Frank Richardson
Show Business
Frank Richardson
A native of Philadelphia, Frank Richardson’s show business career spanned five decades and saw him performing in minstrel shows, vaudeville, on records, in movies, on stage in theaters, on radio, and in nightclubs. Billed as Frank Richardson in at least eight movies made by Fox in 1929 and 1930, and on a 1924 record released on Victor, he also periodically billed as Frankie Richardson in the 1910s and 1920s. After leaving Hollywood and returning to the Philadelphia area, he was billed exclusively as Frankie Richardson, and performed locally as late as December of 1961.
He was born Francis Joseph Richardson in Philadelphia on September 6, 1898, according to his draft card, dated September 11, 1918. He was one of 8 children born to Walter and Elizabeth Richardson, only four of whom were still living when the Census was taken in 1910. The Richardsons lived at 1712 North Howe Street in Philadelphia’s 19th Ward at the time of the 1900 Census. By 1910 they had moved to 2836 Agate Road in Philadelphia and were still at that address through most of the 1910s. Frank Richardson married Adele Boyer in 1919. The January 1920 Census shows Frank and Adele Richardson living in an apartment at 2037 Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia. This marriage produced no children and the couple divorced in 1933.
Attracted to performing at an early age, Frank Richardson found work at the age of 8 with Dumont’s Minstrels, billed as “The Wonderboy Tenor.” He later found work with Emmet Welch’s minstrel show at Atlantic City, quite possibly working with Camden’s Joe Hamilton, who also worked with Dumont and Welsh in these years. By the early 1920s he had stepped out on his own, billing himself as “The Joy Boy of Song,” and on occasion, where he thought his blackface material would play better, billed himself as “The Ace of Spades.” He appeared in theaters on the vaudeville circuit all over the United States all through the 1920s.
Frank Richardson recorded three songs for the Victor label. On September 27, 1923 in New York he recorded Carolina Mammy and Bebe, with an unknown pianist accompaniment. Carolina Mammy and Bebe was never released, and the master is on record as having been destroyed. On October 10, 1924 Richardson recorded an Andrew B. Sterling composition, Ukelele Lou, singing and playing the ukelele himself and joined by Anthony J. Franchini on guitar and Frank Ferera on steel guitar. This recording was released as Victor 19503 on a 10” 78 rpm record, the format of those times.
Frank Richardson returned to the studio one more time for Victor, on October 27, 1924 singing the Fred Rose tune Red Hot Henry Brown at the Victor studio in Camden, New Jersey, accompanied by pianist Frank E. Banta, who played on scores of Victor recordings between 1916 and 1929. Three takes were laid down, but the song was never issued on record, and the master was also later destroyed. Red Hot Henry Brown was a very popular tune at the time, recorded by many of the top artists of the day. Other noteworthy artists who recorded Red Hot Henry Brown include Miff Mole, Ray Miller, Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, Margaret Young, the Golden Gate Orchestra, and the Georgia Melodians.
In 1927 Frank Richardson made a film appearance in a short called, appropriately enough, “The Joy Boy of Song.” He was soon called to Hollywood, where he appeared in eight films, almost exclusively as a singer. Frank Richardson’s last film was completed early in 1930. Billing himself as Frankie Richardson, he worked steadily for the next 30 years as a performer and master of ceremonies, and apparently produced a few shows himself.
In 1933 he was named in a breach of promise suit which was happily resolved when his Adele divorced him and he married the woman who had sued him, Emily Jean Graham, who had appeared in Earl Carroll’s Vanities as Joan Williams. This marriage was apparently a happy one, producing two sons, Walter and Francis Joseph Richardson Jr.
Frankie Richardson is known to have headlined in Washington, Nebraska, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He appeared at dance marathon held at the Central Airport on the outskirts of Camden, New Jersey in 1932. In 1936 he was the Master of Ceremonies at the carnival held at the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company’s hall, working with Baby Rose Marie, best remembered after she grew up as Rose Marie, a co-star on the Dick Van Dyke television show.
As early as the spring of 1940 through 1955 Frankie Richardson was engaged at a club originally called the Lexington Casino and later simply as the Lexington at 7600 Roosevelt Boulevard in northeast Philadelphia. In 1960 and as late as December of 1961 Frankie Richardson was performing at the Polish Eagles club in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Frankie Richardson passed away on January 31, 1962.
World War I Draft Card
REGISTRATION CARD
Frank Joseph Richardson, age 20, born September 6, 1898. Address: 2836 Agate St., Philadelphia, PA. Occupation: Performer, working for Emmett Welch, Wilson Building, Philadelphia, PA. Nearest relative: Walter Richardson, 2836 Agate St., Philadelphia.
Description: Medium height, medium build, blue eyes, brown hair. Date of registration: September 11, 1918. Local Board Division No. 21, 24th District Police Station, Belgrade & Clearfield Streets, Philadelphia.
Frankie Richardson and Lydia Harris
Philadelphia Inquirer —
AT ONE OF THE VAUDEVILLE houses recently there appeared Frankie Richardson and Lydia Harris, the former another member of the Emmett Welch Minstrels. Miss Harris, however, is a newcomer to the professional stage, although she comes of a highly accomplished and artistic singing family of Scranton, where she received much of her early training. She has a remarkably clear, full and colorful voice and besides displays a charming grace in acting that is going to make her sought after by producers of musical attractions in the near distant future. Miss Harris is pretty and modest, traits which are to her credit. She won many friends when she was playing at the Globe and in several other sectional houses in this city.
State Theatre — Vaudeville
Trenton Evening Times —
STATE
ANNUAL SPRING FESTIVAL OF FEATURES
TOMORROW — TUESDAY — WEDNESDAY
The Star of “Monte Cristo”
JOHN GILBERT
in
TRUXTON KING
Truxton King, American, visits Graustark—one day a land of peace-happiness—the next a seething cauldron of volcanic strife. George Barr McCutcheon created the character. Truxton King—This production breathes the fire of life into it. Truxton King, American, believed Graustark dull—then the roar of conflict thundered in his ears. Quiet kingdom of Graustark—then comes crashing discord—and fierce rebellion rocks the throne.
VAUDEVILLE
As Delightful as New Springtime
RUTH GARDEN REVEL
Scenic Singing and Musical Revue
FRANKIE RICHARDSON | MARION BYRNE & CO. | MERRIMAN SISTERS
Songs and Stories | Comedy Playlet, “Champagne” | Stepping and Singing
EXTRA ADDED FEATURE
LEATHER PUSHERS
THURSDAY — FRIDAY — SATURDAY
The Ultra-Sensational Classic
The Beautiful and Damned
With MARIE PREVOST
Story of two social butterflies who lived only until today—until sudden realization brought them face to face with the stern reality of life.
RUTH GARDEN REVEL
STATE THEATRE, Trenton — TOMORROW, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY
The Star of “Monte Cristo” JOHN GILBERT in TRUXTON KING
FRANKIE RICHARDSON — Songs and Stories | MARION BYRNE & CO. — Comedy Playlet, “Champagne” | MERRIMAN SISTERS — Stepping and Singing
Globe Theatre — The Star's Record
Philadelphia Inquirer —
GLOBE — THE STAR’S RECORD
“The Star’s Record,” presented by Frankie Richardson and company will headline the bill this week. Other acts include the Alinoff Trio, a famous dancing act; Ward and DeVerdier in a comedy called “Love Lozenges;” Bobby Bernard and company, in a comedy playlet called “Regular Fellows;” Wardells and LaCosta, in “A Breeze from Musical Shows;” Connors and Beyne, in a new skit called “A Yard of Lace;” Paul Hill and company, in a comedy sketch entitled, “Fool’s Paradise;” and Lexey and O’Connor in eccentric songs and dances.
Poli’s Palace — Yarmark
Springfield Republican —
Poli’s PALACE — CONTINUOUS DAILY 1 to 10.30 P.M.
NEW SHOW TODAY — THURS., FRI., SAT.
YARMARK
A NIGHT AT THE CARNIVAL
BIG VAUDEVILLE SPECTACLE FEATURING — THEODORE STEPANOFF
FRANK RICHARDSON — ZELDA SANTLEY
THE JOY BOY OF SONGS | LITTLE MISS EVERYBODY
Laughing Feature—DERRICK and HART in “ELOPING”
ONTARIO DUO | PATHE NEWS | OTHER FEATURES
EVERYBODY IS DOING IT | BLOW YOUR OWN HORN — PHOTO-PLAY NOVELTY OF THE YEAR | RALPH LEWIS AND BIG CAST
Poli’s PALACE
NOW PLAYING
THE BIG SPECTACLE
”YARMARK”
A NIGHT AT THE CARNIVAL
Fenturing [sic]
THEODORE STEPANOFF
DERRICK AND HART
FRANK RICHARDSON
ZELDA SANTLEY
ONTARIO DUO
Feature Photoplay
”BLOW YOUR OWN HORN”
Ralph Lewis and Big Cast
Poli’s PALACE — Continuous Daily 1 to 10:30 P.M.
YARMARK — A Night at the Carnival
Big Vaudeville Spectacle featuring Theodore Stepanoff
FRANK RICHARDSON, “The Joy Boy of Songs” — ZELDA SANTLEY, “Little Miss Everybody”
Laughing Feature — Derrick and Hart in “Eloping”
Ontario Duo — Pathé News — Other Features
Ukelele Lou
Victor Records — 1924
Victor 19503 — Ukelele Lou, Frank Richardson, recorded October 10, 1924. Listen on YouTube.
Red Hot Henry Brown
Victor Records — Camden, NJ — 1924
Red Hot Henry Brown — sheet music. Frank Richardson recorded this Fred Rose tune at the Victor studio in Camden, NJ on October 27, 1924, accompanied by pianist Frank E. Banta. The master was later destroyed and the record was never issued.
Hollywood Career
1927–1930
Sunnyside Up — Fox Film Corporation, 1929
Warner Brothers, using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process, filmed “Frank Richardson, The Joy Boy of Song” in November 1927; it was released on February 17, 1928. He was soon called to Hollywood, where he appeared in eight films, almost exclusively as a singer.
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 (May 25, 1929) — This movie, sadly, is lost… no prints are known to exist. A musical comedy with a cast full of talented people, including Lola Lane, Stepin Fetchit, Sharon Lynn, Arthur Kay, Warren Hymer, and Dixie Lee, who is best remembered as the wife of Bing Crosby. Frank Richardson is billed as “Singer” and his number was “Walking with Susie.” This also was child star Jackie Cooper’s first film.
Masquerade (July 14, 1929) — Another film where Frank Richardson is billed as “Singer.” Of the other members of the cast, Leila Hyams went on to make some wonderful movies, and J. Farrell McDonald appeared in 329 other movies.
Sunnyside Up (December 25, 1929) — Frank Richardson finally got some speaking lines and billing in this hit musical, once again working alongside Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Sharon Lynn, Marjorie White and El Brendel. Frank Richardson and Marjorie White are featured in “You’ve Got Me Pickin’ Petals Off of Daisies.” Frank Richardson also sang the closing number, a reprise of “If I Had A Talking Picture Of You.” Jackie Cooper also appears in this film.
Let’s Go Places (February 2, 1930) — A musical comedy directed by Frank Strayer, this film featured stage star Joe Wagstaff along with Lola Lane, Sharon Lynn, Dixie Lee, Frank Richardson and a few other Fox players. Sadly, no copies of this film are known to exist.
Happy Days (February 13, 1930) — Another early sound musical and only the second film to be released in 70mm widescreen. Frank Richardson is billed as “Minstrel show performer” in the musical number “Crazy Feet.” One of those chorus girls was Betty Grable in her first film appearance. Other members of the cast include Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Victor McLaglen, Marjorie White, Stewart Erwin, George Jessel, Will Rogers, El Brendel, James J. Corbett, Warner Baxter, Edmund Lowe, J. Farrell McDonald, Sharon Lynn, Frank Albertson, and Camden, New Jersey’s own Ann Pennington.
Men Without Women (February 9, 1930) — An action drama concerning a submarine trapped at the bottom of the sea, written and directed by John Ford. Frank Richardson appears uncredited as the Singing Sailor in Shanghai. Another uncredited actor was a young John Wayne, who had been appearing in bit roles in John Ford’s movies since 1928.
High Society Blues (March 23–24, 1930) — Frank Richardson had another off-camera singing role in this Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell vehicle, which also featured Lucien Littlefield and Louise Fazenda.
New Movietone Follies of 1930 (May 4, 1930) — Frank Richardson’s last movie paired him once again with the delightful Marjorie White. El Brendel received top billing in this film.
Visited Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
Visited Camden
FRANKIE RICHARDSON, stage and screen star, was an entertaining guest last night at the Central Airport Dance marathon. The 14 teams and 3 solo dancers passed 655 hours of continuous dancing last night.
Million Dollar Pier Plans Gala Opening
Camden Courier-Post —
Swimming Pool and Circus Are Among Innovations at Resort
Atlantic City, June 18.—The first definite news from the bustling activity surrounding Young’s Million Dollar Pier here brings tidings of many interesting innovations and improvements for the coming season. When the pier opens for its twenty-sixth year, July 1, it will bring to the clientele new features which have no duplication in this part of the country.
Capt. John L. Young, Clarence Crossan and Albert Hill, of the executive council for the gigantic playground and amusement centre, have planned a diversified program. The first novelty is the swimming pool and playground for children, which is being constructed in the aquarium court. This will mark the first over-the-ocean bathing beach in the world. Another feature which has been designed for their especial benefit is the bridal bath and train of gentle ponies for young equestrians.
Adults are “in the swim” too with the new bathing facilities and locker rooms for surf bathers.
Great interest attaches itself to the pier’s inaugural stage show. An unusual and widely varied roster of star acts has been selected to satisfy every possible taste. Frankie Richardson, an outstanding star of many talking pictures, including “Sunny Side Up” and “Happy Days,” will be master of ceremonies for the gala opening. In the bevy of stars who will surround him are Virginia Bacon and her dancing revue.
The only riding mear in America, and Madeleine, the prima donna of bucking mules, will be highlights of the act to be presented by the Lorettos, one of the most famous circus families in the world. There are many more acts to be announced for the brilliant opening show, which will have Oscar Petters and his well-known Admirals, an aggregation of syncopators known to all radio fans, to supply the music.
Another feature combining both beauty and educational value is the dog, monkey and pony circus of the noted Pamahasika, who will also exhibit his jungle kindergarten of birds of rare and beautiful species. The net hauls, the famous Captain Young Aquarium and the marathon dancing contest will start the new season off.
Astor Theatre — Frankie Richardson in Person
Reading Eagle —
Astor — Starts Today!
Greatest Show Value in Reading!
ON THE SCREEN:— OKAY, READING! … HERE’S THAT SCANDALOUS COMEDY ABOUT SCANDAL COLUMNISTS! … IT’S THE INSIDE STORY OF THE GUY WHO KNEW THE STORK!
‘BLESSED EVENT’ — Warner Bros.’ Hit, with Lee Tracy, Mary Brian, Dick Powell.
ON THE STAGE: FRANKIE RICHARDSON — Stage and Screen Star of “Sunny Side Up,” “Happy Days,” “Movietone Follies.” In Person. With Gigantic Stage Show of World’s Best Vaudeville. Featuring “Dancing Around” — Eric Philmore and Girls, Reed and Levere, Bud and Elinor Coll.
The Astor Theatre continues today and Tuesday with its gala stage and screen program. The stage show is headlined by Frankie Richardson, screen star of “Sunny Side Up,” “Happy Days” and other Fox pictures, with four other big acts.
Ends Suit by Marrying
San Diego Evening Tribune —
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 2 (A.P.)— Frankie Richardson, 35, screen and stage singer, has “settled” the $100,000 breach of promise suit entered against him by marrying the girl who sued him. Richardson motored to Elkton, Md., today with Miss Emily Joan Graham, 23, musical comedy actress, known on the stage as Joan Williams, and was married. Miss Williams charged Richardson proposed to her and agreed to marry her, but later told her he was married. Shortly afterward Richardson was divorced. Conferences were held to adjust the suit. Richardson said today that during these meetings he fell in love again with Miss Williams.
She Sued Him for $100,000 for Breach of Promise
Seattle Daily Times —
She sued him for $100,000 for breach of promise—but instead of battling in court he up and married her
By Madelin Blitzstein
LEFT: Joan Williams, who became Mrs. Frankie Richardson after her breach of promise suit got a surprise ending.
RIGHT: Frankie Richardson and his first wife, Adele Richardson, who divorced him after the lawsuit was filed, and made possible his marriage to Joan.
IN the spring, when if we are to believe the poets, “a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love,” a titian-haired, ultra-smartly clad show-girl strolled into the offices of an eminent attorney and proceeded to paraphrase the sentiment of an immortal American ballad in words that ran something like this:
Frankie and Joanie were lovers.
Oh lord! how they could love,
Swore to be true to each other, true as the stars above.
He was my man but he done me wrong.
But instead of the violent manner in which the heroine of the time-honored song wanted to square things with her man, the modern lady wanted cold $100,000 in cash to help heal her broken heart.
The lawyer obediently filed the necessary papers; the judge had the accused gentleman arrested on a capias and released on bail; and the scene was set for one of those sensational and theatrical breach of promise suits in which the attractive female of the species usually triumphs over a lugubrious swain by weeping tears of outraged innocence on the witness chair.
But sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and this time the applecart of traditional procedure was completely upset in a surprising and unique manner. Joan did not get the $100,000 from Frankie, but she did succeed in winning what was even dearer to her heart—she got the man himself.
For the distasteful suit was withdrawn and on November 1, Joan Williams, the plaintiff, became Mrs. Frankie Richardson, wife of the defendant, who is a screen, stage, vaudeville and radio entertainer with an amiable personality and the ability to put over a sentimental song which has made his name famous from New York to Hollywood.
The plot of this unusual tale had its inception in January, 1933. At that time Joan Williams, who was christened Emily Joan Graham, and had changed her name for stage purposes, had come over from New York to Philadelphia to visit her mother, Mrs. Mary Graham.
Joan had been one of Earl Carroll’s girls in his “Vanities.” She had also been prominent in the choruses of several other musical revues and had appeared at several night clubs.
While Joan was staying with her mother, she also paid a call on her theatrical agent, who wanted to book her at one of Philadelphia roof cafés. Joan consented and told him that she had to return to New York for a few days. The gentleman proposed that if she wanted company on the trip she might make the two-hour journey with Frankie Richardson, a good friend of his. Joan said, “Swell” and she and Frankie thus met for the first time.
Now Frankie Richardson is himself a lad who hails from the Quaker city. Born there in 1898, he wanted to go on the stage almost as soon as he could walk and talk. Frankie had the boy soprano voice and plenty of stage presence at the rather early age of eight. He made a hit and got an engagement with Dumont’s Minstrels as the “Wonder Boy Tenor.” Later he went with Emmet Welch’s Minstrels on the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, played with circus shows and graduated to the post of master of ceremonies in vaudeville and moving picture houses.
Hollywood wanted him and Frankie Richardson went out there to appear in the Movietone Follies, one of the first all-singing, all-dancing and all-talking cinema revues. He was in “Sunnyside Up” where he shared the limelight with two other Philadelphia-born favorites, Janet Gaynor and El Brendel, and in “Let’s Go Places” and “Happy Days.”
Then he came back east to vaudeville and was taken right back to the hearts of his public when he sang the song hits from the movies with his typical style of syncopating rhythm.
Joan Williams had of course heard of Frankie Richardson. Naturally she was tremendously flattered when, after the two-hour train journey, he asked to see her the next day. Then there followed what Joan described as a whirlwind courtship for three exciting months.
“Frankie sent me flowers and candy almost every day,” Joan said last April. “We went out together all the time. He introduced me to his friends. He came to see me at my mother’s home and mama was very fond of him. My agent seemed very happy at the results of his introduction. Everything looked more than rosy.
“Then on March 1, 1933 Frankie proposed marriage to me. I accepted because I loved him and I believed that he loved me. The date of the wedding was set, it was to take place in the summer. I began to collect a trousseau.
“Then without any warning or any hint from Frankie or any of his friends, on April 16 Frankie told me abruptly but firmly that he could not marry me because he already had a wife. Adele, who was living at his home in Stonehurst near Philadelphia.
“You can imagine how I felt. Surprised and embarrassed are not the words. My agent had never mentioned the obstacle of a wife. My mother could not believe that Frankie was the type who would deceive a girl deliberately and in cold blood.”
However, there was a wife, and Joan Williams lost no time in taking her hurt pride and injured feelings to a lawyer, John R. K. Scott, who filed a suit for breach of promise, asking $100,000 as balm.
In the legal brief, it was stated that the plaintiff’s anticipations of a blissful married life with the defendant were shattered when said defendant informed her he was already married and his wife was living, so that it would be impossible for him to keep his agreement.
It went on to say that she had suffered great injury to her reputation and social standing; what is more, it informed the court that the plaintiff was willing and ready to marry the defendant, whom she loved.
Judge Lewis issued a capias for the accused, requiring Richardson to enter bail so as to ensure his appearance in court at the proper time. Richardson, who was then appearing at a Philadelphia moving picture house as master of ceremonies, complied and then left to fill an engagement in Baltimore.
Richardson himself refused to be interviewed. His “fiancée” however, was not so reticent. She was anxious to relieve her troubled heart by spilling her story to whoever would listen.
“Frankie’s first song hit was ‘What Is the Use to Remember When the Girl You Remember Forgets’” were her words. “Well, I sing it all day now except that I substitute boy for girl. Only a few days ago Frankie and I both loved another one of his hits, ‘Hurry Up Those Wedding Bells,’ but I guess he thinks I’ll forget that, too.
“The one I liked best was ‘I’m in the Market for You’ and I still sing it because I’m still ready to be his bride. But if he really thinks he can just put an end to our beautiful romance by springing a wife on me, he won’t have an easy time.
“It’s hard for me to believe that she really does exist, for she has never communicated with me. Why doesn’t she call me now and deny that her Frankie ever loved me? Why didn’t Frankie’s friends ever tell me about her?”
But a few weeks later rumor had it that Joan Williams had suddenly sent her attorney a sweet-scented note in which she asked him to drop the case. Several town gossips discovered that Frankie and Joanie were “making whoopee” together in one of the town’s hot spots.
Then like a bolt from the blue came the announcement that Richardson and Emily Joan Graham, known as Joan Williams, were to be married in Maryland’s Gretna Green, Elkton. It seems that Mrs. Richardson No. 1 had not had any great desire to remain hitched to Frankie and had obtained a divorce quietly, a few months after Joan Williams had filed the breach of promise suit.
And Frankie had apparently been seized with a resurgence of love for Joan. She had him “picking petals off of daisies,” to use one of his favorite ditties, and when he confronted her at several lawyers’ conferences, to use his own words, “I fell in love with her all over again.”
Thus a happy ending in the manner of the fairy tales was unexpectedly tacked on to this modern romance of sophisticated stage folk. With witnesses to give them cheer the ecstatic pair drove off to Elkton in an eight-cylinder shiny limousine. There at the stroke of noon on November 1, the knot was tied by the Rev. O. D. Moon, a Baptist minister and the brother of the Rev. Robert William Moon, Elkton’s famous “marrying parson,” whom illness prevented from officiating.
Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company Carnival
Trenton Evening Times —
CARNIVAL — JUNE 6 TO 13 INCLUSIVE
PRINCETON JUNCTION VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
Featuring:
FRANKIE RICHARDSON, singer and M.C.
SIS McCALL, tap dancer and imitations
STANLEY BROTHERS, acrobatic dancers extraordinary
JACK GRIFFIN & His Columbia Broadcasting Orchestra
Lexington Casino
Trenton Evening Times — 1940
LEXINGTON CASINO
ROOSEVELT BOULEVARD
18 Minutes from Trenton
2d SMASHING WEEK
★ Frankie Richardson, M. C. ★
Star of Stage, Screen and Radio
★ (Lillian) FITZGERALD ★
Sepia Screwball of Song
ADDED ATTRACTION
KITTY WOLF’S REVUE
WE CATER TO BANQUETS, DINNERS AND PARTIES AT POPULAR PRICES
Reservations: Bustleton 8109
[November 15, 1940]
LEXINGTON CASINO
14 ACTS — Roosevelt Blvd. 20 Minutes from Trenton — 14 ACTS
FRANKIE RICHARDSON, M. C.
Presents
Six Bombshells of Rhythm
Lillian Fitzgerald—Sepia Screwball of Song
HELEN JACKSON—DANCER
JIMMY FITZGERALD
[November 22, 1940]
LEXINGTON CASINO
Roosevelt Blvd., Phila. 20 min. from Trenton
FRANK RICHARDSON, M. C.
”Star of Sunny Side Up”
6 - CO-EDS IN HARVEST TIME
Mimi Stewart — Jimmy Johnstone
LEXINGTON TRIO
We Cater to Banquets & Parties
[November 22, 1940 — Club Morocco]
TONIGHT
CLUB MOROCCO
Roosevelt Blvd. Near Cottman St.
Presents
JOE MARTIN
And His 12-Piece Orchestra
Featuring
NORMA DU-RAY
EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTION
FRANKIE RICHARDSON
Star of Radio, Stage and Screen
Free Parking
Admission 20c Tax 1c
[November 29, 1940]
LEXINGTON CASINO
Roosevelt Blvd., Phila., 20 Min. from Trenton
FRANKIE RICHARDSON, M. C.
Star of “Sunnyside Up”
Featuring BLACK EYE PEAS
6 Co-Eds in Minstrels
Make Your Early Reservations For New Year’s Now
Lexington Casino — Roosevelt Boulevard — 18 Minutes from Trenton
★ Frankie Richardson, M.C. ★ Star of Stage, Screen and Radio — (Lillian) Fitzgerald, Sepia Screwball of Song — Added Attraction: Kitty Wolf’s Revue — We Cater to Banquets, Dinners and Parties at Popular Prices
Also: Club Morocco, Roosevelt Blvd., presents Frankie Richardson, Star of Radio, Stage and Screen, with Joe Martin and His 12-Piece Orchestra.
Vaudeville Stars Rally ’Round Tornado Benefit Show
Boston Traveler —
Boston Traveler, June 13, 1953 — benefit show for Worcester tornado victims featuring Frankie Richardson among veteran vaudeville performers
Lexington — Frankie Richardson, ‘Mr. Show Business’
Trenton Evening Times —
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ONLY!
FRANKIE RICHARDSON — “MR. SHOW BUSINESS”
GIOVI BROS. — NOTED TV STARS
FREE MAMBO LESSONS by the MAMBO DEUCES
OTHER STAR ACTS
BANQUETS · PARTIES
LEXINGTON, 7600 Roosevelt Blvd. MA4-7877
Polish Eagles Club, Chester
Delco Daily Times — 1961
[October 20, 1961]
ATTENTION MEMBERS
POLISH EAGLES CLUB
9th & Elsinore, Chester
Free Parking for 500 Cars
2 FLOOR SHOWS SAT. NITE
OCT. 21
10:30 P.M. featuring
JOE CONNORS
SONGS & STORIES
AND
EMILY CARR
DANCER
12:30 P.M. featuring
FRANKIE RICHARDSON
”MR. SHOW BUSINESS”
AND
BERT GEHAN
COMIC
PLUS AN ALL-STAR CAST
[December 8, 1961]
ATTENTION MEMBERS
POLISH EAGLES CLUB
9th & Elsinore, Chester
Free Parking for 500 Cars
FLOOR SHOW
PAT PATTON M. C.
Frankie Richardson
Songs
MARY SNYDER
and her Gay Nineties Review
Jimmy Mohan—His Organ and His Orchestra
Polish Eagles Club, 9th & Elsinore, Chester — Free Parking for 500 Cars
2 Floor Shows Saturday Night, October 21: 10:30 P.M. featuring Joe Connors — Songs & Stories and Emily Carr — Dancer; 12:30 P.M. featuring FRANKIE RICHARDSON, “Mr. Show Business,” and Bert Gehan — Comic, plus an All-Star Cast.
Floor Show, December: Pat Patton M.C. — Frankie Richardson, Songs — Mary Snyder and her Gay Nineties Review — Jimmy Mohan — His Organ and His Orchestra
Obituary
Boston Herald —
RICHARDSON—In Philadelphia, Frankie Joseph Richardson, 63, singer and veteran of 55 years in show business.
Marathon Dance Contest
Camden Courier-Post —
SEE FRANKIE RICHARDSON
Here Tonight in Person at 11.15
CENTRAL AIRPORT
Open Day and Night Seven Days a Week
BROADCAST WCAM 4.45-5.00 P. M.
ADMISSION
5 A. M. to 5 P. M.—25c
5 P. M. to 5 A. M.—50c