New Britain herald., 1922-10-28
MT. and Mrs. H. Clinton Seeley, On Stage Over 20 Years, Each Have an In- teresting Career.

Mir. and Mrs. H. Clinton Seeley of 61 Main street, both of whom have appeared on the vaudeville, concert and dramatic stage during the great CT part of their lives, are believed to be the only residents living in New boast of having travelled in every state in the United States and having ap- peared before audiences in most every city in the country of any size.
 The last appearance of the couple on the stage was in vaudeville during the 191S-1919 season when they play ed at the Palace theater in New Brit ain. Their last performance was on a Saturday evening and on the fol- lowing Monday they made their home at 61 Main street.
 Interesting Careers.
 Mir and Mrs. Seeley have both had an interesting career on the stage and for the past several years have been playing in double act called the Musical Seeleys." The couple met in Salem. Ohio, when both were play ing on the same vaudeville bill in one of the theaters but in different acts They met several times after this while playing on the same circuit but when they were routed on other cir cults they did not meet again for two years.
 Plan To Make New Act.
 Upon meeting after the two year lapse the two performers decided that they should form double act and appear together. As result new vaudeville turn was seen on, the road. In this act MT. and Mrs. Seeley intro- duced many new and novel effects in cluding their famous electrical instru- ments.
 The stage settings were originated by Mir. Seeley and the act was at that time considered one of the best in vaudeville. While playing in this act the couple had an engagement at the local Fox theater in 1918 and at the Palace in 1919.
 Seeley A Local Man
 Although born in a small town up state, Mir. Seeley's parents moved to New Britain when he was young and most of his boyhood days were spent here. His home was on Monroe street. near Madison.
 Mir. Seeley first appeared in enter tainments by playing stag parties and other affairs in and about New Brit ain. In 1902 he began his real the atrical career when he joined the Alice Lawrence stock company with a musical novelty act This was at Rutland. Vermont
 In those days stock companies were the reigning hit in the smaller cities and towns. Later he joined the Eli son sisters stock company at Dover, N. H., where he remained for the rest of that season.
 He then joined the Ben F. Mack stock company in which he played parts and had his musical act. From this company he. went to the Ninth and Arch Museum in Philadelphia, upstairs and down. e2ere he stayed for several weeks until he went to Delaware. After his first five years on the stage he took a vacation and came back to New Britain. Starts Vaudeville Career.
 By this time vaudeville was coming into its own and more popular with the theatergoers. Mir. Seeley then went to Battle Creek Mich. where he started a 30 week engagement on the Western Vaudeville Managers associ- ation circuit. This led to many other vaudeville engagements throughout the west in houses booked by J. E. Jackson. William Norris and L. F.. These engagements kept MT. Seeley in the west for several years
 Plays in The East
 He then came to the east, playing out of Boston on the U. R. O. time, touring the New England states and Canada. The 20 weeks booking in Canada took Mir. Seeley's act into the Silver mining camp in the Cobalt re- zion. This was one of the first acts to play in that section of the coun- try.
 Since they have had a double act. VII. anu IhiS to-tiVS nuNC PluSNu oNNi the Keith circuit. which is considered to be the best time in this country, the Loew, Fox, Sun, Pantages, Or pheum and W. NJ. Y. A.
 Born In CIcyefnnd
 Mrs. Seeley who was known on the stage as Vera Belmonte. was born in Cleveland. O.. and began her stage career much against the wishes of her parents although her mother was not as strongly opposed as her father.
 Her opportunity came while she was employed in a large piano store | in Cleveland where she sang and play | ed for the customers. A manager heard her and she was given an op- | portunity to play the second prima