Gilbert Saroni, also written Gilbert Sarony, was a cross-dressing performer in vaudeville as well as early Edison Manufacturing,[1] American Mutoscope, and Siegmund Lubin films. In his obituary in Variety he was described as one of the first impersonators of the "old maid" type and was said to be "considered one of the funniest men in the show business."[2]
His vaudeville performances included minstrel shows where he donned blackface using burnt cork and mimicked African-American characters.[3] He also performed with song and dance team Kelly and Waters.[4] He appeared in a series of early Edison films with Old Maid in the title and had catchphrases.[3]
His performances used pronounced facial expressions for levity.[5]
He was a best man at Annie Hindle's wedding.[6] He died of acute indigestion in Pittsburgh on December 15, 1910.[2]
Filmography
- How Bridget Made the Fire (1900)
- The Finish of Bridget McKeen (1901)
- Old Maid in the Drawing Room (1901)[7]
- The Old Maid Having Her Picture Taken (1901)
- The Old Maid in the Horsecar (1901)
- Gilbert Saroni Preparing for His Act (1903), a Siegmund Lubin film
- The Old Maid’s Lament (1903)
- Burglar and Old Maid (1903)
- Country Sport and Old Maid (1903)
- The Farmer and the Old Maid (1903)
- Giddy Old Maid (1903)
- Old Maid Courtship (1903)
- Old Maid’s Ballet Dance (1903)
- The Old Maid’s Lament (1903)
- Old Maid’s Morning Greeting (1903)
- Old Maid's First Visit to a Theater (1903)[3]
References
- ^ Moore, F. Michael (July 7, 1994). Drag!: Male and Female Impersonators on Stage, Screen and Television: An Illustrated World History. McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub. ISBN 9780899509969 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Slide, Anthony (March 12, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781617032509 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com.
- ^ Variety. Variety Publishing Company. July 7, 1908. p. 15 – via Internet Archive.
gilbert sarony.
- ^ Musser, Charles (January 1, 1991). Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company. University of California Press. p. 169. ISBN 9780520069862 – via Internet Archive.
gilbert saroni.
- ^ Croix, St Sukie de la (July 11, 2012). Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago before Stonewall. University of Wisconsin Pres. ISBN 9780299286934 – via Google Books.
- ^ Strauven, Wanda (July 7, 2006). The Cinema of Attractions Reloaded. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 9789053569450 – via Google Books.
