Read Online The Vaudeville Star by Nicola Italia - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicola Italia
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train back.
* * *
R uby watched from the wings as the Vadas sisters performed onstage. Their song was the popular “Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay" that had been made famous by Lottie Collins almost ten years earlier.
The sisters moved about the stage in a sensuous manner and flung their skirts over their backs to expose their ruffle-clad bottoms. Ruby had never seen anything like it, and she was mesmerized, her eyes wide and staring at the sisters as they pranced about the stage. And how the male audience members loved the sisters! They whistled and yelled as the chorus began and then quieted down when each sister sang a verse.
A sweet tuxedo girl you see, A queen of swell society, Fond of fun as fond can be, When it's on the strict Q.T.
I'm not too young, I'm not too old, Not too timid, not too bold, Just the kind you'd like to hold
Just the kind for sport I'm told.
The lyrics were extremely suggestive, and the men whistled and clapped and seemed to love every second of it. When the sisters flew offstage, breathless and laughing, after their song, the cat-calls continued for them to return.
When Ruby came onstage with her card, it bore only two words, “Zeta Riggi.” As the audience saw the name, they clapped and clamored for the star of the show.
Vernon and Max had groveled enough to have Zeta return, and as always, she had agreed. She waited until the applause died down before she entered. The applause came again, and Zeta put a hand out to wave to them. She also acknowledged the conductor of the orchestra, who in turn nodded to her.
Ruby watched as Zeta completely commanded the stage and everyone was silenced by her. She wore a gown of emerald satin and long black ostrich feathers in her hair. A string of pearls dangled to her waist, and she looked stylish and elegant.
“The Boy I Love Is Up in the Gallery” was her signature song and had been for almost ten years. It had been made famous by Marie Lloyd, who was a contemporary of Zeta’s. Even though the song was about a young girl and her love, Zeta refused to give it up. She even began to make small changes to the song that made the audience laugh.
I was a young girl, having just come over, Over from the country where they do things big, And amongst the boys I've got a lover, And since I've got a lover, why I don't care a fig.
The boy I love is up in the gallery, The boy I love is looking now at me, There he is, can't you see, waving his handkerchief, As merry as a robin that sings on a tree.
Her voice was not as high and clear as it had once been, but she was well loved in New York, and the audience flocked to see her. As she sang the line about the boy in the gallery, she waved her hand up to it, and several people waved back.
When she had finished her song, she exited the stage with wild applause following her, not even casting a glance at Ruby. Ruby sighed. She wanted to be exactly like Zeta. Center stage and adored.
* * *
T hat night after the performance , she lay on her back going over everything she had seen from each act. They all had something that drew the audience in. The magician was mysterious while the comedian made everyone laugh, and the sisters were sexy and fun. The dancing duo danced as most people never could while Zeta commanded the stage.
She had memorized several songs while at school, but none of them were special. She needed a song to learn and practice so that when the time was right she could perform it onstage. She would ask for Bessie’s help. She would know what to do.
The next morning after breakfast, Ruby and Bessie ventured to a side street off of Broadway to a well-known music store frequented by many of the vaudeville troupers. The store sold a wide range of instruments as well as sheet music, and as they entered the shop, a bell over the door sounded their arrival.
“Hello,” Bessie called out.
A slender man with black hair parted down the middle emerged. As soon as he saw Bessie, he smiled. “Miss Moore. A
* * *
R uby watched from the wings as the Vadas sisters performed onstage. Their song was the popular “Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay" that had been made famous by Lottie Collins almost ten years earlier.
The sisters moved about the stage in a sensuous manner and flung their skirts over their backs to expose their ruffle-clad bottoms. Ruby had never seen anything like it, and she was mesmerized, her eyes wide and staring at the sisters as they pranced about the stage. And how the male audience members loved the sisters! They whistled and yelled as the chorus began and then quieted down when each sister sang a verse.
A sweet tuxedo girl you see, A queen of swell society, Fond of fun as fond can be, When it's on the strict Q.T.
I'm not too young, I'm not too old, Not too timid, not too bold, Just the kind you'd like to hold
Just the kind for sport I'm told.
The lyrics were extremely suggestive, and the men whistled and clapped and seemed to love every second of it. When the sisters flew offstage, breathless and laughing, after their song, the cat-calls continued for them to return.
When Ruby came onstage with her card, it bore only two words, “Zeta Riggi.” As the audience saw the name, they clapped and clamored for the star of the show.
Vernon and Max had groveled enough to have Zeta return, and as always, she had agreed. She waited until the applause died down before she entered. The applause came again, and Zeta put a hand out to wave to them. She also acknowledged the conductor of the orchestra, who in turn nodded to her.
Ruby watched as Zeta completely commanded the stage and everyone was silenced by her. She wore a gown of emerald satin and long black ostrich feathers in her hair. A string of pearls dangled to her waist, and she looked stylish and elegant.
“The Boy I Love Is Up in the Gallery” was her signature song and had been for almost ten years. It had been made famous by Marie Lloyd, who was a contemporary of Zeta’s. Even though the song was about a young girl and her love, Zeta refused to give it up. She even began to make small changes to the song that made the audience laugh.
I was a young girl, having just come over, Over from the country where they do things big, And amongst the boys I've got a lover, And since I've got a lover, why I don't care a fig.
The boy I love is up in the gallery, The boy I love is looking now at me, There he is, can't you see, waving his handkerchief, As merry as a robin that sings on a tree.
Her voice was not as high and clear as it had once been, but she was well loved in New York, and the audience flocked to see her. As she sang the line about the boy in the gallery, she waved her hand up to it, and several people waved back.
When she had finished her song, she exited the stage with wild applause following her, not even casting a glance at Ruby. Ruby sighed. She wanted to be exactly like Zeta. Center stage and adored.
* * *
T hat night after the performance , she lay on her back going over everything she had seen from each act. They all had something that drew the audience in. The magician was mysterious while the comedian made everyone laugh, and the sisters were sexy and fun. The dancing duo danced as most people never could while Zeta commanded the stage.
She had memorized several songs while at school, but none of them were special. She needed a song to learn and practice so that when the time was right she could perform it onstage. She would ask for Bessie’s help. She would know what to do.
The next morning after breakfast, Ruby and Bessie ventured to a side street off of Broadway to a well-known music store frequented by many of the vaudeville troupers. The store sold a wide range of instruments as well as sheet music, and as they entered the shop, a bell over the door sounded their arrival.
“Hello,” Bessie called out.
A slender man with black hair parted down the middle emerged. As soon as he saw Bessie, he smiled. “Miss Moore. A
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