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McVickers Theater?

Hi all-

I am researching William A Lavelle, my ggreatgrandfather in law, and according to articles I've found, he was involved as an actor/super at the McVickers Theater in Chicago. I'm trying to find a book on the Theater or a collection of the plays that occurred in the 1870s-1880s to see if I can find more info on him.

I can find him living in Chicago with his second wife Henrietta Rosch Lavelle, a dancer, in 1910 and 1920, but he doesn't appear on any census that I can find until 1910. So, I'm hoping to find something in the McVickers history information.

thanks!
Kate

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Permalink Reply by Harold Henderson on July 19, 2009 at 9:32am

Kate --

You can try for him in city directories -- Footnote has a big collection and a good many are on free sites including the Newberry Library's Chicago Ancestors. Manuscripts are a possibility either at the Newberry or the Chicago History Museum and area universities. On line, Chicago Tribune and ProQuest and other newspapers at GenealogyBank are likely to have news items about what's playing at that theater and possibly naming him as a cast member -- I have had good luck with this on Eunice Goodrich who was just starting her career then. Your problem may turn out to be too much information! Good luck! -- Harold

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on July 19, 2009 at 9:39am

Thank you Harold- it is a case of too much information for William, we even have an interview with him in the New York Clipper, which he tells his 'biography' which unfortunately I cannot trace successfully. I will try the Newberry' site, I hadn't heard of that, thank you!

Kate

Permalink Reply by Cheryl Rothwell on July 19, 2009 at 11:18am

There were Chicago City Directories in 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910.

They would be useful if you can locate them.

Chicago Historical Society
Clark Street at North Avenue
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
312-642-4600
www.chicagohistory.org

Permalink Reply by Deb Haines on July 25, 2009 at 12:20pm

I found him listed in the Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, published 1876, on Google Books.

http://books.google.com/books?id=bN8CAAAAYAAJ&dq=william%20a%20...

If that link doesn't bring you to the page, go to:

http://books.google.com/ and search william a lavell actor.

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on July 25, 2009 at 12:23pm

hi Deb-

Thank you so much! I really, truly appreciate the help. :)

Permalink Reply by Denise Pagel Moskovitz on July 27, 2009 at 5:46pm

Is this him? If so -- how neat!

W.A. Lavelle, Double of "Buffalo Bill" Dies

Col. William A Lavelle, one of the surviving old time showmen, died last night at the American hospital at the age of 82. In appearance he was a double for "Buffalo Bill" Cody, with whom he was long associated. It was with difficulty that even their closest friends could tell them apart. He will be buried in the Showman's League of America cemetery in Woodlawn.

1924-03-04 Chicago Tribune (IL)
Record Number: 19240304C016430020000039

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on July 27, 2009 at 7:58pm

yes, that's our William. :) Buffalo Bill Cody actually sued a show that William was in for using the name 'Buffalo' in the title. :) LOL

McVickers Theater?

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