The Vaudeville Star

“Yes! It is gaudy! Look, I don’t mean to sound harsh, Ruby, but here goes nothing. If you want to dress normally and be respected and revered, then go on the stage as an actress. You can do comedy, drama, Shakespeare, or whatever takes your fancy. But you told me when we first met that you want to be onstage in vaudeville and sing.”

“I do,” Ruby said, nodding.

“Then stop worrying and show a little leg. You aren’t selling your body to men—”

“Bessie!” Ruby said softly.

“Well, you aren’t, but it will get you noticed,” she said the last words with emphasis.

Ruby nodded and picked up the repaired garment. She moved her hand along the silk bodice and resigned herself. Bessie was right. A little leg was nothing, and it would get her noticed.

5

Ruby briefly met the performers of the vaudeville show before her first entrance onto the stage as the “Intro Act” card girl. Everyone introduced themselves to her before going off to their dressing rooms. The Vadas sisters greeted her warmly and spoke Hungarian as they ambled off while the comedian, Lou, kissed the back of her hand and then dropped an egg into it.

“Ah!” she cried out, but the egg wasn’t real.

“Welcome, my dear,” he said, smiling and throwing the egg into the air and then catching it.

Lee Chen was a magician from China who no one knew anything about. He wore a long black traditional Chinese gown that Ruby would later find out was called a changshan. He seemed very mysterious, and when she introduced herself to him, he only bowed slightly and said nothing.

Besides the dancing siblings, the only other performer she had yet to meet was Zeta Riggi, the Italian singer. But Zeta had top billing and would not deign to meet a lowly card girl. Many theater managers used card girls to keep the audience interested between acts, and they often looked like Ruby: a young, trim girl wearing a revealing gown to keep the audience engaged.

Ruby was nervous as she waited backstage for her first card entrance. She watched as “Vaudeville Vern” welcomed the audience and talked a little about the acts to follow. He was wearing the black-and-white evening clothes of a gentleman, and she was surprised to see the audience’s response to him. The moment he stepped onstage, the house fell silent.

Ruby liked being backstage. She liked to watch the bustle of movement as the stagehands moved along the fly to change scenery or drapery, and the small orchestra pit in front of the stage filled with musicians who played for each act.

She tried to stay out of everyone’s way, and when Vern announced the first act, Lou McDoo strolled onstage wearing an outrageous costume of humungous pants, a shirt and vest, and a tiny hat on his head. He garnered a large laugh from his costume alone.

“What are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Bessie whispered to her.

“I wanted to watch the show from the wings.” Ruby turned to her friend, who wore a glittering gown of light blue. “You look like a fairy princess, Bessie. So pretty.”

Bessie looked down at the gown. “I do? That’s funny. I’m so used to it.”

“I think it’s so fitting that you’ll be the first act I introduce. Since I owe this all to you,” Ruby told her friend.

“Nonsense! When you are like Zeta with top billing, then thank me.”

More laughter came from the audience as Lou managed to ride a tiny little bicycle across the stage. When the final applause ended and Lou exited the stage, Ruby picked up the large card that read, “The Dancing Duo” and walked out onto the empty stage.

Ruby held the card at waist height so the people could see her lovely face, the card, and her legs. She was supposed to walk the length of the stage and stop, then walk the length again to where she had started and exit. It was quite simple and she was to smile the entire time.

But as she reached the end of the first length, a huge catcall came from the audience. It was shrill and high and followed by several others. Ruby’s smile faltered, but she continued quickly across the stage, and when she reached the end, she made a jaunty little curtsy before exiting.

“Come back!” yelled one audience member as Ruby stumbled into Archie backstage.

“Are you all right?” he asked, steadying her.

Ruby dropped the card at his feet. “Yes. It—it was just a bit much.”

Archie smiled. He was tall and slender, and his red hair looked dark in the dim light. “They liked you though.”

“They like my legs is all. Anyone can do that,” she returned tartly.

“Really? I don’t think anyone in this building would want to see Vern’s legs.”

Ruby laughed as Bessie joined them. “Come on, brother of mine. Let’s make magic!”