To any/all having an interest in vaudeville:
My Grandmother Capitola De Wolf and her sister Georgette, performed as the “De Wolf Girls” in 1919 at the State-Lake.
I’d be interested in hearing from anyone having family connection to Vaudeville from the late 1800s to 1923.
Joe:
You’re a ‘gem’ for digging all of this up for me! I’m thinking that the Colonial could be the one. I know that my great grandfather had to have built/financed the theatre well prior to 1921…more likely 1904-‘06, maybe even before. My guess is that it was very small and not likely to have been a major stop on the vaudeville circuit.
Do you have to be a member of the L.A. Library to access this data online?
Here’s another piece of history that my family is trying to recover evidence of: My great grandmother Helen De Wolf (or Wolf) was managed by Sid Grauman. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, Grauman convinced Helen to write and produce a musical number for her 3 children (one being my grandmother Capitola) to perform at a benefit for earthquake victims. I believe that benefit show was in a large Los Angeles venue. The children’s act received rave reviews and thus launched their careers, independent of their parents'.
I’m hoping to find newspaper articles or reviews of the event which might include mention of the De Wolf family.
You have to pay to access archived articles in the Times (and other papers) right? I know that there is a great site that contains millions of newspaper articles, I just haven’t had the funds to research all of this stuff.
I already have a copy of 1919 LA Times article about the event, in which my grandaunt Georgette De Wolf was interviewed.
William, TNX for lead about the Lyric. Will persue that. However, as I too live in NYC, I’ll not be going to Monrovia’s city hall or library anytime soon! (wink)
Have found another great member source for leads on recovery of playbills from the midwestern theatres that my family performed in.
LOVE THIS SITE!
Hello David:
My Grandmother and Grandaunt Capitola & Georgette De Wolf repectively, performed as headliners in many of your Grandfather’s theatres, including the State-Lake Theatre. I have a playbill of one of their performances there (probably 1916-ish). Much to my family’s shagrin, the collection of playbills and reviews was detroyed, leaving only the one I mention. Fortunately, we do have a fabulous collection of professional photographs!!
Do you know where the Vaudeville era playbills, posters, and other promotional materials from B&K theatres can be found? Specifically years 1890-1920.
With gratitiude for any help you can offer,
AJG
Thank you. My interest in the Monrovia Theatre playbills is specific to the DeWolf family. They were all in the biz, and since Maurice (great grandfather) built the theatre and performed there with the rest of the family, I was hoping to recover the material. You see, my Grandmother Capitola De Wolf, destroyed her collection of playbills and reviews. Thankfully, we have the professional photographs.
In addition, I would like to find some documented evidence of Maurice’s ownership of the theatre. And, am still seeking the answer to the question: when was the Monrovia Theatre built? I would know by the date if that was the one he built.
To any/all having an interest in vaudeville:
My Grandmother Capitola De Wolf and her sister Georgette, performed as the “De Wolf Girls” in 1919 at the State-Lake.
I’d be interested in hearing from anyone having family connection to Vaudeville from the late 1800s to 1923.
Joe:
You’re a ‘gem’ for digging all of this up for me! I’m thinking that the Colonial could be the one. I know that my great grandfather had to have built/financed the theatre well prior to 1921…more likely 1904-‘06, maybe even before. My guess is that it was very small and not likely to have been a major stop on the vaudeville circuit.
Do you have to be a member of the L.A. Library to access this data online?
Here’s another piece of history that my family is trying to recover evidence of: My great grandmother Helen De Wolf (or Wolf) was managed by Sid Grauman. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, Grauman convinced Helen to write and produce a musical number for her 3 children (one being my grandmother Capitola) to perform at a benefit for earthquake victims. I believe that benefit show was in a large Los Angeles venue. The children’s act received rave reviews and thus launched their careers, independent of their parents'.
I’m hoping to find newspaper articles or reviews of the event which might include mention of the De Wolf family.
You have to pay to access archived articles in the Times (and other papers) right? I know that there is a great site that contains millions of newspaper articles, I just haven’t had the funds to research all of this stuff.
I already have a copy of 1919 LA Times article about the event, in which my grandaunt Georgette De Wolf was interviewed.
Joe…what is your connection/interest in theatre?
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS: the State-Lake Theatre playbill I have would be 1919 or ‘20.
William, TNX for lead about the Lyric. Will persue that. However, as I too live in NYC, I’ll not be going to Monrovia’s city hall or library anytime soon! (wink)
Have found another great member source for leads on recovery of playbills from the midwestern theatres that my family performed in.
LOVE THIS SITE!
Hello David:
My Grandmother and Grandaunt Capitola & Georgette De Wolf repectively, performed as headliners in many of your Grandfather’s theatres, including the State-Lake Theatre. I have a playbill of one of their performances there (probably 1916-ish). Much to my family’s shagrin, the collection of playbills and reviews was detroyed, leaving only the one I mention. Fortunately, we do have a fabulous collection of professional photographs!!
Do you know where the Vaudeville era playbills, posters, and other promotional materials from B&K theatres can be found? Specifically years 1890-1920.
With gratitiude for any help you can offer,
AJG
Thank you. My interest in the Monrovia Theatre playbills is specific to the DeWolf family. They were all in the biz, and since Maurice (great grandfather) built the theatre and performed there with the rest of the family, I was hoping to recover the material. You see, my Grandmother Capitola De Wolf, destroyed her collection of playbills and reviews. Thankfully, we have the professional photographs.
In addition, I would like to find some documented evidence of Maurice’s ownership of the theatre. And, am still seeking the answer to the question: when was the Monrovia Theatre built? I would know by the date if that was the one he built.
My Great Grandfather Maurice Wolf built the first (maybe only) Vaudeville theater in Monrovia. Can someone answer the following:
1)When the Monrovia Theatre was built?
2)Where would the pre-cinema playbills, posters, notices, or any other promotional materials be archived?
Thank you.
AJG