Now that I have a bit more time on my hands than I'm accustomed to (thanks to dodging COVID-19 here at home), I've been indulging my interest in classic film by perusing some of the (very) old film and theater periodicals available for free on the fantastic Lantern digital library website. At the end of my last session, I thought I'd do a few WAM-specific searches for fun and happened upon a notice for a long-forgotten Burlesque Act known as "Yorke and O'Brien" in the March 7, 1928 issue of "Variety" which I thought at least a few of you might enjoy:
"Hokum fits this routine of odds and ends. Frameup comprises two men and a woman. It's doubtful if any gal working rough comedy these days steps into any messier treatment than the one in this act.
She is singing and going into the high notes when one of the men douses her with water from a seltzer bottle. The yelp of delight this brought was only a mild snicker compared with the screams that went up when she was slammed full in the face with a pie. And there you are.
Men build up some funny situations with one posing as the great picture lover and the other acting as his secretary. Exaggerated makeups help. Before the turn is over the men have worked in some other comedy costume changes all for laughs.
Any bill that can get a load of this hoke need not worry about the laffs; the messing around of the woman can't miss.
Not in many weeks has an act scored such a complete his as this one did at the American Monday night..."
Unfortunately the "gal" in the act didn't get a name check in this write-up, but it sure sounds like she deserves a place of honor in the pantheon of female messy slapstick pioneers...just imagine how many times this poor woman must have been pied, especially if this act was playing an old fashioned "five-a-day"!
No pictures here, obviously, but some fantastic mental images that I thought some of you might enjoy--it sure sounds like a fun night at the Burlesque House for Roaring Twenties pre-WAMmers to me!
Love you, too
