Rene Irene Grage Photograph and Ephemera Collection

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

Acquisition Information

Source: The Book Shop, 2013.

Processing Note

Processed by Elizabeth Russell, Susan Fitch, Stefanie Terasaki 2014.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Mikado of Jazz tour albumReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	item
1	1-1	Theatre program for Charlie Chaplin's film The Circus and Sid Grauman's Prologue Ballyhoo at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood	1928
1	1-2	Fragment of North Coast Limited publication with Burlington Route and Northern Pacific logos	circa 1928
1	1-3	Handwritten description of Mikado of Jazz participants and tour route	circa 1928
1	1-4	Mikado of Jazz performers on stage at Oriental Theatre, Chicago	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	Mikado of Jazz company posed outside by stage door of the Texas Theatre, San Antonio, Texas	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	Abbot Dancers posed in front of car at Morning Tribune offices, New Orleans, Louisiana	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	Seattle Theatre, Seattle, Washington	March 29, 1928
1	1-12a	Portland Theatre, Portland, Oregon	April 5, 1928
1	1-12b	Arch Cannon and Bob LaSalle next to Mikado of Jazz advertisement, Portland Theatre, Portland, Oregon	April 5, 1928
1	1-12c	Arch Cannon, Bob LaSalle, and Willard Andeline in Mikado of Jazz costumes, Portland, Oregon	April 1928
1	1-12d	Harriet and Sylvia Darling (the "Darling Twins") in Mikado of Jazz costumes, Portland, Oregon	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	The Darling Twins and Alex Hyde, in costume, Portland, Oregon	April 1928
1	1-13c	Latourelle Falls, Oregon	April 4, 1928
1	1-13d	Columbia River, probably near Portland, Oregon	April 1928
1	1-14a	Mount St. Helens in distance Cross & Dimmitt (605) (photographer)	circa 1928
1	1-14b	Mount Hood seen from Lost Lake, Oregon Cross & Dimmitt (440) (photographer)	circa 1928
1	1-15a	Rowena Point on the Columbia River Highway, Oregon Cross & Dimmitt (515) (photographer)	circa 1928
1	1-15b	Columbia River	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	Multnomah Falls, Oregon	circa 1928
1	1-16b	Mount Shasta seen from Shasta Springs, California	April 12, 1928
1	1-17a	Mikado of Jazz company members at rail stop in California, Mount Shasta in distance	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	Al Carr and Harry Bernstein, San Francisco	circa April 1928
1	1-19a	Metropolitan Theatre, Los Angeles	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	Mary Husbands, May Hass, Mary Lou Brennen and Rene Grage in Ogden, Utah	April 30, 1928
1	1-20b	Evelyn Vee and Rene Grage on steps of Acacia Hotel, Colorado Springs	May 1, 1928
1	1-21a	Evelyn Vee and Rene Grage at Acacia Hotel, Colorado Springs	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	Abbott Dancer Mary Lou Brennen, in Mikado of Jazz costume, on Denver Theatre roof	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	Abbott Dancers Esther McMurtrie, May Hass, Rene Grage, and Mary Lou Brennen in Mikado of Jazz costumes, on Denver Theatre roof	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	Riviera Theatre, Omaha, Nebraska	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	Rene Grage, Eddie Perry, May Hass, Mary Lou Brennen, Steve and Mary Mulhern at golf course, Des Moines, Iowa	May 21, 1928
1	1-29c	Evelyn Vee, Steve, May Hass, and Eddie Perry at golf course, Des Moine, Iowa	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	Mikado of Jazz Stage Manager Tom Dayton and his wife Dorothy in front of Palace Theatre, Dallas, Texas Gregg, Houston, Texas	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	Texas Theatre, San Antonio, Texas	June 9, 1928
1	1-34b	San Juan Mission, San Antonio, Texas	June 12, 1928
1	1-34c	Irene Grage (at center front) and other Mikado of Jazz company members at San Jose Mission, San Antonio, Texas	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	Anna May Sato, young daughter of Mikado of Jazz cast member Katsumi Sato, in San Antonio, Texas	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	Man and two women, probably from Mikado of Jazz touring company	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	Vaudeville comedian and impresario Billy Purl	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

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