Bert Levy

Bert Levy – Australia's first global Vaudeville star

  • All Star cast for 1909 ‘All American Benefit’

    New York NY Dramatic Mirror 1909 July 24
    Wikipedia states – Clarice Vance was known as a “coon singer“, singing popular Negro dialect songs of the day. She was a handsome woman, slightly over 6′ tall and could project over a 26-piece orchestra when she sang on the stage. She shared the bill with the leading headliners of the day and her impish face appears on dozens of sheet music covers from 1897 to 1914. Her picture appeared in Vanity Fair at one point. She played at least three extended engagements in London, the most successful being a 26-week appearance at the London Palace in 1909.
    Wikipedia again – ‘Walter C. Kelly (1873 – 1939) was a vaudeville comedian and actor. He was born in Mineville, New York. He was the brother of Jack Kelly (Olympic Gold Medalist and father of actress Grace Kelly) and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright George Kelly. Kelly toured for years as The Virginian Judge, and was sometimes credited as Walter “Judge” Kelly’.
    Also wiki – ‘Grace was heavily influenced throughout her life by two uncles who worked in the arts – who encouraged her to pursue acting and was a mentor throughout her career’.
    Wikipedia states – Fanny Ward, was an American actress of stage and screen. Known for performing in both comedic and dramatic roles, she was cast in The Cheat, a sexually-charged 1915 silent film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Reportedly, Ward’s ageless appearance helped her to achieve and maintain her celebrity. In its obituary for her, The New York Times describes her as “an actress who never quite reached the top in her profession … [and who] tirelessly devoted herself to appearing perpetually youthful, an act that made her famous”.
    Ward was married twice. Her first husband was Joseph Lewis, a British money lender and diamond dealer. They married in 1898. In 1909, in an interview with newspaper reporter Ward stated, “My husband hates my work”, and then she questioned why women are treated differently than men professionally:
    He wouldn’t speak to me for six months after I returned to the stage. But as for my duty, there are men of leisure who have indulgences, who give up half their time to sport or travel or study or research in some favorite art or science, so why shouldn’t a woman? I only ask to spend six months out of the year upon the stage.

    Nothing could found on the performer John Deane, however, this was only half the cast. More on other performers in the cast to follow in next blog.

  • Bert backs up criticism of London poverty with action..

    Despite being engaged to perform before Royalty on July 21st 1909, Bert went ahead with the Benefit Concert to raise money for the children of London’s East End five days earlier.

    Bert’s benefit had a dual purpose – raise money for the waifs of the East End to have a day in the country with food and also to promote American artists who were on the whole struggling in London. (more on this to come)

    The paying guests to the Benefit included –

    Lillian Russell
    Amelia Bingham
    Mrs Whitelaw Reid wife of politician and newspaper editor Whitelaw Reid.
    Gladys Marie Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (née Deacon; 7 February 1881 – 13 October 1977) was a French American aristocrat and socialite. She was the mistress and later the second wife of Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough.
    Margaret Howard, Countess of Suffolk born Margaret Hyde Leiter (1879 – 5 March 1968) was an American-born heiress who married into the British aristocracy and was known as one of the “Dollar Princesses.”
    Mrs J W Mackay was a very rich American Industrialist. His wife was Marie Louise Hungerford, a native New Yorker. Snubbed by New York society, Louise moved to Paris where Mackay purchased a large mansion for her where his wealth enabled her to become a noted society hostess for two decades, entertaining royalty and throwing lavish parties.

  • Lord Rothschild’s interest in Bert’s East End remarks…..

    Down the beach last month, I came across a very old paper back on the Rothschild family published in 1966. Turned out to be riveting read, what a family (5 Brothers / 5 Arrows) and what influence they wielded in banking in Europe and globally over hundreds of years and most likely still do. This Wikipedia gives a good summary on them……

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothschild_family#:~:text=The%20Rothschild%20family%20(%2F%CB%88r,his%20banking%20business%20in%20the

    Now the Lord Rothschild whose secretary made contact with Bert over his comments on the poverty in London’s East End in 1908 was most likely Nathan Rothschild, 1st Baron Rothschild. Despite a ban on Jewish people being knighted or becoming members of the House of Lords, the Royal Family and other royals, were in so much debt to the Rothschilds, that Queen Victoria rescinded that rule. The Rothschilds had also financed so many major deals for the British Government going back to Wellington and the battle of Waterloo and the Suez Canal, just to name a couple.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Rothschild,_1st_Baron_Rothschild

    The Baron was a conservative in the House of Lords and was quite possibly keen to muzzle Bert’s opinions? (My speculation only.) I haven’t seen any subsequent mention on whether the meeting ever took place, however The Rothschilds and Bert did cross paths again in the USA. (another post)

    I photographed this paragraph from the book describing the Rothschild family’s ‘chutzpah’. I’ve never written this Yiddish word before, possibly never spoken the word before, however, I wonder whether the term could be also used to describe, ‘our Bert’ ? I look forward to some feedback.

  • East End poverty – Bert calls it out.

    Melbourne Jewish Herald on October 30 1908. (TROVE)

    Petticoat lane, Spitalfields, London East End

    Above story originated in the Paris edition of the New York Herald.
    That paper was largely targeted at American expatriates in Europe and was established in 1887 and published all the way through to 2013. Some of you seasoned travellers may remember it ! Did he actually stand on street corners encouraging the Jewish residents to migrate to America or possibly Australia ? I’ve looked in UK papers archives but I somehow doubt English newspapers would have reported any sentiments especially from from a foreigner !

    Background: Obviously, living conditions in 1908 had not greatly improved from the time Bert’s parents and elder siblings lived in the London East End before immigrating to Australia. Simon and Mina Levy were living in Spitalfields, the notorious White Chapel hamlet in the 1850s and 60’s. The area had evolved into classic “Dickensian” London, with problems of poverty and overcrowding with warrens of small dark streets housing great suffering, filth and danger. For those families seeking a better life out of the London east end, the bulk would have headed to the United States with a small but steady number undertook the 3-4 month perilous voyage across the world to Australia.

    As for the Lord Rothschild’s interest – next post…..

  • Tall Poppy Syndrome or something else ? …..

    The previous post suggested the Australian newspapers were now happy to acknowledge Bert’s success. However, there were some back home happy to stick the boots in…..

    The Brisbane Truth was keen to highlight Bert was fortunate to get a positive response the new King. His co-religious that proceeded him were not as well received.
    The Kalgoorlie Sun newspaper correspondent was particularly derogative of Bert at times. Maybe the reporter owed money to Bert’s brothers who were leading bookmakers in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie respectively.
    Melbourne Punch had a two theatre commentators who were divided on Bert’s career. The Greenroom Gossip correspondent was quick to put down Bert’s success.
    Sunday Times Perth writer who claimed to have known Bert from schooldays was especially scathing of Bert’s success and none too happy with the King and his associates..
    The Mirror Perth, possibly the same author as the Sunday times accuses Bert of being a fake.

    Perhaps this paragraph in the Bulletin two years 1911 later summed up the perennial issue of Australian’s failing to give credit to their own who go overseas and gain success……. a familiar theme repeated over the past 110 years.

    The Bulletin.Vol. 32 No. 1657 (16 Nov 1911)

  • Success has many fathers……..

    Failure is an orphan…. so the quote goes.

    Sydney Mail, August 18, 1909

    Australian press had largely ignored or not known about Bert’s success in the United States in the years 1905-1908. As we know, international news for domestic consumption came predominantly via cable almost exclusively out of London.

    When news was received that Bert was to entertain the Royals in London this all changed. It seemed newspapers were now very happy to claim association with the smart young Jew who left Australia’s shores in May 1904. Here are just a few – 

    Australasian, Sydney
    Australian paper, Sydney
    Jewish Standard reminds us, Bert was raised in Parkville.
    Nambucca News claims he is ex – Bendigo
    The Bendigo Independent newspaper goes one step further

    even that he was a student of the National Gallery, that’s the Melbourne one not Paris

    The Fremantle paper says he is from Sydney
    Of course, the Ballarat Star claims him as a native, and gives us a good account of Bert’s earning in 1909.
    The Kalgoorlie newspapers have inside information on Bert as he has two younger brothers making their way over in the west as bookmakers.

  • Bert’s audacious ‘Royal moment’ 

    We read in the prior post it was the Queen who put Bert at ease during his Royal performance at Stafford House in 1909 by tapping her shoe as Bert started drawing. Two years later Bert recounts the event with a journalist from the Melbourne Society newspaper ‘Table Talk’.

    Table Talk Melbourne 1911

    Bert claimed he had met the King when he was Prince Albert (Bertie). I’m not sure he could have. Queen Victoria died in January 1911 which scuttled Bertie’s trip to Australia for Federation. Bert may have met Prince George, Duke of Cornwell (the king’s son) who came in place of Bertie, as Bert was sent to Sydney to cover the celebrations and was in Melbourne in May 1901 at the opening of the new Federal Parliament.

    The expression in the last paragraph of this 1911 article on Bert threw me when I first read it. ‘Seizing the psychological moment’, is a great description of Bert’s attitude to life and career and for 1911 term it must have been relatively new!! Freud and co. were just getting started at the turn of the twentieth century.

  • Royal warnings…..

    Edward VII, the Playboy Prince was often known as ‘Edward the caresser’. He had married Danish-born Princess Alexandra in 1863, so they were not a young Royal couple when Bert appeared in front of them in July 21, 1909. Matter of fact Bertie (the King) died the following year.

    The number of women Bertie supposedly had an affair with varies from 55 into the thousands. Yes, thousands according to this account. https://royalfavourites.blogspot.com/2020/06/edward-vii-of-great-britain-caresser_12.html

    Edward VII’s most popular mistress was British society lady Alice Kepple. Keppel’s great-granddaughter is Camilla Parker Bowles. (Lucky she and Charles haven’t trouble the offspring score board !!) Like Charles today, Bertie was Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne for almost 60 years, as old Queen Victoria refused to die. He ascended the throne in 1901.

    Melbourne Punch
    Queen Alexandria a decade later in 1923.

  • Royal summons – July 1909

    You will recall in the last post, Bert left London with a substantial booking to return in the peak summer season of 1909 to the Palace theatre. On his return he was to get another booking……..

    Sydney Mail
    Evening Mail Sydney. Bert was summoned to appear before the Royals at Stafford House, St. James London at the time belonging to the Duke of Sutherland. The palace is now known as Lancaster House, after it was purchased by Sir William Lever (wealthy soap maker) and given to the state. The building now houses the Government Wine Cellar.
    In 1900 the Duke of Sutherland owned about 1,358,000 acres (550,000 hectares) and the steam yacht Catania, which was chartered by some of the super-rich of that era.
    The Duke died at Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland, on 27 June 1913, aged 61, and was buried at Dunrobin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromartie_Sutherland-Leveson-Gower,_4th_Duke_of_Sutherland

    Bert appeared before the Royals on the evening of July 21, 1909. How did he go?

    and more King Edward VII …. ‘dirty Bertie’ in the next blog

    King Edward VII and a royal party….
    Bendigo Advertiser

  • London without a booking…… 1908

    Bert toured extensively across the major cities of the USA in 1906 and 1907 and in 1908 he took another chance, taking himself off to London……..

    Variety Magazine Sept 28, 1908 highlights that Bert ‘was neither billed nor programmed’, a risky move for any artist not greatly known in England.
    Bendigo Independent
    London Palace theatre red-brick facade dominates the west side of Cambridge Circus behind a small plaza near the intersection of Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road. Palace Theatre seats 1,400 and opened in 1891. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_Theatre,_London

    Bert gets ‘prime time’ booking back in London for the following year.
    Above – Daily News Perth ….You’ll recognise the name of Albert Whelan who’ll you recall was Albert Waxman, Harriet’s youngest brother. So Bert would have had some sound advice from Albert on how to take his act to the London stage.