My Life in Vaudeville
The Autobiography of Ed Lowry
Edited by Paul M. Levitt, professor of English
Southern Illinois University Press
Ed Lowry joined the vaudeville circuit in 1910 at the age of 14. He never achieved stardom equal to the likes of Fred Allen, Jack Benny, George Burns, Buster Keaton or Eddie Cantor; and he never considered himself an “artiste.” Instead, he saw himself as a hoofer and comic simply trying to make a living on the vaude scene. "My Life in Vaudeville: The Autobiography of Ed Lowry" recounts Lowry’s long career in entertainment from the viewpoint of a foot soldier with a big dream.
Lowry’s story begins in the heyday of vaudeville in the early 20th century and follows its decline in the 1920s and ’30s. Unlike many of his associates, he recognized movies and other forms of entertainment were the future, and thus branched out into other venues. He emceed at the Ambassador Theatre in St. Louis, a presentation house for film studios; took gigs in radio in Philadelphia, Newark, New York, and Los Angeles; explored revues, cabarets, burlesque, and film; and organized USO road shows during World War II and the Korean War. With wit and perception, he reveals his stage roots as an entertainer playing to his audience. Editor Paul M. Levitt’s introduction beautifully sets the stage for Lowry’s gags-to-riches tale, providing much-needed historical perspective.
"My Life in Vaudeville" is an unpretentious record of a time when thousands of young people went into show business to escape the boredom of daily life, and Lowry’s story is a view of vaudeville not often encountered. Lowry does much more than recall the daily life of a working actor, musician and comedian. His story brings vaudeville to life and places it within the larger narratives of popular culture and popular entertainment of the 20th century. My Life in Vaudeville offers valuable insights into the touring life and the relationship between vaudevillians and their audiences.
Edited by Paul M. Levitt, professor of English
Southern Illinois University Press
Ed Lowry joined the vaudeville circuit in 1910 at the age of 14. He never achieved stardom equal to the likes of Fred Allen, Jack Benny, George Burns, Buster Keaton or Eddie Cantor; and he never considered himself an “artiste.” Instead, he saw himself as a hoofer and comic simply trying to make a living on the vaude scene. "My Life in Vaudeville: The Autobiography of Ed Lowry" recounts Lowry’s long career in entertainment from the viewpoint of a foot soldier with a big dream.
Lowry’s story begins in the heyday of vaudeville in the early 20th century and follows its decline in the 1920s and ’30s. Unlike many of his associates, he recognized movies and other forms of entertainment were the future, and thus branched out into other venues. He emceed at the Ambassador Theatre in St. Louis, a presentation house for film studios; took gigs in radio in Philadelphia, Newark, New York, and Los Angeles; explored revues, cabarets, burlesque, and film; and organized USO road shows during World War II and the Korean War. With wit and perception, he reveals his stage roots as an entertainer playing to his audience. Editor Paul M. Levitt’s introduction beautifully sets the stage for Lowry’s gags-to-riches tale, providing much-needed historical perspective.
"My Life in Vaudeville" is an unpretentious record of a time when thousands of young people went into show business to escape the boredom of daily life, and Lowry’s story is a view of vaudeville not often encountered. Lowry does much more than recall the daily life of a working actor, musician and comedian. His story brings vaudeville to life and places it within the larger narratives of popular culture and popular entertainment of the 20th century. My Life in Vaudeville offers valuable insights into the touring life and the relationship between vaudevillians and their audiences.