Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Nathan Provol papers, 1893-1981
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Provol, Nathan.
- Title
- Nathan Provol papers
- Dates
- 1893-1981 (inclusive)18931981
- Quantity
- 3.2 cubic feet (2 boxes) + phonograph records.
- Collection Number
- 08953
- Summary
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Nathan Provol was a ventriloquist and vaudeville performer. Born Nathan Provolosky in 1881, he served in the U.S. Army for six years, serving in the Philippines during the Spanish American War and was later stationed at Yellowstone National Park. Provol began his vaudeville career in 1909. His talent was being a bird call ventriloquist, and he was sometimes called "The Whistling Ventriloquist". He also had another vaudeville act called "The Golden Bird Act", which featured canaries trained by Provol to sing harmony with violin, cello, and piano. Provol also worked in television, radio, and the recording industry and later owned a bird store in Chicago. Nathan Provol passed away at the age of 100 in 1981.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Nathan Provol papers consist of materials from his entertainment and military career. It contains two scrapbooks (containing photographs and newspaper clippings) of Provol's vaudeville career, piano scores for "The Golden Bird", photographs of Provol and his vaudeville acts, and photographs of Provol when he was stationed at Fort Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park. Collection also contains two phonograph album sets: "Decca Presents Golden Birds, Actual Canary Birds Singing With Violin, Cello, and Piano" and "Golden Voiced Canaries: Provol's Golden Birds" and Provol's mementos from the Spanish American War (including certificates of promotion, handbooks, and correspondence). Five theater poster boards (of Provol and other vaudeville acts) and a copy of the book "The Pack Peddler" (written by Provol's brother W. Lee Provol) are in this collection as well.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Animal trainers -- United States -- 20th century.
- Birds -- Songs and music -- United States.
- Birds -- Training -- United States.
- Birdsongs -- Recording and reproducing -- United States.
- Spanish American War, 1898 -- Philippines.
- Spanish American War, 1898 -- Veterans.
- Vaudeville -- United States -- 20th century.
- Ventriloquists -- United States -- 20th century.
