Gus Williams (vaudeville)
Encyclopedia
Gus Williams was a popular American comedian and songwriter.
German-American fur importer. While in his early teens Williams left home to seek adventure in the American West. He made it as far as Indiana where circumstances deemed it necessary for the boy to find work as a farmhand. On August 12, 1862 fourteen year-old Williams left farm work behind and joined Company F. of the 48th Indiana Infantry to serve in the American Civil War
.
He first took to the stage on November, 14, 1864 during the Union Army
’s occupation of Huntsville, Alabama
with J. B. Ashton’s Dramatic Company playing Carney in "The Pirate Legacy: The Wrecker’s Fate" by Charles H. Saunders
.
Three years after the war’s end, Williams joined Tony Pastor
’s vaudeville show where he would remain throughout his twenties. With Pastor he became popular as a Dutch-style comedian performing skits and singing songs in a comedic German accent. Two of his more popular tunes from that period were, “Keiser Do You Want to Buy a Dog?” and “Dot Little German Band”.
Around 1879 Williams began touring in German farce comedies like, “Our German Senator”, “One of the Finest”, “Keppler’s Fortunes”, “April Fool” and “Oh! What a Night”. Over his career Williams would not only pen a number of popular comic songs but also a few sentimental ones, such as “See that my Grave is Kept Clean”,“Pretty Little Dark Blue Eyes” and “Don’t Forget Mother”. In 1885 he assumed his stage name, Gus Williams, as his permanent legal name. At the peak of his career Williams became active in the campaign to better the wages of vaudeville players and was the first to demand and receive $500 for a week’s engagement as a monologist.
Train Station in Yonkers, asking her to tend to his wife Emma who was not well. Upon leaving the telegraph office Williams pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the temple. There was no suicide note, leaving family and friends to speculate on why he ended his life, though health issues and career concerns would appear to have topped the list.
Early life
Gustave Wilhelm Leweck, Jr. was born on the ninth of July, 1848, the son of a New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
German-American fur importer. While in his early teens Williams left home to seek adventure in the American West. He made it as far as Indiana where circumstances deemed it necessary for the boy to find work as a farmhand. On August 12, 1862 fourteen year-old Williams left farm work behind and joined Company F. of the 48th Indiana Infantry to serve in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Career
Williams, who was probably a drummer boy, soon became popular in the service providing entertainment that helped alleviate the daily boredom of camp life.He first took to the stage on November, 14, 1864 during the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
’s occupation of Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
with J. B. Ashton’s Dramatic Company playing Carney in "The Pirate Legacy: The Wrecker’s Fate" by Charles H. Saunders
Charles H. Saunders
Charles Hicks Saunders was a Massachusetts politician who served on the Common Council, Board of Aldermen and as the Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts.-Notes:...
.
Three years after the war’s end, Williams joined Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor was an American impresario, variety performer and theatre owner who became one of the founding forces behind American vaudeville in the mid-to-late nineteenth century...
’s vaudeville show where he would remain throughout his twenties. With Pastor he became popular as a Dutch-style comedian performing skits and singing songs in a comedic German accent. Two of his more popular tunes from that period were, “Keiser Do You Want to Buy a Dog?” and “Dot Little German Band”.
Around 1879 Williams began touring in German farce comedies like, “Our German Senator”, “One of the Finest”, “Keppler’s Fortunes”, “April Fool” and “Oh! What a Night”. Over his career Williams would not only pen a number of popular comic songs but also a few sentimental ones, such as “See that my Grave is Kept Clean”,“Pretty Little Dark Blue Eyes” and “Don’t Forget Mother”. In 1885 he assumed his stage name, Gus Williams, as his permanent legal name. At the peak of his career Williams became active in the campaign to better the wages of vaudeville players and was the first to demand and receive $500 for a week’s engagement as a monologist.
Death
Williams continued to work well into his sixties though eventually no longer as a headliner. On January 16, 1915 Williams had a meeting with his booking agent, J. J. Armstrong, in New York and on his return trip home sent his sister-in-law a telegraph message from the Getty SquareGetty Square
Getty Square is a square in the downtown area of Yonkers, New York, United States of America. It is near the historic Philipse Manor, Saint John's Episcopal Church, the Yonkers rail station, and many shops and landmarks...
Train Station in Yonkers, asking her to tend to his wife Emma who was not well. Upon leaving the telegraph office Williams pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the temple. There was no suicide note, leaving family and friends to speculate on why he ended his life, though health issues and career concerns would appear to have topped the list.