Lew Leslie
Lew Leslie | |
---|---|
Born | Lewis Lessinsky April 15, 1888 Orangeburg, New York, U.S. |
Died | March 10, 1963 New York City, U.S. | (aged 74)
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Vaudeville entertainer, producer |
Years active | 1910-1950s |
Spouse | Belle Baker |
Lew Leslie (born Lewis Lessinsky; April 15, 1888 – March 10, 1963)[1] was a Jewish American writer and producer of Broadway shows.[2][3][4] Leslie got his start in show business in vaudeville in his early twenties. Although white, he was the first major impresario to present African American artists on the Broadway stage. He had two well-known wives, torch singer Belle Baker and Ziegfeld Follies showgirl Irene Wales.
Career
He became famous for his stage shows at the
Leslie began his career doing a patter act in
In January, 1928, Blackbirds opened at Les Ambassadeurs Club in New York under the heading Lew Leslie's Blackbird Revue, starring
Leslie's shows that followed included several editions of Blackbirds, the most successful of which were produced for more receptive audiences in Great Britain, from 1934 to 1937. Ethel Waters appeared in the 1930 edition in New York, while the 1934 show had Robinson, and the 1936 show, which also ran in London, featured an appearance by the Nicholas Brothers. The last of the series, Blackbirds of 1939, produced in New York, included in its cast Lena Horne, whom Leslie called "the New Florence Mills". Interspersed amidst these revues were other Leslie ventures, including The International Revue (1930) and Rhapsody In Black (1931). Although not among the leading Broadway moguls of the '20s, Leslie helped make an important contribution to the integrating of the Broadway musical.
Birth
Confusion surrounds Leslie's place of birth. On his World War I draft registration card of June 1917, Leslie stated that he was an alien and was born in Russia on April 15, 1888. His brother Saul Leslie's draft card gives Saul's birth date as May 26, 1886; Saul was also listed as an employee of his theatrical producing brother, Lew. He also appears on the 1910 census as Louis Lesinsky, with his parents Max and Mary Lesinsky and brother Saul (also known as Sol); they lived in Manhattan and Max, aged 50, was a butcher. In the 1920 census they appear again, but this time as Max Leslie, 60, Mary Leslie, 54, Sol Leslie, 32, and Louie Leslie, 30; all were listed as born in Russia, except for Lew who is now listed as born in England. But the year of emigration to America is the same, 1890. Leslie also stated he was born to Jewish parents in Orangeburg, New York.[14]
Death
Lew Leslie died in 1963 in Rockland State Hospital in Orangeburg, New York, still hoping to the last to revive a new version of his old show, Rhapsody in Black.[15]
See also
- African-American musical theater
- Williams, Iain Cameron. (2002). Underneath A Harlem Moon ISBN 0-8264-5893-9
- Williams, Iain Cameron. (2022) The KAHNS of Fifth Avenue, iwp Publishing, February 17, 2022, ISBN 978-1916146587- chapters 10 & 11 cover the staging of Blackbirds of 1928 and Lew Leslie's tenure at Les Ambassedeur's.
References
- ISBN 9781135455361. Retrieved October 13, 2023 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Lew Leslie – Broadway Cast & Staff". IBDb.com. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "Lew Leslie's International Revue", Time, March 10, 1930.
- ^ "Lew Leslie: He, of the Blackbirds". (Travalanche). April 15, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Jazz Age Club, Les Ambassadeur Blackbird show, 1926, article and pictures.
- ISBN 0-8264-5893-9
- ^ 1929 photograph of the Blackbird troupe on board the SS Île de France en route to Paris, France. Lew Leslie is on the front row.
- ^ Poster of Adelaide Hall drawn by Paul Colin for Blackbirds 1929 Paris. MySpace.
- ^ Lew Leslie - Producer, Director, Vaudevillian", Jazz Biographies.
- ^ "Orpheum". Newspapers.com. December 16, 1909. p. 6. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "Something about Lew Leslie". Newspapers.com. June 3, 1928. p. 61. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "Mrs Astor S Horse". Archive.org. Frederick A. Stokes Company. October 13, 1935. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "Lew Leslie Defied Conventions In Producing Blackbirds". Newspapers.com. August 4, 1928. p. 55. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "Lew Leslie Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "Chattanooga Daily Times". Newspapers.com. March 12, 1963. p. 11. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
External links
- Lew Leslie at the Internet Broadway Database
- White Studio, NY, 1931, publicity photograph of Lew Leslie, Billy Rose Theatre Collection, New York Public Library Digital Collection.