Bert had been losing his hearing even before 1918 (when aged 46) as he was knocked back on enlisting in the Canadian army. (more on that later)
Photo from Roger’s book- Will Rogers at the Ziegfeld Follies – Cover below. The book seems to be a reproduction of all the one line jokes Rogers used in his shows.
On a trip to New York City, Rogers was at Madison Square Garden, on April 27, 1905, when a wild steer broke out of the arena and began to climb into the viewing stands. Rogers roped the steer to the delight of the crowd. The feat got front page attention from the newspapers, giving him valuable publicity and an audience eager to see more. Willie Hammerstein saw his vaudeville act, and signed Rogers to appear on the Victoria Roof—which was literally on a rooftop—with his pony. For the next decade, Rogers estimated he worked for 50 weeks a year at the Roof and at the city’s myriad vaudeville theaters.[13]
Friar’s Frolic in Baltimore (above) and Friar’s Round Table in New York (below) – Sounds like an interesting club !
Wiki says- ‘The Friars Club is a private club in New York City. Famous for its risqué roasts, the club’s membership is composed mostly of comedians and other celebrities. Founded in 1904, it is located at 57 East 55th Street, between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue, in the historic Martin Erdmann House (now known as the Monastery).[1][2]
Bert Levy 
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