Guy" (Radio), feature. Business good, second show Saturday.

State Lake (12) La Belle Pola,   Audrey Wyckoff Co,  Jennie Goldstein,  George Givot,  Signore Friscoe Bd,   (5) Lomas Tr,  Joe Termini,  Danny Dungan Co,  Nan Halperin,  Nat Nattova Co

Variety, August 1930

Nil

Variety, September 1930

Nil

Variety, October 1930

Nil, except:

     Nattavo's Varieties? Marmita and Millet? Nattova and Co seem to be on a break.

Variety, November 1930

Nil

Variety, December 1930

Nil

Nattova in Variety, 1928-1929: the mechanical age, a fiery furnace

Variety, Oct 1928

[Legal?] Judgments: 

Natacha Nattova; William Horlick; $2,123 

Variety, Nov 1928 

     In addition to three acts of vaude, the Jay C. Flippen revue was on the bin and consumed 76 minutes, which didn't seem too long to that audience. Flippen offering received sufficient applause at the close to indicate it could stand a full week. No question but Flippen has improved. His legit experience has done him a lot of good. . . . 

     Next. Natacha Nattova and Co., one of the' few adagio outfits that comes close to being, a stand out: This young woman puts a world of spirit into her work with two men, especially in the thrilling routine of whirling from one man to the other. It's a certainty none of the others will ape Nattova in that last spectacular dance. It had that Academy crowd gasping. 

     Natacha Nattova closed with her artistic terp production. K. Gueral, G. Bogden and Nikolas Daks (her new husband) are her dance partners; C. Weeks is the violinist-conductor-[T' wiib~plugs-] await with a solo, from the orchestra trench. The Nattova act is the last gasp in adagio aestheticism and makes for a class interlude. 

Variety, Dec 1928 

Wednesday, Dec 12 

Cincinatti:

Albee 17 Natacha Nattova, 4 casting stars 

Hyde & Burrell, Walter Walters Co. 

. . . 

Chicago, Ill:

Guy Lombardo’s Or, Natacha Nattova, Buck and Bubbles, Princess Pat 

Cincinatti:

Hyde & Burrell, Joe Jackson, Walter Walters Co, Lillian Shaw, Natacha Nattova

. . . 

Cleveland…. 

Milwaukee:

Princess Pat, Norwood & Hall, Natacha Nattova

Variety, January, 1929 

Milwaukee… Winnipeg . . . Galgary. . . Galgary . . . Seattle …Vancouver…. 

Variety, February, 1929 

San Francisco:

Marion Harris, B & E Newell, Rubio sis, Mayo & Lynn, Frank Hamilton, Natacha Nattova 

Los Angeles:

Other topliners were Natacha Nattova and her dance revue, and Marion Harris.

Variety, March, 1929 

Los Angeles:

With Jack Benny. Nattova with three males- “dances of today”, took 4 minutes

MGM making annual revue film—[discusses current review, incl. Nattova]. Will be ready for release June 1 

Chicago:

Happiness Girls, Gordon & Squires, Harry Langdon, Nattova, Ethel Waters 

Variety, April 1929 

     A no. 4 full stage turn was Natcha [sic] Nattova, in esthetic and acrobatic dancing with three men. Their novelty acrobatic finish under the guise of adagio saved them. Rest is all adagio. It's a return date here after three months. After three years would have been early enough. 

. . . 

St. Louis:

Harry Burns Co, B & E Newell, Pepito, The Ghezzis, Nattova

. . . 

St. Louis:

(same) 

. . . 

Madison, Wisc:

Ann Francis & w, Nattova, Geo Mclennon 

Rockford, ill:

(same)

Variety, May, 1929

Variety, May 1929
Joliet, ill:
Mclellen & Sarah, Nattova
. . .
Sioux City, Ia:
Hal Neiman, Nattova
Ref to, review of, a movie: “Tide of Empire” plus accompanying “vaud” with Nattova and others. “So-so”

Variety, May, 1929

Variety, May, 1929 #3

     ...[T]his bill took a hefty chunk out of the theatre's bank account. Natacha Nattova, Little Jack Little, Claiborne Foster and Herb Williams represented a real dough outlay and also should have spelled box-office strength.... and the Misses Nattova and Foster [should have provoked] word-of-mouth comment to offset their names' lack of considerable box-office value.... [T]rade was anything but forte at any time....

Variety, May, 1929, #4

     If there is any adagio dancing act excelling that of Natacha Nattova, Minneapolis has yet to see it. Such grace and daring are rare in the theatre. Her leeps and swings had patrons alternately gasping and applauding. A great wind-up act.

. . .

     Patronage Thursday night was very disappointing.... There were many empty seats...

Variety, June, 1929 
     State-Lake played Universal's “Scandal" two weeks ago. This week it's Pathe's "The Office Scandal." To offset the similarity, house is advertising the film as "the OFFICE scandal."
     Show is an all-around good line-up, containing two standard big-time acts. One is Natacha Nattova, headlined, assisted in interpretive dance routines by three men. Opening number is a "moth and flame" adagio. Closer is a sensational girl and three-man adagio in which Nattova is thrown from man to man and [actually] used as a jumping rope by the trio.

CHICAGO:
Tabor & Greene, Natacha Nattova, Hal Neiman, Long Tack Sam
. . .
CHICAGO:
(same)
. . .
big ad for film
. . .
Buffalo:
Lomas Tr, Courtnoy sis, Fulton & Parker, Billy Hallen, Nattova

Variety, August, 1929

     Brilliantly staged class dance act, including one of those adagio quartets, but so excellently interpreted that this time it's sensational.
     Class and good dancing all over the place.
     The group adagio number is preceded by explanatory slides, symbolizing the mechanical age. An infernal machine is the set. At the finish Miss Nattova is tossed into a paper mache furnace.
     A fife solo by one of the men through a curtain mask sounds funny, but isn't. It's a novelty and alows for a stage change. Fancy foot work opening in the classical dance, ending in an adagio by the principal and a partner in a skeleton suit. Previously another partner soloed niftily.

Variety, August, 1929
     Natacha Nattova has completely forsaken frills and silken settings her first set an iron stairway a gate and doorway all a steel color against black velvet and the second a huge machine of wheels and cogs with a fiery furnace, underneath where, her three mechanics tossed her at the finish. Extremely hazardous her dances seemed and of course the essence of grace. Equally of course costumes too small almost to be noticed. Palace lobby quite a show in itself between the Lou Holtz fan mail and the statue of Nattova. [see below]

Yonkers:
Ken Murray unit, Jules Bledsoe, Natacha Nattova, Brady & Wells, Lou Holtz, Irvine Caesar, 3 Long Fellows

Variety, August, 1929

Variety, Sept 1929

Fort Worth, TX:

Zellia Sis

Col Jack George

Loretta & Ed King

Natacha Nattova

Variety, October, 1929

Variety, Oct 1929
San Antonio:
Zellia sis, Col Jack George, Princeton & Yale, June Green, Natacha Nattova
. . .
Houston:
(same)
. . .
ad for film . . .
Atlanta:
(same)

Variety, Nov 1929
BIRMINGHAM:
Ritz (11) .
Dauntless,  Col Jack' George, Jane Green, Natacha Nattova
. . .
CHARLOTTE, N. C.:
last half - Lewis & Winthrop,  Ruby Norton,  Mr Se, Mrs Norw'rth,  Chas T Aldrich,   2d half -  Permalne & Shelly,  Senna & Dean,  Col Jack George,  Natacha Nattova . . .

Variety, December, 1929

Variety, Dec 1929
     Natacha Nattova, danseuse, was another heavy standout in next to shut with a corking dance act, undoubtedly the best she has ever lined up for vaudeville. Three male dancers assist. The Death Dance, by Nattova and the taller of the men, is a gem for postures and tosses. Triple adagio finish is equally good and puts the act over for a bang.
. . .
Cleveland:
Petleys, Honey Boys, Odette Myrtil, Frank Gaby, Natacha Nattova