Joe Laurie Jr. drawings collection

1914-1952

Comedian and author Joe Laurie Jr. (ca. 1894-1954) was born on the Lower East Side of New York City. He entered vaudeville in his teens, later performing in a number of shows on Broadway and across the U.S. Laurie and his first wife, Aleen Bronson, performed together in vaudeville until 1918; they had a son, Bryant. In 1922, Laurie married June Butcher and they lived in Forest Hills, New York. Laurie was a star of the radio version of Can you top this? He was the author of numerous vaudeville skits, screenplays, radio and television programs, plays, and syndicated columns, as well as the author of 2 books on vaudeville: Show biz, from vaude to video (with Abel Green) (Holt, 1951); Vaudeville: from the honkytonks to the Palace (Holt, 1953). After a long illness, Laurie died at St. Clare's Hospital, New York City at about age 61 (sources vary). Original caricatures and sketches, mostly black and white and mostly of Joe Laurie Jr. There are also cartoons, comic strips, etchings, reproductions, and paste ups of 2 syndicated newspaper features by Laurie, "Heads and Tales" and "Pen-Grins." The Friars Club and the Lambs Club are represented in several pieces. Artists include W.A. Carlson, Gregory d'Alessio, Jerry Doyle, George Fayko, Ving Fuller, Leo Garel, Frank Godwin, Rube Goldberg, Vic Guinness, Will B. Johnstone, Darrell McClure, George McManus, and Zito Vincenzo; most pieces are signed.