"THE AUDIENCE BROKE INTO CHEERS"

FORMER PRESIDENT WILSON RECOGNIZED BY THEATER PATRONS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 9, 1921, the Evening World reported that former President Woodrow Wilson "received a notable ovation last night when the audience at a local vaudeville* theatre recognized him as he was being assisted from his seat."

This occurred after the final curtain and as the crowd was being held back so Mr. Wilson could exit.  When the former POTUS slowly rose from his seat, "the audience broke into cheers."

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were surrounded when they reached their automobile outside the theater where "hundreds...applauded."

*Vaudeville...a type of entertainment popular in the USA in the early 20th Century featuring specialty acts such as burlesque comedy & song & dance.

SOURCE

"Mr. Wilson Cheered BY Theatre Goers," The Evening Star, June 9, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

The Sandow Trocadero Vaudevilles

Strobridge Lithographing Company

Cincinnati & New York

Library of Congress

NOT MY KIND OF TOWN, NEW YORK IS...

"A VERY MUCH OVERRATED BURG"

Camp Merritt, New Jersey (JFK+50) One hundred years ago, March 26, 1918, future POTUS Harry S Truman wrote a letter to his future wife, Bess Wallace, in which he described New York City in a mostly negative light.

Truman, writing the letter in camp after his return from the Big Apple, told Bess...

"We went to the rottenest vaudeville show I ever saw or hope to see.  It couldn't even play at the Globe and get by in Kansas City."*

Mr. Truman continued...

"New York is a very much overrated burg.  It merely keeps its reputation by its press agents continually harping on the wonder of it.  There isn't a town west of the Mississippi...that can't show you a better time."

Not to be totally negative, HST enjoyed the view from the Woolworth Building.  He described it as "a grand sight."

JFK+50 NOTE

Truman saw the vaudeville show at the Winter Garden Theatre located on Broadway.  The theatre had opened on March 10, 1911.

*Vaudeville was a type of entertainment popular in the early 20th century.  It featured a mix of specialty acts such as burlesque comedy & song & dance.

SOURCE

"Letter from Harry S Truman to Bess Wallace, March 26, 1918".  Harry S Truman Presidential Library and Museum, www.trumanlibrary.org/

Harry Houdini & Jennie,

the Vanishing Elephant

Hippodrome, NYC

January 7 1918

White Studios 

Library of Congress Image