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Discover Your Local History (Omaha)

Published on Nov 18, 2015

Tips and techniques for researching local burlesque history, using Omaha, NE as a case study

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1.

Discover Local Burlesque History

How to research and share the history of burlesque in your own community
Photo by rockcreek
2.

Much of burlesque history is lost

  • Burlesque is women's history
  • Burlesque is working class history
  • Burlesque is sexual history
Photo by B.S. Wise
3.

But traces remain...

Photo by Eva the Weaver
4.

There are many resources available

  • Public library special collections
  • University library special collections
  • Local historical societies
  • State, county, and municipal archives
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Tourism bureaus
  • Courthouse records
  • Newspaper archives
Photo by DRs Kulturarvsprojekt
5.

Many of these resources are open to the public

Photo by CircaSassy
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Research strategies

  • Introduce yourself and explain project
  • General indexes: start with keywords like "burlesque", "theater", and "vaudeville"
  • Make photocopies of relevant material, or ask if you can photograph material
  • Note source, date, box/folder #, and other important info
Photo by Magh
7.

Telephone Directories

  • Look in the business section under "theaters" for names and addresses, often managers as well
  • Use addresses to locate historical sites and take photos
Photo by MargaretBee
8.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

  • Many libraries have these maps, or have microfilm or digital copies
  • Look at downtown sections for buildings identified as theaters
  • Note year, map book number, and page number
Photo by Floyd B. Bariscale
9.

Police/Courthouse Records

  • Contact local police/sheriff office about "vice" records
  • Ask if records might have been transferred to local library, historical society, or museum
  • Many communities have police museums, be sure to check there!
Photo by Phil's 1stPix
10.

University Special Collections

  • University librarians generally have AT LEAST a PhD in Library Science, and often an MA or PhD in secondary field. TALK TO THEM!
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Public Library Collections

Omaha Public Library
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Digital Collections

Boyd's Opera House, 1880s
Built 1881

Hosted Oscar Wilde in 1882, Sarah Bernhardt in "Las Tosca" in 1905

In 1890 hosted "Corinne and the Kimball Opera Comique and Burlesque Company" and a burlesque of "Carmen"

Burnt down in 1893 and was rebuilt 2 blocks away (demolished in 1920)
13.

Nebraska Memories Collection

Burwood Theater, 1906-08
Became the Gayety in 1908

Showed wrestling and vaudeville until becoming a burlesque house ~1910 until closed down in 1928

Part of Omaha's "Sporting District", a collection of brothels, gambling dens, and speakeasies run by city boss Tom Dennison
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Newspaper Archives

Look for ads as well as articles
Chronicling America collection at LOC, papers from 1830s to 1922
15.

Little Egypt at the Trocadero

Omaha Daily Bee, 11/11/1900
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Ad for Little Egypt

The Western Wheel, also known as the Empire Circuit, was known for it's "hot" shows.
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Little Egypt's death and estate

1/22/1908
Not the Little Egypt of Columbia Expo fame, that was Fahreda Mazar Spyropoulos, this Little Egypt was Ashea Wabe, who was most famous for her role in the Seeley scandal, when a dinner party where she was hired to appear nude was raided by NY vice police
18.

Oriental Burlesquers

3/9/1913
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Ad for Oriental Burlesquers at the Krug

3/9/1913
The Trocadero Theater was founded in 1900, later became the Krug Theater

The Krug was an Empire Wheel theater, which played "hot" shows ; the Gayety, discussed earlier, became a Columbia Wheel theater in 1910, which was known for cleaner, more "woman-friendly" shows.

An article in 1912 said "Nowadays, the Gayety attracts many women -- wholesome, self-respecting women -- who want a good laugh and are not afraid they will be declassed by going to a burlesque show." (11/3/1912)
20.

Douglas County Historical Society

"Fort Omaha Gasbag" (12/27/1918)
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Douglas County Historical Society

"The Mediator" (3/31/1922)
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Douglas County Historical Society

"The Mediator" (9/1/1922)
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Untitled Slide

Sam Howe - "Hebrew" comic

Helen Tarr - Prima Donna
24.

Billboard 6/22/1946

Google Books
As far as I can tell, the entire run of "Billboard" is on Google Books. "Billboard" has tons of short notices about performances, dancers leaving or returning to groups, and tours, as well as some longer articles highlighting specific issues in burlesque.

For instance, in the late '20s, civic leaders managed to get burlesque theaters closed down in Omaha, a situation still very much in play when this article was published in 1946
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Untitled Slide

Photo by Tobyotter
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Untitled Slide

27.

Local resources

  • Omaha Public Library
  • Douglas County Historical Society
  • University of Nebraska, Omaha library special collections
  • "Omaha World Herald" archives
  • The Durham Museum (Omaha history)
  • Nebraska Jewish Historical Society
  • Union Pacific Railroad Museum
  • Omaha Police Department
Background photo: Omaha street view with Krug in center, 2/22/1929
28.

BHoF Local History Project

  • Encouraging bq fans fans to learn about and share their local burlesque histories
  • Share through a website to be launched by end of 2016 (tentative)
  • Articles can be sent to info@burlesquehall.com for consideration for our main website

Dustin Wax

Haiku Deck Pro User
http://burlesquehall.com