Dewey Michaels Burlesque Collection
name: label: Photographer
content: Garbo (Chicago)
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life
label: Photographer
content: Laverne, Gene (Buffalo, NY)
label: Photographer
content: Kriegsmann, James J.
label: Collector
content: Michaels, Dewey, 1898- (theater owner, director, producer)
label: Photographer
content: Maurice (Chicago)
label: Photographer
content: Seymour, Mamie (New York)
label: Photographer
content: Bruno (Bernard? of Hollywood New York City)
label: Photographer
content: Bakchy, Boris (New York)
label: Names
content: Palace Burlesque Theatre (Buffalo, N.Y.)
place: label: Place
content: Buffalo (N.Y.) -- photographs -- 1920-1970
topic: label: Topic
content: Glamour photography -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Striptease -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Stripteasers -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Nudity in the performing arts
label: Topic
content: Theatrical producers and directors -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Comedians -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Entertainers -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Musicians -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: Burlesque shows -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Burlesque (Theater) -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Entertainment -- Photographs -- 1920-1970
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by Mr. Dewey Michaels, January 31, 1981.
creator: label: Photographer
content: Garbo (Chicago)
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life
label: Photographer
content: Laverne, Gene (Buffalo, NY)
label: Photographer
content: Kriegsmann, James J.
label: Collector
content: Michaels, Dewey, 1898- (theater owner, director, producer)
label: Photographer
content: Maurice (Chicago)
label: Photographer
content: Seymour, Mamie (New York)
label: Photographer
content: Bruno (Bernard? of Hollywood New York City)
label: Photographer
content: Bakchy, Boris (New York)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Dewey Michaels Burlesque Collection
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: George Dewey Michaels (1898-1982) was owner, director, general manager and producer of the Palace Burlesque Theater in Buffalo, New York until it closed on September 29, 1977, when Michaels was 79 years old. Michaels started in the business when he was 19 years old. Through the years, he featured Abbott and Costello, Phil Silvers, Jerry Lewis, Red Buttons, and Sammy Davis, Jr. who was then a dancer with the Will Master Trio which included his father and uncle. The Palace Burlesque was part of a 40-city circuit. Michaels was married in 1920 to Phyllis Boasberg. She died in 1969, leaving two sons and one daughter. On December 4, 1980, Michaels donated a backdrop, used in the theatre, to the Smithsonian. The backdrop had a musical theme with a clarinetist and notes rendered in extravagant art nouveau. Michaels was then 83 years old.  Other backdrops were distributed to other theatres and collectors. They were 60-100 years old, painted in Diamond Dye, and worth about $1,000 apiece.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.33 Cubic feet (2 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: late 1920's-1967
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) , 7/26/83.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0065
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Clippings
label: Type
content: Photographs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into one series. Arranged alphabetically by subjects' names within categories.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by David Haberstich, 1991.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Clippings -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 19th-20th century
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Newspaper clippings; advertising brochures; and photoprints of performers at the Palace Theatre (including studio publicity portraits). The majority of the items are silver gelatin photoprints. Some photographers are listed below as index terms. Subjects of photographs include strippers and comedians; photographs of women include portraits as well as full-length figures, nude or in costume.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Theatrical backdrops and director's chair located in the Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life).