By David "Chet" Williamson Sneade
Though mainly known as a vaudevillian performer, Danny
Duggan’s activity as a theatrical booking agent in Worcester accords him recognition in the local jazz world.
His career reaches back to the nineteen-teens and early
twenties when he was booked as “winner of over 100 dance contests.”
He was a
member of the internationally renowned Benjamin Franklin Keith Vaudeville
stable. Duggan barnstormed the country as a soloist, as well as working with partners, and as a cast member.
According to Sheila Weller, author of Dancing at Ciro's: A
Family's Love, Loss, and Scandal on the Sunset Strip, Vaudeville’s reigning
impresario was Keith, who owned three theaters in Brooklyn, NY alone. “The most
popular acts appeared at B.F. Keith’s stages: the Avon Comedy Four, Julian
Eltinge, Blackstone the Magician, and such soon-to-be stars as child actress
Helen Hayes and the teenaged Jimmy Durante, who Duggan would later book into
Worcester.
Here’s a typical item of the day: Reading Eagle, Reading,
Pennsylvania. October 18, 1924. “Danny Duggan, dancer deluxe and his company,
feature entertainer on the Keith bill at Rajah Theatre, will appear again today
and tonight, at four shows, 2:30, 6:30, 8 and 9:30. With him are Ann Aker,
dancer and Freddie Sanborn, six-hammer xylophone king.”
Evidently, Duggan was also quite the talent scout. Sanborn,
would later become a star attraction on the vaudeville circuit himself. In
addition to being an accomplished musician, he was a comedic actor. His most
notable association was as a member of Ted Healy’s Southern Gentlemen, a cast
of characters that included Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard of the
Three Stooges fame. They appeared together in the 1930 film, Soup to Nuts.
With Duggan, Sanborn was a fresh-faced kid, when not working
with Bert Loew’s Boston Orchestra, accompanied the hoofer went through his
paces on such popular dances of the day – the slow step, the horse trot, the
turkey trot, the chicken scratch, the duck waddle and kangaroo hop, among many
others.
Freddie Sanborn |
Keith booked Duggan in his Vaudeville theaters from New York
City to Galveston, Texas, from Wilmington Delaware to Chicago, Illinois. Here’s
another publicity notice. This one is from the Sunday Morning Star, Wilmington,
Delaware. September 28, 1924. “Excellence alike in vaudeville and motion
picture argues well for the popularity of the bill that comes to the Aldine
Theatre the first three days of the week. Danny Duggan, an exhibition dancer,
who grace and skill have won him over one hundred tournaments of dancing, is
headliner for the vaudeville. Duggan is young, graceful and artful. His company
is of an expert young woman dancer and a xylophonist.”
Anna Pierce and Danny Duggan |
Some of Danny, the dancer’s many partners included Ann Aker,
Doris Mary Kelly, and Anna Pierce. The later, was a former bank clerk, whom
Duggan discovered. In an article that ran in the January 30, 1926 edition of
Worcester Evening Gazette, it was stated that Pierce was a graduate of South
High School and was employed by the Worcester Five Cent Savings Bank.
The article read: “From bank clerk to vaudeville star is the
picturesque career of Miss Anna Pierce, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Pierce
of 32 Montague Street, who is appearing at Poli’s Theater, the latter half of
this week, and the dancing partner of Danny Duggan, well-known vaudeville star,
in whose honor the Worcester Lodge of Elks, of which he is a prominent member,
are holding a reception in the Elks’ home following tonight’s performances.
“With Danny, Miss Pierce and Freddie Sanborn, a xylophonist,
formerly of Bert Loew’s Orchestra of Boston, have been headlining Keith
Vaudeville bill throughout the country, have been scoring decided hits on every
bill. Danny is one of the best known members of the Worcester Lodge of Elks,
and his brother members will honor him by attending tonight’s performances in a
body. A section has been reserved at the theater for the Elks and their lady
friends. The reception at the Elks’ home will follow, where the Arcadian
Orchestra will furnish music for dancing. Danny and his partners, Miss Pierce
and Mr. Sandborn, together with folk of the present Poli bill will be guests of
honor.”
Duggan was not only a contest winner, he was also a judge.
In a March 25, 1926 Reading Eagle article, it was mentioned that Duggan presided
over such a competition: “Rajah will stage exhibition Charleston dancers for
local steppers, with the championship of Reading at stake, on the stage tonight
and Friday night, between regular shows. Valuable prizes, loving cups, medals
and theatre tickets, will be award the winners. Any youth or girl wishing to
enter can register at the Rajah box office. Danny Duggan, professional, will
conduct the contests for local dancers. A large number of contestants is in
sight.”
After more than two decades of travel, Duggan settled in
Worcester and managed his own theatrical booking agency. He also operated his
own dance hall at White City Amusement Park, which was not only a popular venue
for dancers, but for musicians as well.
Bunny Berigan |
In his book, Bunny Berigan: Elusive Legend of Jazz, Robert
Dupuis mentions a 1937 Metronome article that announced that Bunny Berigan and
his band would be returning to Danny Duggan’s in Worcester, Massachusetts,
because “it had made such a marvelous impression at the second-floor dance hall
during an earlier appearance.”
According to local writer Michael Perna, the dance hall at
the White City Amusement Park was advertised as being able to accommodate 1,000
people on the dance floor. “In reality, that was probably exaggerated, although
it was still an impressive facility,” Perna wrote. “The dance hall was very
popular throughout the many years the White City Amusement Park was in
operation.
It did change names, being known at one point as Danny Duggan’s Deck
and at another time as the Spanish Villa. It was well known as a home to dance
marathons, when those were the rage. Many area couples met and danced the night
away at the White City Amusement Park dance hall.”
A partial list of national name acts to play for local
dancers include Glenn Miller, Tommy Reynolds, Jimmy Dorsey, Mal Hallett, Chick
Webb with Ella Fitzgerald, and Benny Goodman.
Throughout the 1930s, ‘40s, and into the ‘50s, Duggan
continued to produce shows at other venues as well, the Worcester Memorial
Auditorium, at Lake Quinsigamond, and his own ballroom at Main and Chatham
Streets.
As a working dancer for the bulk of his career, Duggan
appeared locally at such venues as the Colonial Room in the Hotel Bancroft at
50 Franklin Street. He also taught dance in city his own ballroom at Main and
Chatham Streets. The late ‘50s into the early ‘60s, found presenting shows and
dance contests at local nightclubs such as the Moors.
At one point in his career, he booked acts out of his home
at 27 William Street. One of his advertisements read: “It costs no more to do
business thru Danny Duggan when in the market for a good orchestra;
specializing in floor shows at local lodges, banquets, conventions, and kiddie
parties. Organists, pianists, accordionists, readers, etc. Let us help plan
your party.”
Throughout his career, Duggan also staged countless benefits
for charities. He was born on March 11, 1894. He died on October 2, 1963.
Note: This is a work in progress. Comments, corrections, and suggestions are always welcome at: walnutharmonicas@gmail.com. Also see: www.worcestersongs.blogspot.com Thank you.
You know your projects stand out of the herd. There is something special about them. It seems to me all of them are really brilliant!
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Thank you for this article. I think this is my grandfather's brother (great uncle?)
ReplyDeleteDo you have any additional information on Danny Duggan?
ReplyDeleteHe was my grandfather. I never met him of course as he died the year before I was born. He had an affair with Barbara Bacon, which produced my father, James Bacon. Duggan was awful to Barbara and abandoned my father wanting nothing to do with him. In his "travels" he sent one or two postcards to my dad. That's it. Not a good guy.
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