Guide to the Barbara Bogart and Anthony LoCicero Papers, 1946-1970 CTC.1993.01
Arrangement
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Barbara Bogart and Anthony LoCicero Papers
Creator
LoCicero, Anthony
Creator
Bogart, Barbara
Collection Number
CTC.1993.01
Extent
2 Linear Feet(3 boxes)
Date
1946-1970
Abstract
Barbara Bogart and her husband, Anthony LoCicero, were burlesque theatre performers from 1940 through their retirement in 1970. This collection contains photos, skits, newspaper clippings, programs, and correspondence related to both of the careers of Bogart and LoCierco and burlesque theatre in general.
Language
English
.
Author
David Sleasman. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in 2004 and 2006.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives & Special Collections Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman) Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Arrangement
Series I. Photographs
Series II. Burlesque Skits
Series III. Correspondence
Series IV. General Burlesque Theatre Materials
Series V. The Drunkard Materials
Series VI. Oversized Materials
Biography
Barbara Bogart was born in New York City on March 22, 1908. During her childhood, her family returned to her father Andrew's native San Francisco where he was principal tenor with the Tivoli Opera Company. Barbara was sent to Paris after graduation to study voice, piano, and language for several years. Upon leaving Europe, she traveled extensively on freighters throughout the south and central Pacific, as well as Asia. In addition to her musical talents, Bogart was a prolific writer. During her life she authored many plays, poems, two unpublished novels, short stories, and a weekly series of travel articles for the Russian River News. Sometime in 1940, she joined the cast of The Drunkard at the Green Street Music Hall in San Francisco, where she met Anthony LoCicero.
Anthony LoCicero was born in Italy on March 10, 1911. His family immigrated to New York and Anthony began his career in theatre as a magician's assistant at age 15, and went on to appear in vaudeville and burlesque productions. During the late 1930's or early 1940's, he came to San Francisco and became part of the cast of The Drunkard. Anthony LoCicero and Barbara Bogart were married in San Francisco in 1942, and continued their work in The Drunkard.
The Drunkard was a comical adaptation of the Victorian temperance melodrama, Ten Nights in a Barroom. Barbara wrote the music for this production, and also included various additions and revisions to the script. Her principal role was that of Mary Wilson, the play's heroine, while Anthony generally played the villain of the piece and also became the show's producer. The show ran in San Francisco throughout the war years and then was taken on the road throughout California and the West. It was an unqualified success breaking records in many cities for the number of weeks that it ran. Advertisers billed it as a "3 Hour Laff Riot", and the performers played up the melodrama, actively encouraging audience participation. Even the advertisements urged viewers to "Hiss the Villain!" In addition, sandwiches, snacks, and beer were often served at performances. An olio of various vaudeville and burlesque skits accompanied the main production.
The Drunkard's popularity had dimmed by the 1960's, but Anthony remained in show business and performed frequent stints as the straight man in comedy acts. Barbara would occasionally sell tickets at whichever theatre Tony was performing, but had primarily returned to her writing. The couple officially retired in the 1970's and moved to a small cottage in rural Cazadero, California where they lived until their deaths. Anthony LoCicero died May 9, 1987 and Barbara Bogart on Oct 21 of the same year.
Scope and Content Notes
These papers consist primarily of photos, burlesque skits, clippings, programs, drawings, and correspondence. The material ranges in date from LoCicero and Bogart's early days with "The Drunkard" in 1946 to their retirement in the 1970's. Items in the collection include both material generated from their years starring in "The Drunkard" (clippings, programs, etc.) and material collected by Anthony LoCicero pertaining to burlesque in general (skits, photos, articles.) Although small, the collection offers a rare look into the world of burlesque theatre, during its heyday and through its' declining years.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
These records were gift of Sewall Bogart in 1993.
Previous Citation
Barbara Bogart and Anthony LoCicero Papers, 1946-1970, CTC.1993.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
Barbara Bogart and Anthony LoCicero Papers, 1946-1970, CTC.28, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
Preferred Citation
Barbara Bogart and Anthony LoCicero Papers, 1946-1970, CTC.1993.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information note
This collection was processed by David Sleasman.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Andy Newman in November 2004 and by Charles Stanford on March 31, 2006. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 4637583.
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
