Harry Steppe

Harry Steppe (born Abraham Stepner), March 16, 1888[1] – November 22, 1934[2] was a Russian Jewish[3][4]-American actor,[5] musical comedy performer,[6][7] headliner[8][9] comedian,[10][11] writer,[12] librettist,[13] director and producer,[14] who toured North America working in Vaudeville[6] and Burlesque.[10][15][16][17] Steppe performed at several well-known theaters on the Columbia,[18][19] Mutual and Orpheum[20][21] circuits. Steppe was one of Bud Abbott's first partners.[12][22][23][24][25][26]

Harry Steppe
Born	Abraham Stepner March 16, 1888
Died	November 22, 1934(1934-11-22) (aged 46) New York, NY
Occupation	Actor, Comedian
Years active	1911 – 1934
Spouse(s)	Beatrice (1918) Victoria Dayton (1920-1922)(separated)

Early life

Born in Russia to Orthodox Jewish parents, Steppe emigrated from Moscow to the United States through Ellis Island with his family in 1892.[27] Steppe became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1899.[28][29]

Steppe's father was a tailor.[29] His brother Michael was a vocalist.[28] One of Steppe's brothers was named Harry[29] but it is not known if this was an inspiration for part of Steppe's stage name.

Steppe lived in Newark, New Jersey[1] and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[14][30][31] At the age of 29, Steppe claimed an exemption from the draft for World War I on the grounds that he supported his widowed mother.[1]

Relationships

Steppe married twice. His first wife Beatrice, an actress in "Razzle Dazzle of 1918," died at the age of 25 from the Spanish flu, the same year they were married. This sudden loss may have contributed to speculation about Harry's personal struggles with depression.[32]

Other paramours of Harry Steppe included Vaudeville performers Victoria "Vic" Dayton, whom he married in 1920,[33][34] Edna Raymond and Leona St. Clair. Steppe was often billed with actress Lola Pierce,[35] to whom he was also reportedly linked romantically.

Career

Known to theater patrons as "The Hebrew Gent,"[36] Steppe was billed as a Hebrew,[18][37][38] Jewish-dialect or Yiddish-dialect[25] character comedian. One of Steppe's alter egos Ignatz Cohen[30] became a recurring and popular character based on an ethnic Jewish stereotype. Many of Steppe's variety shows featured musical revues and olios with dancing girls, comedy sketches and specialty acts. One performance of Steppe's "Girls from the Follies" featured "eight cycling models with thrilling stunts on wheels," operatic songs, ballroom dancing and chorus girls.[11]

Phil Silvers[39] and others[40] credited Steppe with "introducing the phrase "top banana" into show business jargon in 1927 as a synonym for the top comic on the bill. It rose out of a routine, full of doubletalk, in which three comics tried to share two bananas." Silvers further popularized the term "Top Banana" in his 1951 Broadway musical and 1954 film of the same name. Steppe also claimed to have coined the phrase "Second Banana."

Steppe had a version of a shell game routine called "The Lemon Bit," [12] that used lemons instead of peas. He performed it with Bud Abbott in burlesque, and Abbott later performed it with Costello in burlesque; in the Broadway musical "Streets of Paris"; in their movie "In the Navy"; live on the "Colgate Comedy Hour"; and in their television program "The Abbott & Costello Show."

Agents and management

Harry Steppe was represented by several theatrical agencies during his career, including Cain & Davenport[41][42] and Chamberlain and Lyman Brown. Some of his shows were produced by Sam N. Reichblum[43] and well-known burlesque producer I.H. Herk.[1][44] Steppe also secured theater bookings through the support of entertainment circuits, or "wheels," like the B.F. Keith Vaudeville Exchange,[45] the Columbia Amusement Company (so-called "clean" burlesque)[44] and the Mutual Burlesque Association.[20][25][46]

Death

When Steppe became gravely ill and unable to work, his friends in show business staged a fundraiser on his behalf,[3] however Steppe died in poverty. Pulmonary edema contributed to Steppe's death, according to his death certificate. He was at Bellevue Hospital in New York, New York for two days and had been ill for a month,[47] according to a story in Variety magazine, Nov. 27, 1934. He is buried in New Jersey.

Stage productions

Here is an ever-expanding table of documented theatrical productions.

Performances
Year	Month	City & State	Theater	Show Title	Players & Notables	Media Coverage
1911	Apr		Majestic Theater	The Two Strollers Musical Comedy	Harry Steppe Toney Murphy Smuckler Sisters	Portsmouth Daily Times[48]
	May		Kenyon Theater	Loveland	Harry Steppe (as Ignatz Cohen) Ben Masten Jack Daily Leona Thompson, singer Berti Wyatt, dancer Gertie Fay, dancer	Pittsburgh Press[7]
1912	Apr	Marion, OH	Sun Theater	Girl from Daffydill	Harry Steppe (as Ignatz Cohen)	Marion Daily Star[43]
			Olympic	Girls from the Follies
1913	Sep			Girls from the Follies		Indianapolis Star[49]
	Sep	Kansas City, MO		Girls from the Follies		Kansas City Star, The[50]
	Oct	Chicago, IL		Girls from the Follies		Suburbanite Economist[37]
	Nov	Boston, MA	Howard Athenaeum	Girls from the Follies		Boston Globe[51]
		Cleveland, OH	Empire	Girls from the Follies
1914	Jan	Pittsburgh, PA	Victoria	Girls from the Follies		Pittsburgh Press[14]
	Mar	Toronto, ON Canada	Star Theater	Girls from the Follies		Toronto Sunday World[36]
	Apr	Boston, MA	Howard Athenaeum			Boston Daily Globe[52]
	May	Hartford, CT	Poli Palace Theater Main and Gold Streets	Those Kissing Girls Musical Comedy		Hartford Courant[6]
	Jun		St. James	Kissing Girls	Harry Steppe Oscar Lorraine, violinist Ed and Jack Smith, dancers	Boston Evening Transcript[53]
	Aug		Murray Hill Theatre	Girls from the Follies	Harry Steppe Charles Quinn Vesta Lockard Gertrude Balston Forrest G. Wyre Jessie Quinn Annie Goldie Marie Revere Harry Fisher William Harris	New York Times[54]
	Sep	Pittsburgh, PA	Victoria	Girls from the Follies	Harry Steppe Charles Quinn Vesta Lockard Gertrude Balston Forrest G. Wyre Jessie Quinn Annie Goldie Marie Revere Harry Fisher William Harris	Pittsburgh Press[30]
	Nov	Boston, MA	Howard Athenaeum	Girls from the Follies		Boston Daily Globe[55][56]
		Baltimore, MD	Gayety	Girls from the Follies
1915	Jan	Toronto	Star Theater	Girls from the Follies Two-act Musical Farce	Harry Steppe Vesta Lockard Gertude Walston Mabel Reflow George L. Wagner William M. Harris Billy Moore Harry Fisher Solly Hito Dan Pierce, Star Theater Manager	Toronto World[11][57]
	March	Indianapolis, IN		Girls from the Follies	Harry Steppe	Indianapolis Star[58]
	May		Victoria	Girls from the Follies	Harry Steppe Vesta Lockhard Gertude Ralston Mabel Reflow, dancer George L. Wagner William M. Harris Harry Van Harry Fisher Solly Hito, dancer	Pittsburgh Press[59]
	Sep	Pittsburgh, PA	Victoria	Lady Pirates		Pittsburgh Press[30]
	Oct	Trenton, NJ				Trenton Evening Times[60]
		Cleveland, OH	Bijou
		Louisville, KY	Buckingham	Girls from the Follies
		Detroit, MI	Cadillac	Girls from the Follies
		Detroit, MI	Cadillac	Lady Pirates
		Philadelphia, PA	Casino	Girls from the Follies
		Rochester, NY	Corinthian	Girls from the Follies
		Ft. Wayne, IN	Majestic	Girls from the Follies
			Razzier
		Pittsburgh, PA	Victoria	Girls from the Follies
		Pittsburgh, PA	Victoria	Keeny's Harry Steppe & George Martin
1916	Jan	Ft. Wayne, IN		Girls from the Follies		Ft Wayne Daily News[61]
	Jan	Ft. Wayne, IN		Cohen in Chinatown Two-act musical comedy		Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette[62]
		Philadelphia, PA	Cabaret	Girls from the Follies
		St. Louis, MO	Standard	Girls from the Follies
		Louisville, KY	Buckingham	Girls from the Follies Cohen on the East Side Two-act musical burlesque		Reedy's Mirror[17]
			Olympic
		Newark, NJ	Loews	Harry Steppe at the Loews
			Loews	Step Lively Girls
		Louisville, KY	Buckingham	Girls from the Follies
		Cleveland, OH	Empire	Cohen's Review
		Philadelphia, PA	Trocadero	Follies
		Milwaukee, WI	Gayety
1917	Jan	Trenton, NJ		Hello Girls		Trenton Evening Times[63]
	Feb	Brooklyn, NY	Howard Athenaeum			Boston Daily Globe[64]
		Brooklyn, NY	Star
1918	Aug	Philadelphia, PA	Gayety 5th below Vine	Razzle Dazzle Girls	Harry Steppe Grace Fletcher	Evening Public Ledger[65]
	Oct		Star Theater	Razzle Dazzle of 1918	Harry Steppe Bunnie Mack, comedian Grace Fletcher, soubrette Percie Judah Mike Fertig, singer Sydia Dunn, singer Palmer Hines, straight man	Toronto World[66]
1919	Jan	Pittsburgh, PA	Victoria	Razzle Dazzle of 1919	Harry Steppe Lew Denny Mike Fertig, singer Billy Halperin Percie Judah Sydia Dunn, singer Grace Fletcher	Pittsburgh Press[67]
	Feb	Washington, DC		Razzle Dazzle	Harry Steppe Grace Fletcher	Washington Post[68]
	Mar	Trenton, NJ		Razzle Dazzle
		Columbus, OH	Lyceum	Razzle Dazzle
			Peoples Theatre	American Supreme
1920		Columbus, OH		Razzle Dazzle of 1919
				Tid Bits of 1920
			Buckingham	Misfit Cohen
			Gayety	Harry Steppe and His Rumba Girls
1921	Jun	New York, NY	Loew's Metropolitan		Harry Steppe, headliner Dick Lancaster	New York Tribune[8]
	Jun	New York, NY	Loew's American		Harry Steppe, headliner Chappelle and Stinnett	New York Tribune[8]
	Sep	New York, NY	Columbia Broadway & 47th St.	Jingle Jingle	Harry Steppe Harry O'Neal	New York Times[69]
		Washington, DC			Harry Steppe Harry O'Neal Frank Anderson	Washington Post[70]
1923	Apr	Los Angeles, CA	Hillstreet	Just a Debate	Harry Steppe Harry O'Neal	Los Angeles Times[71]
		New York, NY	Columbia Playhouse
1924	Sep		Gayety Theater Columbia Burlesque	Harry Steppe and His Big Show	Harry Steppe Harry O'Neal Vic Casmore Solly Hito, dancer Mabel Reflow, dancer	Canadian Jewish Chronicle[41] The Axe (Montreal)[72][73]
	Nov	Bridgeport, CT		Harry Steppe and His Big Show		Bridgeport Telegram[74]
	Dec		Gayety		Harry Steppe Dorothy Golden, dancer	Pittsburgh Press[75]
1925	Jan		Gayety Theater Columbia Burlesque	Harry Steppe and His Big Show	Harry Steppe Harry O'Neal Mabel Reflow Lola Pierce	Pittsburgh Press[76]
	March			Harry Steppe and His Big Show	Harry Steppe Harry O'Neal	Chicago Tribune[77]
	Apr		Empire Theater Temperance Street Columbia Burlesque (Columbia Circuit)	Cain and Davenport present Harry Steppe and His Big Show Week of April 13	Harry Steppe Harry O'Neal Vic Casmore Hite and (Mabel) Reflow, singer George McClennon, comedian	Canadian Jewish Review[42]
	May	New York, NY	Columbia Theater Times Square (Columbia Circuit)	O.K.	Harry Steppe Harry O'Neal Mabel Reflow, singer Lola Pierce, singer George McClennon, dancer Miller and Ryan, dancers Three Golfers, acrobats Solly Hito, juvenile and a whistler	New York Times[78]
	Aug		(New) Lyric Theater	O.K.	Harry Steppe George McClennon Owen Martin, straight man Vic Casmore Mite Mabel Reflow, singer	Bridgeport Telegraph[18]
	Sep		Gayety	Harry Steppe and His Big Show	Harry Steppe Vic Casmore	Pittsburgh Press[79]
	Oct	Cleveland, OH	Columbia	Steppe's Own Show	Harry Steppe George McClennon	Afro-American[15]
	Oct	Zanesville, OH	Weller Columbia Circuit	Harry Steppe and His Big Show	Harry Steppe Owen Martin, straight man George McClennon, jazz clarinetist Jacque Wilson, blues singer Carmen Sisters, dancers Rube Walman, whistler	Zanesville Times Signal[80] Zanesville Signal[81] Zanesville Times Signal[82]
1926	Apr	Boston, MA	Casino Theater (Columbia Circuit)	Steppe's Own Show		Afro-American[19]
	June	New York, NY		The Lemon Bit		New York Times[83]
		Boston, MA	Gaiety Theater	Harry Steppe's OK		Gaiety Theater Study Report[44]
1927	Jul	Milwaukee, WI	Majestic Theatre	The Debate	Harry Steppe Lola Pierce	Milwaukee Sentinel[9]
	Oct	Atlanta, GA		The Supper Club The Debate	Harry Steppe Lola Pierce	Atlanta Constitution[45]
1928	Feb	Decatur, Illinois		Matrimony à la Carte with Lola Pierce
	June	New York, NY	Loew's Theater			Loew's Weekly [35]
1929	Sep		Gayety	Harry Steppe and His Own Big Show		Canadian Jewish Review[84]
	Dec	Washington, DC	9th Street	Harry Steppe and His Show		Washington Post[85]
	Dec	Pittsburgh, PA	Academy Theater	Harry Steppe and His Show Monte Carlo Fortune Hunters	Harry Steppe Betty and Bud Abbott Billie Holmes, blues singer Frances Knight, ingenue Rube Walman Lee Baird, second comedian Gertie Foreman Jerry DeVere	Pittsburgh Press[25]
1930	Sep		Orpheum Theatre	Harry Steppe and His Show		Reading Eagle[20][86]
	Oct	Pittsburgh, PA	Academy Theater	Harry Steppe and His Big Show	Harry Steppe Jeanne Steele, jazz singer Ann Clair, ingenue Lloyd and Ardell Wilbur Dobbs, comedian George Raymond, baritone Dixon and Morrell, sister act	Pittsburgh Press[46]
1931	Mar		Orpheum Theater (Mutual Circuit)	Fashion Parade	Harry Steppe Sonny Kest, ingenue Lee Hickman Dorothy Alexander	Reading Eagle[21]
	Oct	Pittsburgh, PA	Academy Theater (Columbia Circuit)	Rumba Girls	Harry Steppe Jerri McCauley	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[87]
1933	Apr		Ritz		Harry Steppe Max Furman Lew Patel Eddie Dale Harry Burns Olsen and Johnson	Syracuse Herald[88]
	Nov	Hartford, CT	Parsons Theater		Harry Steppe Eddie Lloyd, comedian Lew Denny, straight man	Hartford Courant[89]
1934	Sep		Variety	Red Hot	Harry Steppe Joe DeRita Happy Hyatt Abe Sher Al Golden, director	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[90] Pittsburgh Press[91]

References

1. World War I Draft Registration Card 1917-1918, retrieved from Ancestry.com. Notes: Lists his occupation as Actor, employed by the Gaeyty Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
2. Abe Stepner's obituary, "Feature News," Billboard magazine, Dec. 1, 1934, pg 5.
3. The American Burlesque Show, by Irving Zeidman, Hawthorn Books, 1967. Excerpts: "The chief comic effects by Harry Steppe, it was noted, consisted in hitting other characters across the face with celery stalks. (Page 96)" "The most prominent of the later "Hebe" comics was Harry Steppe, who, ill and destitute in 1935, was the beneficiary of the Harry Steppe Fund, to which many famous stage personalities contributed. (Page 102)" "Harry Steppe had to be the recipient of a public benefit. (Page 215)"
4. "Variety Opener Has Cast of 40: Red Hot Gets Under Way Sunday Night," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Newspaper), Aug 25, 1934, pg.78. Excerpt:"...Joe DeRita and Harry Steppe, one of the few remaining old-time Jewish comedians in burlesque, lead the contingent of funmakers."
5. Image of actor Harry Steppe, Billy Rose Theatre Collection photograph file, on file with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: Billy Rose Theatre Division
6. "New Theater Opens Tomorrow: Vaudeville and Photoplays at Poli Palace," Hartford Courant, May 24, 1914. Excerpt: "the magnificent new Poli Palace Theater, at the corner of Main and Gold ... entitled "Tho Kissing Girls," presented by Harry Steppe, whose numerous ..."
7. Pittsburgh Press, Theatrical Section, May 28, 1911, page 2. Excerpt: "The opening attraction will be Harry Steppe in a musical cocktail 'Loveland.' Mr. Steppe as Ignatz..."
8. Shadows on the Screen, New York Tribune (New York, N.Y.), Sunday, June 19, 1921, Pg. 2. Excerpt: "Loew's American - Harry Steppe, and Chappelle and Stinnett are the headliners for the last half..." Note: This page has two news items and a display ad about this performance.
9. "Harry Steppe and Lola Pierce at the Majestic," Sunday Sentinel and Milwaukee Sentinel, 24 Jul 1927, Page 8, Section 6. Excerpt: "Harry Steppe and Lola Pierce have been accorded headline honor in the new seven-act bill at the Majestic theater beginning today." Retrieved: February 10, 2013.
10. Theatre Magazine, edited by Arthur Hornblow, Stewart Beach, W. J. Thorold, et al., 1930, v.51-52, pg. 36. Excerpt: "In fact, Harry Steppe, one of the leading burlesque comedians, remarked to me the other day that there is more to be seen on the streets today than there..."
11. "Theaters: Girls from the Follies Headed by Steppe," Toronto World, Jan 26, 1915, Page 3. Excerpt: "With a line of Vaudeville acts that are high class thruout, and two burlettas that are of the side-splitting variety, the Girls From the Follies headed by Harry Steppe, opened a week's engagement..."
12. "Abbott and Costello in Hollywood," by Bob Furmanek and Ron Palumbo, 1991, Page 18. Excerpt: "Bud was now working with comedian Harry Steppe, who originated the famous 'Lemon Bit'...It was the 'Lemon Bit' that Bud had done with Harry Steppe. When Bud and Lou crossed paths in burlesque in the mid-1930s, Bud staged the routine for Lou. After the boys teamed up, they reprised the 'Lemon Bit'..."
13. Bloom, Ken. American Song: The Complete Musical Theatre Companion, Vol. 1: A-S. Second Edition. Schirmer Books, 1996, Pg. 203. ISBN 0-02-864573-1 Notes: Citation for J.B. Earley, Composer and Harry Steppe, Librettist. Songs: Blinky Winky Chinatown; Girls from the Follies, He's My Kiddo, I'm the Broadway Kid; Joyous Love; Let's Sing, Sing, Sing; Love me or Leave Me Alone; My Southern Queen.
14. Pittsburgh Press, Jan 6, 1914, Section: Theatrical, page 7. Excerpt: "Figuring as producer, joint author, principal comedian...Harry Steppe, a Pittsburger"
15. "Burlesque Routes," Afro-American, Oct 24, 1925, Page 5.
16. "Old Actors Attend Dave Marion Rites; Former Associates in World of Burlesque Pay Tribute to 'Snuffy the Cabman', New York Times, September 19, 1934, Page 20. Excerpt: "More than 200 old-time burlesque players and theatre associates gathered yesterday in Campbell's Funeral Parlor, Broadway and Sixty-sixth Street, at a funeral service for Dave Marion, the comedian...(attendees included) Dave Altman, Agnes Buckley, William H. Leyden, William Armstrong, Bob Travers, Inez DiVider, Biff Clark, Sam Dawson, Nalter McManus and Harry Steppe"
17. Reedy's Mirror. St. Louis, Mo. Vol. 25, 1916, pg. 204. William Marion Reedy, Editor and Proprietor. Excerpt: "The Girls from the Follies" With Harry Steppe in the Two-Act Musical Burlesque "Cohen on the East Side."
18. "Amusements," Bridgeport Telegraph, August 25, 1925, Page 7. Excerpt: "Direct from its New York run...last season at the Columbia Theater on Broadway."
19. "Routings: Week April 5," Afro-American: the South's Biggest and Best Weekly, Theatrical Section, Apr 10, 1926, Page 4.
20. "In the City's Playhouses: Harry Steppe - Orpheum" Reading Eagle, Sep 27, 1930, page 14. Excerpt: "That irresistible comedian, Harry Steppe, will hold forth at the Orpheum Theatre for the last time tonight, appearing at the head of his own one that is ...
21. "Fashion Parade at Orpheum Burlesque," Reading Eagle, Mar 22, 1931, Section: Theaters and Their Attractions, Page 8. Excerpt: "Heading the cast are Harry Steppe, comic, and Sonny Kest, a pretty and talented ingenue soubrette."
22. "Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by His Youngest Child," by Chris Costello, St. Martin's Griffin, 1982, pg.23. ISBN 0-312-49914-0. Excerpt: "Backstage between shows Bud would do skits with Dad (Lou) that he had done with Harry Steppe -- a very clever Jewish comedian who was the creator of the famous "Lemon Bit," which was to be so successful for Bud and Dad (Lou) as a team."
23. Seguine, Brent. "Slowly I Turned / Niagara Falls / Pokomoko", Abbott & Costello January 2017 Newsletter. Abbott & Costello Collectibles, Jan. 2017. Web. 05 July 2017. Excerpt: "Steppe was also an early stage partner for Bud Abbott, and is among the names mentioned as bringing Bud and Lou together in 1935 before their initial team-up in 1936."
24. American national biography, Volume 1, edited by John Arthur Garraty, Mark Christopher Carnes, American Council of Learned Societies, Oxford University Press, 1999, Page 18. Excerpt: (Costello played) "opposite a variety of comics, including Harry Steppe..."
25. "Speaking of the Local Theaters," The Pittsburgh Press, Dec 17, 1929, page 47. Excerpt: "Harry Steppe...at the Academy in his own show...There's a...chorus with Bud and Betty Abbott..."
26. International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers - Volume IV - Actors and Actresses, by Christopher Lyon, St. James Press, 1987, ISBN 0-912289-08-2, Page 7. Excerpt: "...while manager at the National Theater in Detroit, Abbott worked Vaudeville as straight man to such performers as Harry Steppe and Harry Evanson."
27. Port of New York Passenger Record Search, Ellis Island Foundation. Retrieved: 16 Jan 2008.
28. New York Petitions for Naturalization Index 1792-1906 and 1907-1989
29. Twelfth Census of the United States: New Jersey, Schedule I - Population, Year 1900. Retrieved March 20, 2010 from HeritageQuest Online.
30. "Theatrical," Pittsburgh Press, Sep 15, 1914, page 20. Excerpt: "Harry Steppe, a Pittsburg boy, is the star of the company, and as Ignatz Cohen, a stowaway on a pirate ship, had plenty of opportunity to display his funmaking abilities."
31. "News of the Theater," The Pittsburgh Press, May 2, 1915, Page 41.
32. Thomas, Bob. Bud & Lou: the Abbott & Costello story. 1977. Page. 33 & 37. Excerpt: "Bud joined with Harry Steppe, a funny Jewish comic but one subject to spells of melancholia."
33. Photo of Harry Steppe and his wife Vic Dayton (Cover), The New York Clipper: The National Theatrical Weekly, December 1, 1920.
34. Dramatic Index for 1920 (Volumes I and II), Periodical Index, edited by Anne C. Sutherland, Frederick Winthrop Faxon, Mary Estella Bates, Published 1921, F.W. Faxon Co., Boston, MA. Excerpt: "Steppe, Harry, actor. Portrait (with Vic Dayton). NY Clipper 68: DI, '20, 1. Steppe, Mrs. Harry. See Dayton, Vic."
35. Loew's Weekly (free program for theater patrons), June 18, 1928. Notes: Harry Steppe was billed with actress Lola Pierce.
36. "The Stage," Toronto Sunday World, Mar 15, 1914, page 29.
37. Suburbanite Economist, Chicago, Illinois, Friday, October 3, 1913. Excerpt: "Following the baseball games the regular performance of the Girls From the Follies company will take Harry Steppe...The Hebrew who is the star of the company."
38. "Burlesque Season On; The Columbia and the Murray Hill Are at It Again," The New York Times, Section: Summer Resorts, Sunday, August 16, 1914, pg. X7. Excerpt: "The Murray Hill Theater opened last night with a brand-new burlesque show called "The Girls from the Follies," and this attraction will be continued through the present week. A large company of entertainers, headed by Harry Steppe, a Hebrew comedian of more than ordinary ability, succeeds in keeping the spectators in a happy frame of mind throughout the performance."
39. "About:Bananas," by John Wilcock. New York Times, March 30, 1958, Page SM53.
40. "Bananas: An American History," by Virginia Scott Jenkins, Page 150. Smithsonian Institution Press, 2000. Excerpt: "The term "top banana" was introduced into show business jargon by burlesque comedian Harry Steppe in 1927 as a synonym for the top comic on the bill."
41. "Harry Steppe and His Big Show," Canadian Jewish Chronicle, September 5, 1924. Excerpt: "Fun for the whole family. Week commencing Sun. eve. September 7."
42. Canadian Jewish Review, April 10, 1925, Page. 26
43. Marion Daily Star, April 1, 1912, Page 9.
44. "Gaiety Theater Study Report," Boston Landmarks Commission Environment Department, City of Boston, March 13, 2003, Page 47; Gaiety Theater, 659-665 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Retrieved: March 11, 2010.
45. "Comedy Skits Headliners on Keith Bill," Atlanta Constitution (Newspaper), Oct 25, 1927. Excerpt: "Two clever comedy skits, "The Supper Club" and "The Debate," forming virtually a double headline attraction, and featuring Harry Steppe and Lola Pierce..."
46. "New Ulric Drama And 'Chic' Sale In Musical Play...: Harry Steppe's Show," The Pittsburgh Press, Oct 11, 1930, page 42. Excerpt: "...sponsored and presented under the auspices of the Mutual Burlesque Association."
47. "Stage and Screen," by Harold W. Cohen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Newspaper), Oct 17, 1934. Excerpt: "Harry Steppe, burlesque comedian...was taken to the Mountain Sinai Hospital in New York the other day for observation."
48. "Reports of the Wily Press Agent," Portsmouth Daily Times, Theatrical Section, April 1, 1911, Page 12. Excerpt: "Harry Steppe and Toney Murphy, two well-known comedians, and the famous sister team of Smucklers, will be in the cast."
49. Indianapolis Star, September 7, 1913
50. Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO. Thursday, September 25, 1913. Excerpt: "Harry Steppe in Girls from the Follies."
51. Boston Globe, Nov 25, 1913, Page 3.
52. Boston Daily Globe, Apr 14, 1914, Page 13.
53. "Music and Drama," Boston Evening Transcript, Jun 9, 1914, Page 14.
54. "How Playhouses Vanquish Summer: Burlesque Houses Open," By Constance Collier, New York Times, August 9, 1914, Page X6. Excerpt: "The Murray Hill Theatre will reopen Saturday night with a new burlesque show called 'The Girls from the Follies,' of which Harry Steppe is the principal comedian."
55. Boston Daily Globe, Nov 24, 1914. Excerpt: "Harry Steppe and the Girls From the Follies Company Appear in a Merry Burlesque Show. Harry Steppe and his comical donkey made an extremely amusing duo."
56. Boston Daily Globe, Nov 29, 1914, Page 35.
57. "Girls from the Follies," Toronto World, Section: News of Special Interest to Women: Theaters, Jan 21, 1915, Page 4. Retrieved: March 21, 2010.
58. Indianapolis Star.
59. "News of the Theater," Pittsburgh Press, May 2, 1915, page 41.
60. Trenton Evening Times, Trenton, New Jersey, October 2, 1915. Excerpt: "The comical Harry Steppe and the breezy girls."
61. "Here Comes the Hello Girls - Harry Steppe and Company at the Majestic Tomorrow," Fort Wayne Daily News (Newspaper), Oct. 7, 1916, Page 4.
62. Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette, Jan 27, 1916. Excerpt: "...laugh producer Harry Steppe, the Hebrew who is the star of the company."
63. Trenton Evening Times, Jan 27, 1917.
64. Boston Daily Globe, Feb 13, 1917, Page 7.
65. Razzle Dazzle Girls, Evening Public Ledger, August 17, 1918, Night Extra, Image 5, Pg. 5.
66. "Fine Scenic Effects in Big Star Show," Toronto World, Oct 1, 1918, Page 7. Excerpt: "In fact, the show cannot be accurately called burlesque, it is more of a high-class musical comedy."
67. "Gossip of the Theaters," The Pittsburgh Press, Jan 14, 1919, page 32. Excerpt: "Prominent among the entertainers are Harry Steppe, a comedian of ability..."
68. Washington Post, Feb 2, 1919
69. Display Ad #173, New York Times, September 4, 1921, Page 52
70. Washington Post, December 25, 1921.
71. "Cansinos Head Variety Bill at Hillstreet," Los Angeles Times, Apr 17, 1923, Page II11. Excerpt: "They succeed in raising a big rumpus over nothing, ending just about where they started, but it is all in the interest of art..."
72. "The Two Harrys, Steppe and O'Neal, Create Tornado of Laughter at Gayety," The Axe (Montreal), September 9, 1924, Page 6.
73. "The Prime Minister of Mirth", Photo of Harry Steppe, The Axe (Montreal), September 9, 1924, Front Page.
74. "Harry Steppe and His Big Show," Bridgeport Telegram (Newspaper), November 28, 1924.
75. "Theatrical Notes," Pittsburgh Press, Dec 31, 1924, page 15.
76. Pittsburgh Press, Jan 4, 1925
77. Chicago Tribune, March 24, 1925, pg. 27 (Display Ad)
78. "O.K. at the Columbia: Attractive Burlesque with Harry Steppe Opens the Summer Season," New York Times, May 4, 1925, Page 16.
79. "Theatrical Notes," Pittsburgh Press,Sep 29, 1925
80. "Harry Steppe and His Big Show," Zanesville Times Signal (Newspaper), October 18, 1925.
81. "Stage is All Draped...: Harry Steppe Comes in Big Burlesque Unit," Zanesville Signal, October 12, 1925, Page 11.
82. "Harry Steppe and Frisco Steppers Coming This Week," Zanesville Times Signal (Zanesville, Ohio), Sunday, October 11, 1925, Page 25.
83. "Art Theatres Form an Advisory Board," New York Times (Newspaper), Jun 7, 1926. Excerpt: "and there was a surprise specialty, "The Lemon Bit as It Has Been Done For Years," in which Harry Steppe and others appear..."
84. Display Ad, "Harry Steppe and His Own Big Show" Canadian Jewish Review (Newspaper), Sep 9, 1929, Pg. 4
85. "Harry Steppe and His Show on Ninth Street." Washington Post (Newspaper), Dec 8, 1929 Section: Amusements
86. "Steppe Show, Orpheum," Reading Eagle (newspaper), Sunday, Sep 24, 1930, pg. 18. Excerpt: "As long as mutual burlesque and vaudeville is fortunate enough to include among its attractions such an eminent character impersonator as Harry Steppe…there will always be a hearty welcome awaiting at the Orpheum Theatre, where Thursday matinée and night "Harry Steppe and His Big Show will begin an engagement."
87. "Coming to the Theaters: Rumba Girls at Academy - Harry Steppe Brings a Laugh Show to Town." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Newspaper), Oct 13, 1932, pg. 10 Section: Happenings of the Stage and Screen. Excerpt: Freshly written material gives Steppe, popular Yiddish character comic..."
88. "Ritz in Review," Syracuse Herald, April 2, 1933, Second Section, Page 6. Excerpt: "The comedy contingent is again headed by Harry Steppe..."
89. "Peaches' Browning Heads Current Show At Parsons's Theater," Hartford Courant, Nov 26, 1933. Excerpt: "Other featured players include...Harry Steppe and Eddie Lloyd, comedians; Lew Denny, straight man..."
90. Variety Opener has Cast of 40, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 29, 1934, Page 8. Retrieved: March 21, 2010.
91. "Packed Audiences See Variety Show," Pittsburgh Press, Sep 4, 1934, page 18.

Sources

• "Really The Blues," by Mezz Mezzrow and Bernard Wolfe, Citadel Press (Trade Paper), 1990, pg.27. ISBN 0-8065-1205-9. Excerpt: "You could see most of the celebrities of the day, colored and white, hanging around the De Luxe. Bill Robinson, the burlesque comedian Harry Steppe, comedian Benny Davis, Joe Frisco, Al Jolson, Sophie Tucker, Blossom Seeley, a lot of Ziegfeld Follies actors..."
• American song: the complete musical theatre companion, by Ken Bloom, 1985, Page 130

External links

• Bananas in Entertainment, cites Harry as originator of "Top Banana." Citation derived from newspapers and playbills in the Harvard Theater Collection.