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Rene Irene Grage Photograph and Ephemera Collection, 1921-1930s
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Grage, Rene Irene
- Title
- Rene Irene Grage Photograph and Ephemera Collection
- Dates
- 1921-1930s (inclusive)19211939
1928 (bulk)19281928 - Quantity
-
1 album of 82 photographic
prints (1 box) ; various sizes
14 photographic prints (2 folders) ; 8 x 10 in.
8 items of ephemera (1 folders) ; various sizes - Collection Number
- PH1229
- Summary
- Rene Irene Grage album, loose photographs and ephemera documenting her stage career and Mikado of Jazztour
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Rene Irene Grage (1904-1989) was the daughter of George and Hannah Grage who were both from Germany and later moved to llinois. Rene Irene Grage was one of the Abbott Dancers in the Mikado of Jazz production.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
In 1927, movie moguls Adolf Zukor and Jesse Lasky re-named the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation as the Paramount Publix Corporation, a nod to the Publix Theatres Corporation, Zukor's successful chain of movie theaters. Paramount-Publix Theatres commonly presented a film as well as a stage show such as The Mikado of Jazz.
The Mikado of Jazz was Paul Ash's updated version of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera The Mikado. The show mixed jazz with opera and included comedians, singers, dancers, acrobats and the Mikado Geisha girls. Some of the company included Arch Cannon, Willard Audeline, Bob LaSalle and Evelyn Vee. The show was produced in Chicago and toured the United States for four months including a stop in Seattle on March 24, 1928. A 1928 newspaper article described the show in the following terms: "Image Yum-Yum, Koko, and Nanki-Poo alternating their stuff to modern tunes, and strutting the black bottom. Liquid hot syncopation trills from their weird-sounding instruments, and clever alternations from the serious to the ridiculous, feature this production."
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Includes album created by Rene Irene Grage to document the Mikado of Jazz tour from Chicago, Illinois through Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia. Also includes loose publicity photographs of performers. Ephemeral items include programs for dance performances presented by Chicago dance instructor Edna Lucille Baum, summer class announcements from the Pavley-Oukrainsky Ballet School, and other ephemera from the Chicago performing arts scene in the 1920s.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Selections of collection available on digital site. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Mikado of Jazz tour albumReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | item | ||
1 | 1-1 | 1928 | |
1 | 1-2 | Fragment of North Coast Limited
publication with Burlington Route and Northern Pacific logos |
circa 1928 |
1 | 1-3 | circa 1928 | |
1 | 1-4 | March 1928 | |
1 | 1-5 | Omaha, Nebraska newspaper clipping
headlined "Golf beats night life for these girls" |
May 15, 1928 |
1 | 1-6 |
Women from
Mikado of Jazz cast playing golf
with Fred Rothery and Paul Spor, Dundee Course, Omaha, Nebraska
Dancers from the cast were invited to the golf course by Fred
Rothery, manager of the Elks Club, and Paul Spor, master of ceremonies of the
Riviera Theatre.
|
May 15, 1928 |
1 | 1-7 | June 12, 1928 | |
1 | 1-8 | New Orleans
Morning Tribune newspaper clipping
headlined "Can You Name Car and Place?" |
June 25, 1928 |
1 | 1-9 | June 12, 1928 | |
1 | 1-10a-b |
Mikado of Jazz company members on
train observation platform of North Coast Limited enroute to Seattle,
Washington
Group includes Darling twins (Harriet & Sylvia) , Evelyn
Vee, Mary Hoss, Esther McMurtrie and Mary-Lou Brennen.
|
March 28, 1928 |
1 | 1-11a |
View from train observation car on
North Coast Limited route to Seattle, Washington
Handwritten en verso: Enroute Seattle, The Great Divide. Mar.
28, 1928.
|
March 28, 1928 |
1 | 1-11b |
Great Continental Divide seen from
North Coast Limited train
The Great Continental Divide - 6:00 a.m. Minn.
|
March 28, 1928 |
1 | 1-11c | March 29, 1928 | |
1 | 1-12a | April 5, 1928 | |
1 | 1-12b | April 5, 1928 | |
1 | 1-12c | April 1928 | |
1 | 1-12d | April 1928 | |
1 | 1-13a |
Mikado of Jazz cast members
Jimmie, Ted Suzuki, Alex Hyde, Dick, Katsumi Sato, George, and Willard Andelin,
Portland, Oregon
Written on verso: Some of the boys.
|
April 1928 |
1 | 1-13b | April 1928 | |
1 | 1-13c | April 4, 1928 | |
1 | 1-13d | April 1928 | |
1 | 1-14a | circa 1928 | |
1 | 1-14b | circa 1928 | |
1 | 1-15a | circa 1928 | |
1 | 1-15b | April 4, 1928 | |
1 | 1-15c |
Vista House at Crown Point on the
Columbia River Highway, Oregon
Cross & Dimmitt
(400) (photographer)
|
circa 1928 |
1 | 1-16a | circa 1928 | |
1 | 1-16b | April 12, 1928 | |
1 | 1-17a | April 12, 1928 | |
1 | 1-17b |
Seven of the Abbott Dancers at rail
stop in California, Mount Shasta in distance
Written on verso: The Ballet Enroute Frisco 4/12/28
|
April 12, 1928 |
1 | 1-17c | George, Bob LaSalle, Katsumi Sato,
Willard Andelin and Arch Cannon at rail stop in California, Mount Shasta in
distance |
April 12, 1928 |
1 | 1-18a |
Mikado of Jazz company at rail
stop, California
Writte on verso: Enroute Frisco. Mt. Shasta in background.
4/12/28. The Mikado of Jazz gang.
|
April 1928 |
1 | 1-18b |
Granada Theatre, San Francisco,
California
Caption: Paul Ash's start.
|
April 13, 1928 |
1 | 1-18c | circa April 1928 | |
1 | 1-19a | April 21, 1928 | |
1 | 1-19b |
Rene Grage, Charlotte and May in front
of house
Probably a visit to friends or family during hiatus from the
tour.
|
April 24, 1928 |
1 | 1-19c |
Rene Grage, Mr. Douglas, and
May
Probably a visit to friends or family during hiatus from the
tour.
|
April 24, 1928 |
1 | 1-20a | April 30, 1928 | |
1 | 1-20b | May 1, 1928 | |
1 | 1-21a | May 1, 1928 | |
1 | 1-21b |
Evelyn Vee and Rene Grage in front of
Three Graces rock formation in Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs,
Colorado
Caption: Faith, Hope & Charity. Three Sisters, Colo. Spgs.
Colo.
|
May 1, 1928 |
1 | 1-22a | Gateway of the Garden of the Gods with
Pike's Peak in the distance |
May 1, 1928 |
1 | 1-22b | Steamboat Rock, Garden of the Gods,
Colorado |
May 1, 1928 |
1 | 1-23a | Rene Grage or Evelyn Vee in front of
rock formations, Garden of the Gods, Colorado
Caption: Right - lion. Left - camels. Natural formation - red
sandstone.
|
May 1, 1928 |
1 | 1-23b | Rock formations, Garden of the Gods,
Colorado
Caption: Right - lion. Left - camels. Natural formation - red
sandstone.
|
May 1, 1928 |
1 | 1-24a | White horse seen through toll gate at
Seven Falls Park near Colorado Springs, Colorado
Caption: Entrance - toll gate - To Seven Falls, Manitou,
Colo.
|
May 1, 1928 |
1 | 1-24b | Rene Grage next to waterfall at Seven
Falls near Colorado Springs
Caption: Helen Hunt's grave atop - 7,000 ft.
Helen Hunt Jackson was a writer and activist on behalf of
American Indians. After her death in 1885, she was buried on a high plateau
above Colorado Springs.
|
May 1, 1928 |
1 | 1-25a |
Automobiles parked outside entrance
building at Cave of the Winds near Manitou Springs, Colorado
Sanborn
(S-254) (photographer)
|
May 1928 |
1 | 1-25b | Cave of the Winds photographic
brochure
Brochure title: The Wonderful Cave of the Winds, Manitou,
Colorado. Nature's Sculpture Halls under the Colorado Rockies.
|
1928 |
1 | 1-26a | Abbott Dancer Mary Mulhern on Denver
Theatre roof |
May 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-26b |
Denver Theatre, Denver,
Colorado
Gregg, Houston, Texas
|
May 3, 1928 |
1 | 1-26c | Abbott Dancer Mary Husbands, in
Mikado of Jazz costume, on Denver
Theatre roof
Caption: Mary Husbands one of the Geisha maids. Atop the
Denver Theatre - roof.
|
May 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-26d | May 6, 1928 | |
1 | 1-27a | Abbott Dancers May Hass, Mary Lou
Brennen, Kay Chenaille, Rene Grage, and Esther McMurtrie in
Mikado of Jazz costumes, on Denver
Theatre roof
Caption: Silkened Geisha Maids.
|
May 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-27b | Abbott Dancer May Hass in
Mikado of Jazz costume, on Denver
Theatre roof
May - the room-mate in our characteristic pose.
|
May 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-27c | May 6, 1928 | |
1 | 1-27d | Abbott Dancers Esther McMurtrie, May
Hass, Mary Lou Brennen, and Rene Grage in
Mikado of Jazz costumes, on Denver
Theatre roof
Written on verso: 1/2 of the Ballet.
|
May 5, 1928 |
1 | 1-28a | May 11, 1928 | |
1 | 1-28b |
Abbott Dancers and others in horseback
riding clothes, Omaha, Nebraska
Includes L-R: Mrs. Grace, Mary Lou Brennen, Kay Chenaille, Rene
Grage, George Johnson, and May Hass.
Caption: A fatigued morning riding party.
|
May 1928 |
1 | 1-29a |
Mikado of Jazz marquee on Capitol
Theatre, Des Moine, Iowa
Gregg, Houston, Texas
|
May 18, 1928 |
1 | 1-29b | May 21, 1928 | |
1 | 1-29c | May 21, 1928 | |
1 | 1-29d | Abbott Dancers Esther McMurtrie, Mary
Mulhern and May Hass at golf course, Des Moines, Iowa |
May 21, 1928 |
1 | 1-30a |
Palace Theatre, Dallas,
Texas
Gregg, Houston, Texas
|
May 26, 1928 |
1 | 1-30b | Rene Grage at stage door of Palace
Theatre, Dallas, Texas |
May 1928 |
1 | 1-31 | May 1928 | |
1 | 1-32a |
Worth Theatre, Fort Worth,
Texas
Gregg, Houston, Texas
|
June 2, 1928 |
1 | 1-32b | Rene Grage with Mrs. Charles Adams in
front of house, Fort Worth, Texas
Caption: Auntie and I.
|
June 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-32c | Rene Grage and Reid Baxter next to
automobile, Fort Worth, Texas |
June 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-33a | Mrs. Feegles, Rene Grage and Mrs.
Charles Adams next to automobile, Fort Worth, Texas |
June 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-33b | Reid Baxter, unidentified woman, and
Rene Grage next to automobile, Fort Worth, Texas |
June 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-33c | Reid Baxter, Mrs. Charles Adams, Dude
and Rene Grage seated on steps, Fort Worth, Texas |
June 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-33d | Mrs. Feegles, Mrs. Charles Adams,
unidentified woman, Reid Baxter, and Dude in front of house, Fort Worth,
Texas |
June 6, 1928 |
1 | 1-34a | June 9, 1928 | |
1 | 1-34b | San Juan Mission, San Antonio,
Texas |
June 12, 1928 |
1 | 1-34c | June 12, 1928 | |
1 | 1-35a | San Jose Mission with scaffolding, San
Antonio, Texas
Caption: San Jose Mission - 1701. Under repairs - 6/12/28.
|
June 12, 1928 |
1 | 1-35b - 1-35c | Japanese Sunken Garden, Brackenridge
Park, San Antonio, Texas |
June 12, 1928 |
1 | 1-36a | Willard Andelin and Rene Grage in
Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Texas
Willard Andelin sang the role of "Lord High Executioner and
radio inspector" in the
Mikado of Jazz.
|
June 12, 1928 |
1 | 1-36b | June 12, 1928 | |
1 | 1-37a | Mission San Jose church in Second
Mission, San Antonio, Texas |
circa 1928 |
1 | 1-37b | Courtyard outside the Alamo, San
Antonio, Texas |
circa 1928 |
1 | 1-37c | Mission de la Purisima Conception at
First Mission, San Antonio, Texas |
circa 1928 |
1 | 1-38 | circa 1928 |
Publicity Portraits of PerformersReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/1 | 2-3 |
Bud, probably a vaudeville
performer
Strand, New
York (photographer)
Messages to Rene Grage written on both photos.
|
circa 1920s |
1/1 | 4-5 |
Tom Clarkson, probably a
dancer
The Crosbys, Cleveland,
Ohio (photographer)
Messages to Rene Grage written on both photos.
"The Crosbys" was the professional name of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest
S. Crosby, photographers who ran a studio in the Hotel Statler in Cleveland
beginning in 1920.
|
circa 1920s |
1/1 | 6 |
Hilda, probably a vaudeville
performer
Roberts, Portland,
Maine (photographer)
Message to Rene Grage written on photo.
|
circa 1920s |
1/1 | 7 |
Kay in ballet costume, probably a
vaudeville performer
Hixon Studio, Kansas
City, Missouri (photographer)
Message to Rene Grage written on photo.
|
circa 1925 |
1/1 | 8 |
Paul Gascoigne of the vaudeville double
act the Royal Gascoignes
Strand, New
York (photographer)
Written on photo: To Rene with best wishes from Paul, Dolly
Gascoigne.
|
circa 1920s |
1/2 | 9 |
Lew, of the vaudeville act Ukulele Lew
and Lera
Theatrical Studio,
Chicago (photographer)
Written on verso: Palace. June 13. Ukulele Lew & Lera.
Message to Rene Grage written on photo.
|
circa 1926 |
1/2 | 10 | Marie, probably a vaudeville
performer
Jay L. Hochlein,
Louisville, Kentucky (photographer)
Message to Rene Grage written on photo.
|
circa 1920s |
1/2 | 11-12 | circa 1920s | |
1/2 | 13 |
Vaudeville double act Stanton and
Dolores
Celebrity,
Chicago (photographer)
Written on photo: To Irene with kindest regards, your pals Peg
& Dolores.
Written on verso: The Misses Stanton & Dolores "In Something
Different."
|
circa 1930s |
1/2 | 14 |
Female performer
Frank Turgeon Jr,
Hollywood, California (photographer)
|
circa 1930s |
1/2 | 15 | Female performer leaning on
fence |
circa 1930s |
EphemeraReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/3 | 16 | Summer Class Announcement Season
1921-1922 for Pavley-Oukrainsky Ballet School, Chicago |
1921 |
1/3 | 17 | Program for Dance Festival for pupils
of Edna Lucile Baum, Aryan Grotto, Chicago
The Aryan Grotto became the 8th Street Theatre.
|
April 28, 1921 |
1/3 | 18 | Program for Dance Festival for pupils
of Edna Lucile Baum, The Playhouse, Chicago |
June 11, 1922 |
1/3 | 19 | Summer Class Announcement Season
1924-1925 for Pavley-Oukrainsky Ballet School, Chicago |
1924 |
1/3 | 20 | Program for Friday Evening Civic
Programs, Municipal Pier, Chicago
Presentations include dances presented by Irene Grage and
other pupils of Edna Lucile Baum.
|
July 11, 1924 |
1/3 | 21 | Clipping of advertisement for Fritz
Kreisler violin recital, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago |
January 25, 1925 |
1/3 | 22 | Clipping of advertisement for Sergei
Rachmaninoff piano recital, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago |
March 8, 1925 |
1/3 | 23 | Program forHistoire de la Dance and Divertissments danced by pupils
of Edna Lucile Baum, Keedy Studios, Chicago |
April 22-23, 1925 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographic prints
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)