George Edwards "Georgie" Price (January 5, 1901 – May 10, 1964) was an American vaudeville singer and comic who performed in Vitaphone shorts in the 1920s and 1930s.
Georgie Price | |
|---|---|
 Price in 1945 | |
| Born | George Edwards Price January 5, 1901 New York City, New York, US |
| Died | May 10, 1964 (aged 63) New York City, New York, US |
| Occupation(s) | Stage/Film Singer/Comic; Financial Broker |
| Years active | 1929–1954 |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Alexandra Marshall (1942–1963) (divorced) (2 children) Berenice Page (1921–1927) (divorced)[1] |
Early life, family and education
editPrice was born on the Lower East Side[1] of Manhattan, New York City, New York. Price began performing as a child in public places such as barrooms and streetcars, before winning amateur competitions. At six years old, he so impressed opera singer Enrico Caruso that he performed with Caruso in a benefit concert for a deceased police officer's family.
Career
editAs a vaudeville child star, Price introduced the Edwards-Madden song "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" in Gus Edwards' revue School Boys and Girls in 1909.[2][3] As a boy he performed on Broadway with another child Lila Lee (later a well-known film actress). He was a contemporary on vaudeville with George Jessel, Walter Winchell and Eddie Cantor.[1]
As an adult professional, he drew comparisons to Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor.[4] His theme song was "Bye Bye Blackbird".[1]
A bitter dispute with Shubert theatre magnate, Jacob J. Shubert, caused Price by the late 1920s to give up show business to work as a Wall Street stockbroker. He bought a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.[1] Shubert had originally hired Price with the promise to turn him into a major headliner but then reneged and in turn refused to fulfill the financial obligations on Price's contract.[5]
Georgie Price appeared in the stage show at the Mastbaum Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Barto and Mann and Maria Gambarelli (Gamby) in March 1932.[6]
Personal life and demise
editPrice was married three times. He was married to Berenice Page from 1921 to 1927; they divorced.[1] Price's third marriage was to Catherine Alexandra Marshall from 1942 to 1963 when they divorced. They had two children.[1] In all, Price had four offspring: sons Peter and George Marshall, and daughters Lisa and Mrs. John W. Larsen.[1]
Price died in New York, aged 63.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i "GEORGE E. PRICE, COMIC, 64, IS DEAD; Star in Vaudeville Became Successful Stockbroker". The New York Times. 11 May 1964. p. 31.
- ^ Tyler, Don (2007). Hit songs, 1900-1955: American popular music of the pre-rock era. MacFarland. p. 47. ISBN 978-0786429462.
- ^ Jasen, David A. (2003). Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song. Routledge. p. 122. ISBN 0-415-93877-5.
- ^ Hamberlin, Larry (2011). Tin Pan Opera: Operatic Novelty Songs in the Ragtime Era. Oxford University Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-19-533892-8.
- ^ Hirsch, Foster (1998). The Boys from Syracuse: The Shuberts' Theatrical Empire. Cooper Square Press. p. 149. ISBN 0-8154-1103-0.
- ^ Newspaper display ad.