[Extensive scrapbook of a mid-western Vaudeville performer.]

[Waukesha, Wisconsin, 1890s–1910s.]. 4to scrapbook (12.5” x 7.5”), brown cloth over boards. Broadsides, photographs, ephemera, illustrated letterheads (some with their letter portions trimmed-off), illustrated envelopes, etc. (some items trimmed or cut for inclusion) both tipped-in and laid-in on 42 leaves.

A marvelous Vaudeville scrapbook including a cornucopia of broadsides, illustrated letterheads, original photos, and other ephemera documenting the early mid-Western “high class Vaudeville” scene and the compiler’s career.

Son of a Waukesha, Wisconsin pioneer, “Professor” Lester C. Klock (1874–1939) was an early Vaudeville musician, magician, daredevil trapezist, palmist, blackface performer, comedian, and singer. At the heart of this scrapbook is its many broadsides, illustrated letterheads, and original images compiled by Klock which document Vaudeville in the mid-West and Klock’s activity from the 1890s to the 1910s—revealing Klock to be an industrious and versatile fixture of this scene. Various photos show Klock himself—a handsome man with an affable smile—including portraits of him dressed up for various acts. Throughout the scrapbook Klock has tipped-in head-shots of his fellow Vaudeville performers—many of which accompany ephemera relating to them. Troupes Klock performed in included Klock Komedy Ko.; Universal Fire Escape Co.; Iroquois Indian Medicine Co.; the German Medicine Co.; the Mormon Medicine Co. (“the name Mormon would seem to be a misnomer,” one clipping notes), and many others. Some of these troupes were managed by Klock himself. The ephemera included here is originated in a variety of states, including Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Connecticut, and Kansas—providing a clue to Kloch’s movements.

Much of this content is pitched to a more ‘refined’ audience; “not barnstormers but talented artists,” as one broadside puts it. “This is something for thinking people.” One broadside advertises a performance refined enough “the most fastidious lady need have no fear to attend. There is not an immoral feature about the whole performance”—a show “that never rips, ravels or runs down at the heel.” In addition to Klock’s own companies, the scrapbook documents a multitude of other mid-Western Vaudeville troupes, acts, and performers—many featuring women. One female performer whose headshots are featured extensively appears to have been Kloch’s romantic partner. Other Vaudeville performers recur throughout the scrapbook, such as one Native American contortionist Chief Running Elk.

One remarkable photo shows Klock & Ahl in front of a small stage inside a tent, accompanied by a young girl and a woman with a dog in her lap. Klock leans on an organ, upon which rests a violin or a fiddle; hanging on a curtain behind the group are twelve broadsides advertising the Clifton Remedy Company and Doctor Clifton’s Brazilian Oil, an interesting example of the use of theater to promote patent medicine.

Klock’s partner Ed Ahl was a comedian, vocalist, and trick violinist, who is featured in one piece of ephemera looking self-consciously demented and playing a fiddle behind his back. Klock & Ahl Comedy Co.’s “refined vaudeville” is advertised as “an unrivaled array of bright and catchy amusement”; “mirth music mystery”; and “two and one-half hours of clean, innocent and instructive entertainment.” Another one of Klock’s troupes, Klock & Thompson Comedy Co. performed sketches, novelty acts, “moving pictures,” and a farce comedy entitled “The Lovers Return from Klondike.” Many of the broadsides feature Klock on the bill, such as one advertising the Mystic Trio who are performing for the benefit of Klock—“who was severely injured last April [1896] by a fall from a fire escape.” The public is exhorted not to “fail to see Prof. Klock in his inimitable silence and fun act.” Klock also performed under the name the White Mahatma and is described in one circular as “the greatest and most elaborate, and grandest manipulator of the slight of hand magic, mental phenomenalist and equilibriumist that America now knows.”

Other content includes Klock advertisements seeking performers (“3 sketch teams one must play piano…no boozers. State all you do, and lowest salary”), and selling show equipment (“going to leave the road. Will sell everything”); newspaper clippings relating to Klock’s family, such as his brother J.J. Klock (who ran a Hardware store in Waukesha), as well as other local Wisconsin happenings (including reports of injuries Klock himself sustained); professional letters of recommendation (noting Klock is a “highly honest, sober and reliable performer, a gentleman that can be depended on under all circumstances”); business cards of performers; a humorous notice offering a $500 reward “for the arrest and conviction of any one caught not laughing at the Opera House Tonight”; typescripts of monologues and joke sheets; letters on interesting letterheads (such as that of Robbins & Childers illustrating their electrical revolving ladder act); letters concerning Klock’s performing engagements; performance contracts; several letters from La Crosse Engraving Co. of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and so forth.

A wonderful portrait of the Vaudeville scene, documenting the versatile career of its compiler.

REFERENCES: Klock Connections at klockconnections.com

CONDITION: Contents generally good, some contents good to fair as one would expect for a scrapbook.