for everyone?”
Bessie pondered the question. “Comedians are exempt. I’ve seen fat, slobby men who are middle-aged and older who still command the stage. Some of the singers like Zeta go on for some time because they have fans who adore them.”
Ruby nodded and looked out the window and saw a man staring up at their building.
“I think that’s the key,” Bessie explained. “You must be like Zeta. Once you have star billing, you must cultivate your audience and make people return to see you.”
“Look at Lillian Russell! People come from all over to see her, and you are much younger and prettier than she is,” she told her new friend.
Everyone had heard of Lillian Russell, a popular singer who performed at a local music hall in New York. She had a long career, and Ruby envied her longevity.
“There!” Bessie said as she finished embroidering the small tear and held it up for Ruby to see.
“It’s so gaudy,” Ruby said as she looked at the distasteful garment once more.
“Yes! It is gaudy! Look, I don’t mean to sound harsh, Ruby, but here goes nothing. If you want to dress normally and be respected and revered, then go on the stage as an actress. You can do comedy, drama, Shakespeare, or whatever takes your fancy. But you told me when we first met that you want to be onstage in vaudeville and sing.”
“I do,” Ruby said, nodding.
“Then stop worrying and show a little leg. You aren’t selling your body to men—”
“Bessie!” Ruby said softly.
“Well, you aren’t, but it will get you noticed,” she said the last words with emphasis.
Ruby nodded and picked up the repaired garment. She moved her hand along the silk bodice and resigned herself. Bessie was right. A little leg was nothing, and it would get her noticed.
5
R uby briefly met the performers of the vaudeville show before her first entrance onto the stage as the “Intro Act” card girl. Everyone introduced themselves to her before going off to their dressing rooms. The Vadas sisters greeted her warmly and spoke Hungarian as they ambled off while the comedian, Lou, kissed the back of her hand and then dropped an egg into it.
“Ah!” she cried out, but the egg wasn’t real.
“Welcome, my dear,” he said, smiling and throwing the egg into the air and then catching it.
Lee Chen was a magician from China who no one knew anything about. He wore a long black traditional Chinese gown that Ruby would later find out was called a changshan . He seemed very mysterious, and when she introduced herself to him, he only bowed slightly and said nothing.
Besides the dancing siblings, the only other performer she had yet to meet was Zeta Riggi, the Italian singer. But Zeta had top billing and would not deign to meet a lowly card girl. Many theater managers used card girls to keep the audience interested between acts, and they often looked like Ruby: a young, trim girl wearing a revealing gown to keep the audience engaged.
Ruby was nervous as she waited backstage for her first card entrance. She watched as “Vaudeville Vern” welcomed the audience and talked a little about the acts to follow. He was wearing the black-and-white evening clothes of a gentleman, and she was surprised to see the audience’s response to him. The moment he stepped onstage, the house fell silent.
Ruby liked being backstage. She liked to watch the bustle of movement as the stagehands moved along the fly to change scenery or drapery, and the small orchestra pit in front of the stage filled with musicians who played for each act.
She tried to stay out of everyone’s way, and when Vern announced the first act, Lou McDoo strolled onstage wearing an outrageous costume of humungous pants, a shirt and vest, and a tiny hat on his head. He garnered a large laugh from his costume alone.
“What are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Bessie whispered to her.
“I wanted to watch the show from the wings.” Ruby turned to her friend, who wore
Bessie pondered the question. “Comedians are exempt. I’ve seen fat, slobby men who are middle-aged and older who still command the stage. Some of the singers like Zeta go on for some time because they have fans who adore them.”
Ruby nodded and looked out the window and saw a man staring up at their building.
“I think that’s the key,” Bessie explained. “You must be like Zeta. Once you have star billing, you must cultivate your audience and make people return to see you.”
“Look at Lillian Russell! People come from all over to see her, and you are much younger and prettier than she is,” she told her new friend.
Everyone had heard of Lillian Russell, a popular singer who performed at a local music hall in New York. She had a long career, and Ruby envied her longevity.
“There!” Bessie said as she finished embroidering the small tear and held it up for Ruby to see.
“It’s so gaudy,” Ruby said as she looked at the distasteful garment once more.
“Yes! It is gaudy! Look, I don’t mean to sound harsh, Ruby, but here goes nothing. If you want to dress normally and be respected and revered, then go on the stage as an actress. You can do comedy, drama, Shakespeare, or whatever takes your fancy. But you told me when we first met that you want to be onstage in vaudeville and sing.”
“I do,” Ruby said, nodding.
“Then stop worrying and show a little leg. You aren’t selling your body to men—”
“Bessie!” Ruby said softly.
“Well, you aren’t, but it will get you noticed,” she said the last words with emphasis.
Ruby nodded and picked up the repaired garment. She moved her hand along the silk bodice and resigned herself. Bessie was right. A little leg was nothing, and it would get her noticed.
5
R uby briefly met the performers of the vaudeville show before her first entrance onto the stage as the “Intro Act” card girl. Everyone introduced themselves to her before going off to their dressing rooms. The Vadas sisters greeted her warmly and spoke Hungarian as they ambled off while the comedian, Lou, kissed the back of her hand and then dropped an egg into it.
“Ah!” she cried out, but the egg wasn’t real.
“Welcome, my dear,” he said, smiling and throwing the egg into the air and then catching it.
Lee Chen was a magician from China who no one knew anything about. He wore a long black traditional Chinese gown that Ruby would later find out was called a changshan . He seemed very mysterious, and when she introduced herself to him, he only bowed slightly and said nothing.
Besides the dancing siblings, the only other performer she had yet to meet was Zeta Riggi, the Italian singer. But Zeta had top billing and would not deign to meet a lowly card girl. Many theater managers used card girls to keep the audience interested between acts, and they often looked like Ruby: a young, trim girl wearing a revealing gown to keep the audience engaged.
Ruby was nervous as she waited backstage for her first card entrance. She watched as “Vaudeville Vern” welcomed the audience and talked a little about the acts to follow. He was wearing the black-and-white evening clothes of a gentleman, and she was surprised to see the audience’s response to him. The moment he stepped onstage, the house fell silent.
Ruby liked being backstage. She liked to watch the bustle of movement as the stagehands moved along the fly to change scenery or drapery, and the small orchestra pit in front of the stage filled with musicians who played for each act.
She tried to stay out of everyone’s way, and when Vern announced the first act, Lou McDoo strolled onstage wearing an outrageous costume of humungous pants, a shirt and vest, and a tiny hat on his head. He garnered a large laugh from his costume alone.
“What are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Bessie whispered to her.
“I wanted to watch the show from the wings.” Ruby turned to her friend, who wore
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