Georgie Price

American entertainer

Georgie Price

Price in 1945

Born|

George Edwards Price

(1901-01-05)January 5, 1901

New York City, New York, US

Died| May 10, 1964(1964-05-10) (aged 63)

New York City, New York, US

Occupation(s)| Stage/Film Singer/Comic; Financial Broker
Years active| 1929–1954
Spouse(s)| Catherine Alexandra Marshall (1942–1963) (divorced) (2 children)
Berenice Page (1921–1927) (divorced)[1]

George Edwards "Georgie" Price (January 5, 1901 - May 10, 1964) was an American vaudeville singer and comic who performed in Vitaphone shorts in the 1920s and 1930s.

## Early life, family and education

[edit]

Price was born on the Lower East Side[1] of Manhattan, New York City, New York. Price began performing as a child in public places such as barrooms and streetcars, before winning amateur competitions. At six years old, he so impressed opera singer Enrico Caruso that he performed with Caruso in a benefit concert for a deceased police officer's family.

## Career

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As a vaudeville child star, Price introduced the Edwards-Madden song "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" in Gus Edwards' revue School Boys and Girls in 1909.[2][3] As a boy he performed on Broadway with another child Lila Lee (later a well-known film actress). He was a contemporary on vaudeville with George Jessel, Walter Winchell and Eddie Cantor.[1]

As an adult professional, he drew comparisons to Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor.[4] His theme song was "Bye Bye Blackbird".[1]

A bitter dispute with Shubert theatre magnate, Jacob J. Shubert, caused Price by the late 1920s to give up show business to work as a Wall Street stockbroker. He bought a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.[1] Shubert had originally hired Price with the promise to turn him into a major headliner but then reneged and in turn refused to fulfill the financial obligations on Price's contract.[5]

Georgie Price appeared in the stage show at the Mastbaum Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Barto and Mann and Maria Gambarelli (Gamby) in March 1932.[6]

## Personal life and demise

[edit]

Price was married three times. He was married to Berenice Page from 1921 to 1927; they divorced.[1] Price's third marriage was to Catherine Alexandra Marshall from 1942 to 1963 when they divorced. They had two children.[1] In all, Price had four offspring: sons Peter and George Marshall, and daughters Lisa and Mrs. John W. Larsen.[1]

Price died in New York, aged 63.[1]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "GEORGE E. PRICE, COMIC, 64, IS DEAD; Star in Vaudeville Became Successful Stockbroker". The New York Times. 11 May 1964. p. 31.
2. ^ Tyler, Don (2007). Hit songs, 1900-1955: American popular music of the pre-rock era. MacFarland. p. 47\. ISBN 978-0786429462.
3. ^ Jasen, David A. (2003). Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song. Routledge. p. 122. ISBN 0-415-93877-5.
4. ^ Hamberlin, Larry (2011). Tin Pan Opera: Operatic Novelty Songs in the Ragtime Era. Oxford University Press. p. 56\. ISBN 978-0-19-533892-8.
5. ^ Hirsch, Foster (1998). The Boys from Syracuse: The Shuberts' Theatrical Empire. Cooper Square Press. p. 149\. ISBN 0-8154-1103-0.
6. ^ Newspaper display ad.

## External links

[edit]

* Georgie Price at IMDb

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Artists|

* MusicBrainz
* Discography of American Historical Recordings