Lizzie Avery-Genéri

 On April 1st, 1877, Elizabeth Goines (or Hardin) was born in Chicago, Illinois to Lottie Payne and Charles Goines. 

Elizabeth, as Lizzie Hardin, first appeared in 1897 as an acrobatic dancer touring the Midwest with the Howe's London Shows. During her travels, she met fellow performer, Daniel Avery (c.1877-February 23, 1912) and formed the “Avery & Hardin” duo. On April 30th, 1898, the couple married in Billings, Montana and joined Richards, Pringles, Rusco & Holland's Minstrel Festival with whom they toured the Midwest and Southern states for the next two years.

During the fall of 1899, the duo traveled with Sissieretta Jones’ Black Patti Troubadours before joining the Creole Burlesques Company the following year. From 1901-1902, the couple relocated to New York and toured the American Eastern Coast on the Keith Circuit.

In 1903, Dan Avery partnered with Charles Hart. The new duo of Avery & Hart went on the road with Williams and Walker's Sons of Ham company, with Lizzie possibly joining as a chorus girl. They remained with the company for nearly a year and a half before sailing to England in July 1904 to join the cast of In Dahomey. 

 Williams and Walker's In Dahomey, had already played London for eight months and toured the British provinces for another six months.  Now the original company was returning to America. In August 1905 A second company opened in London, with Avery & Hart replacing Williams and Walker. This second company continued touring until February 1905.

After the In Dahomey tour finally came to a close, Dan and Lizzie Avery separated, with Dan returning home to New York. Lizzie joined the “Four Black Mexican Girls”, a quartet which also included Pauline Freeman, Nettie Glenn and Nettie Goff-Garland. The group opened in Paris at the Cirque d'Hiver in March 1905 before touring for a year across the United Kingdom and Europe before dissolving in the spring of 1906.

From 1906-1908, Lizzie Avery disappeared from the spotlight, before reappearing in London during the summer of 1909, as the mistress of an Italian, Carlo Giuseppe Pietro Genéri (September 5, 1866-Unknown) and was heavily pregnant. On November 13th, 1909, their son, Carlo Lorenzo Pietro Genéri was born. Carlo Jr was baptized on December 12th at St. Pancras Parish Church.

London (1910)

From 1910-1914, as Lizzie Avery-Genéri, she resided in London's Camden district at 8 Brunswick Square and lived as a socialite. She was also a member of the Coronation Syndicate Club, a group of African-American women living in London that organized sewing circles and helped fellow African-American entertainers arriving in London. 

In 1914, Lizzie and Carlo Genéri officially married and finally began residing together in Manchester at 23 Darley Road until the outbreak of the First World War. On July 29th, 1914, Lizzie and her four-year old son sailed aboard the SS Olympic to New York. There they remained for the next two years before arriving back in England on September 11th, 1916, aboard the SS Finland, settling at 91 Vassall Road with her husband. 

In April 1917, after the learning of death of her brother, Robert Hardin, Lizzie was hospitalized for an unknown ailment. After her release, the Genéri family relocated to Cambridge at 28 Alpha Road. On March 25th, 1918, the family relocated again to a mansion in Southport, Lancashire at 25 Westburne Road, where the family resided until December 5th, 1920, when Elizabeth Estella Genéri died. She cremated in Liverpool at the Ashfield Crematorium, three days later. 

Carlo Genéri Sr. and his eleven-year old son disappeared from British records shortly afterwards, possibly relocating to Italy. 

Ollie Burgoyne (1875-1974)

Ollie Burgoyne was born, Olive Martin on June 13th, 1875, in Chicago, Illinois to Melvina Alexander and Henry C. Martin. Her maternal grandparents, William (1826-1891) and Mary Alexander (April 1824-May 23, 1916) originated from a plantation in Lafayette County, Missouri near the city of Lexington. After marrying around 1840, the couple produced the children: Charlie, Melvina (August 1849-c. 1908) and Jennie L. Alexander (April 1857-December 1923). After William Alexander was sold down to New Orleans, Mary hired her son off to various landowners to raise money to relocate to Peoria. Eventually the family reunited after the Civil War and moved further north to Chicago.

Chicago (1875)

In 1869, after graduating from Wilberforce University, Melvina “Mattie” Alexander met and married Henry C. Martin (1834-Jul.21, 1903), a barber from New York and settled into an apartment next door to the Academy Music Theatre. The marriage produced two children, William C. Martin (October 1869-1959) and Olive “Ollie” Martin. The entire Alexander family relocated to Kansas City, Kansas in September 1871. Since Mr and Mrs Martin frequently relocated between Chicago, Topeka and Kansas City, William and Ollie were left in the care of their Aunt Jennie Edinboro (she had married William Edinboro in 1887) at 539 State Street. 

Kansas City (1880)

Ollie's career began around 1887, at age 12, possibly in local churches. By 1894, she had left home and relocated to Chicago to work as a singer in the local clubs. By April 1896, she was a member of Allen's Celebrated Jubilee Singers. That August, she adopted the stage name, Ollie Burgoyne and moved to New York City as a chorus girl with John Isham's Oriental America Company. The show toured the Eastern United States for eight months before sailing for England in April 1897, where it remained for a year. However, Ollie isn't mentioned as being a part of the British tour, deciding to remain with a second company that continued appearing in New York for another year. In 1898, she joined the cast of John Isham's Octoroon company, touring the East Coast for a year before then joining the Williams & Walker company by December 1898, appearing in the productions “The Talk of the Town” and “A Lucky Coon”. Late-1900, she was traveling with Dunbar & Cook's production, “Uncle Eph’s Christmas”.

Returning to New York by April 1901, Ollie noticed an advertisement posted in the New York Herald by German theatrical impresario Paula Kohn-Wöllner, seeking seven African-American women with the ability to sing and dance for a concert tour of Germany. The Seven Louisiana Amazon Guard company was composed of Fannie Wise, Florence Collins, Emma Harris, S. T. Jubrey, Alverta Burley and Burgoyne. The seventh member, Coretté Hardy, remained in New York as a reserve. 

Vienna (September 1901)

On April 10, the six women were brought to the Passport Office to apply for their first passports. After two weeks with Ms. Kohn-Wöllner paying for all six of the women's travel expenses, they boarded on the S.S. Deutschland, heading for Germany. By April 21, the troupe had arrived in Leipzig, Germany. Throughout June and July, the troupe made a series of successful performances at Kaiserkrone and Carlsbad's Hotel Weber in Kiel. In late August, the women intrigued Hungarian audiences at the Os-Budavara fortress. In September, the women fulfilled a month-long engagement at Vienna's Colosseum Theater. The following month was spent at Copenhagen's Cirkus Variete for the beginning of their brief Scandinavian tour.

Budapest (August 1901)

In November, the troupe spent two successful weeks at Goteborg's Circus Madigan and two more weeks at Stockholm's Svensalen Variety Restaurant. Between their performances, on November 11, Ms. Kohn-Wöllner conducted several interviews with the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper, frequently pushing forward Wise (dressed in a black and white dress). Ms. Kohn-Wöllner mentioned her plans to organize a band for the troupe, the contract she signed with the Folies-Bergere (for January 1902) and to bring over Hardy, who was still waiting in America. The troupe returned to Germany in December to entertain at Berlin's Circus Schumann where they ended the year, preparing for another year of extensive touring.

Germany (c. 1902)

The new year of 1902, the group opened in Magdeburg for a two-week engagement before moving on to France, where the women intended to perform at Paris' famous Folie-Bergere cabaret. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if that ever came into fruition and the troupe returned to Germany to appear in Braunswich's Bruning Theater and Halle's Walhalla Theater. The month of March was spent in Breslau's Liebich Etablissement, followed by performances at Danzig's Wilhelm Theater and Poznan's Kaisergarten in April. In May, the group disappears briefly from the limelight as Fannie Wise and S.T. Jubrey suddenly quit the group and returned home to the United States. During this time their replacements, standby performers, Coretté Hardy and Fannie Smith (20-year-old from Philadelphia) were promptly brought over to Europe. Throughout June, the troupe toured across Switzerland, performing in Zurich and St. Gallen before returning north to Germany. The month of July was spent at Munich's Deutsches Theater, followed by a month at Leipzig's Central Theater (September) and Dresden (October). 

On November 9th, 1902, after twenty-one months of touring across Europe, during their Dresden engagement, the entire troupe walked out on their German impresario. Kohn-Wöllner was taken to court and accused of exploiting them financially. Lead performer Ollie Burgoyne was elected as their new manager and, now as the "Five Louisianas", the women left for Berlin, where they entertained at the Orpheum Theater and Harmonie Circus. After a brief engagement in Trier and Aachen, the group suddenly disappeared. In March 1903, Ollie Burgoyne and Florence Collins renewed their American passports and departed for London to join the cast of Hurtig & Seamon's In Dahomey, which opened on May 16th at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Ollie performed as a chorus girl with “In Dahomey” for the next ten months before sailing for Russia in March 1904, where she filed a passport in Saint Petersburg on March 14th. During the summer of 1904, the Harris Trio (remnants from the Louisiana Amazon Guard), together with Ollie Bourgoyne and Jennie Scheper (from the Florida Creole Girls) formed a new company known as the "Creole Troupe" and continued touring the principal Russian cities. On January 22, 1905, while attending a party, hosted by popular American jockey, William Caton, in central Saint-Petersburg, the women witnessed the Bloody Sunday riots outside the Tsar's palace and across the city. The trio immediately packed up and returned to Moscow, where they resumed working at the Aumont Theater. In February, while performing in the city of Vyatka, the troupe decided to dissolve. 

Helsinki (March 1905)

Now known as Olga Burgoyne, Ollie formed a duet known as the Sisters Burgoyne (Jennie Scheper possibly being the other member) and appeared at Helsinki's Societetshuset (March 1905) and Saint Petersburg's Krestovskiy Garden Theater (May-August 1905), although Ollie later claimed that her engagement at the Krestovskiy lasted two years. According to LeRoi Antoine's later biography on Laura Bowman, by September 1906, while Pete Hampton & Laura Bowman were appearing in Moscow, they were entertained by Ollie Burgoyne, her cousin Ida Forsyne and another African-American entertainer known as Irene Ford.

The following month, Hampton & Bowman took a vacation to Odessa, where they ran into Ollie Burgoyne again, who had joined her boyfriend, a Russian nobleman known as Sasha. Sasha was buying a set of horses for his wife and his Black mistress. A couple of weeks later, as the 1905 revolution intensified across the Russian Empire, Ollie and Ida Forsyne, with the help of friends at the American Embassy, escaped to London before returning to Saint Petersburg in the summer of 1907, moving into N°3 Moshkov Lane, according to the local address books. In September, she debuted at the Apollo Theater for a month before moving on to Finland, performing at Helsinki's Princess Restaurant (November) and Turku's Hotel Phoenix (December).

By early 1908, she had returned home to the Russian capital, settling into a new residence at N°4 Aleksandrovskaya. Ollie had become a popular exotic dancer in the Russian Empire known as, Граната (The Grenade) due to her firecracker personality. She began singing in German, French and Russian and performed the Maxixe, Ballet and Algerian Belly Dances onstage. Five months later, after a brief trip to England, on May 21, 1908, Ollie boarded the S.S. Celtic at Liverpool returning to America to visit relatives in Kansas City (possibly for her mother's funeral). The family still resided at 539 State Avenue and her brother William had become an editor with local African-American publication, The American Citizen. On July 2nd, Ollie performed onstage at the Sparks Theater, the proceeds going to a local orphanage. On September 24th, she gave a brief appearance at New York's Woods Palace before returning home to Russia, to appear that winter at Moscow's Scala Theater. 

12-b Bolshaya Ruzheynaya (c. 1915)

The year 1909, proved to be a very successful year for Ollie Burgoyne. She settled into a luxurious apartment at N°10 Bolshaya Ruzheynaya in the Petrogradsky District of Saint Petersburg. Two doors down, at N°12-b Bolshaya Ruzheynaya, she opened the Maison Créole: Lingerie Parisienne, an upscale lingerie boutique with 27 employees and showcased black mannequins in the windows. Together with her business partner, Mattie Vera Wilkes (a fellow chorus girl from Oriental America), the boutique ran for the next five years. When she wasn't running the boutique, she was appearing across the Russian Empire. In April, she appeared at Saint Petersburg's illustrious Kontan Restaurant, situated within the Hotel Rossia, located at 58 Moika River Embankment and famous for its exquisite cuisine and Romanian orchestras. The following month, she was dancing at Moscow's Aquarium Garden Theater. By July 2nd, she was back in Saint Petersburg, filing passport with the American Embassy. For next year, there's no records of her whereabouts.

 

Bucharest (March 1912)

On September 20th, 1910, she was in London visiting the home of Jennie Scheper and her new husband, Alphonso Haston. Four days later, she sailed on the SS Campania from Liverpool to New York, listing her destination as 20 West 136th Street. Although it's unknown how she spent her time during this trip to America, she reunited with her cousin, Ida Forsyne and Ida's husband Usher Henry Watts. Ollie and Usher decided to form a duet, known as the Duo Eclatants and returned together to Europe to embark on a 16-month tour. After a brief Russian tour, the couple appeared across Germany, Austria-Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Greece and Egypt. On May 7th, 1912, the couple sailed from Bremen aboard the SS Kronprinz Wilhelm back to New York, where they went their separate ways. Ollie returned home to Russia on June 15th.

In February 1913, Ollie was performing in Moscow, renewing her passport while there on the 26th. Two months later, for a few weeks in April, she appeared at Kiev's Villa Josef Cabaret. Returning to Moscow that summer, she appeared at the famous Hermitage Gardens, a popular recreation garden known for its attractions and live performances located in central Moscow on Karetny Ryad Street. That October, she headed west for Poland, performing at Warsaw's Oaza Kabarett for a few weeks.  By early 1914, her touring had taken Ollie across the border into Austria-Hungary, appearing in Budapest by March. She filed a passport from the American Consulate General on March 12th. By July, she was vacationing in the Austrian spa town of Marienbad when WWI broke out on July 28th. Ollie however did not receive the news until three days later. Traveling immediately to Vienna, she attempted to return home to Russia but was unable to. After several more attempts from Berlin, The Hague and London, she gave up and on October 20th, sailed from Liverpool aboard the SS Franconia back to America accompanied by Mattie Wilkes. Her luxurious Saint Petersburg apartment, filled with all her possessions, had been lost and her successful Maison Créole boutique at N°12-b Bolshaya Ruzheynaya had been sold and turned into an automobile dealership.

1915 Passport Photo

Unable to find work in America, and refusing to become a maid as her cousin, Ida Forsyne had become, Ollie sailed back across the Atlantic, settling in London, moving into an apartment on Southampton Row in early 1915. There she began entertaining the British elite with her exotic dances. Perhaps she hoped to wait out the war in England and return to Russia when the borders reopened. However by 1916, she had given up hope and sailed back permanently to the United States on March 18th aboard the SS Finland. After a brief stint at the Lincoln Theatre, she joined the cast of “Way Down on the Suwanee River”, appearing with them throughout the summer, leaving briefly to return to Kansas City for the funeral of her grandmother Jennie Edinboro. After moving back into her childhood home of 539 State Avenue, with her brother and aunt, Ollie began spending long months on the road with various vaudeville productions such as: Over The Top (1918), They're Off (1919), Town Top Piks (1920), Lost In Hawaii (1921), Ollie Burgoyne Company (1922) and Follow Me (1923-24). She was frequently billed as Olga Burgoyne: the Algerian Girl, and told stories to reporters that she was of Russian and Algerian heritage.

In September 1924, while appearing in Pittsburgh, Ollie eloped with 41-year old Ward Lionel Calloway, proprietor of the Ward Calloway Hotel. Ollie moved into his home at 2341 Wylie Avenue and abandoned the Follow Me company. However after a brief romance, she was back on the road the following year with the Darktown Strutters company alongside Ida Forsyne. In 1927, after appearing for a year on Broadway in the production of “Lulu Belle”, she once again traveled the United States with the Miss Bandanna company before settling back in New York in 1928, appearing on Broadway in several productions such as “The Lady Lies” opening November 26th at the Little Theatre, “Solitaire” on March 12th, 1929 at the Waldorf Theatre, “Tired Man Business”, opening June 3rd at the Waldorf Theatre and “Make Me Know It” opening November 4th at Wallack's Theatre. During this time she married Louisiana musician, Davidson Claudfield Nelson (Jul.25, 1903-Apr.7, 1946). The couple settled at 166 West 128th Street with her brother William and the mother of her ex-husband, Ward Calloway. This second marriage was also brief. 

Scene from "Laughter" (1930)

In 1930, she appeared in the comedy film produced by director Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast, Laughter. Filmed in Astoria, Queens at Paramount Studios, Ollie appeared as Pearl, The maid to actress Nancy Carroll's character, Peggy Gibson. In 1937, she also briefly appeared in the 1937 film, “The Timid Ghost”, directed by William Watson.

In March 1931, she appeared in Yonkers as a member of the Bronze Ballet Plastique. The group rebranded and returned to New York City as the Negro Art Theater Dance Group, appearing throughout the summer, although it didn't receive much recognition. By the fall of 1931, Ollie had retired as a dancer at age 56, focusing on her career as an actress. From 1931-1942, she appeared in numerous stage productions, such as “Run Lil Chillun, Run!” which opened at New York's Lyric Theatre on March 1st, 1933 and ran for three and a half months. She was also hired as a choreographer, teaching Russian dances to American entertainers. 

Colonial House Restaurant

By May 1943, at age 67, she retired from the stage altogether, working at the 34th Street Subway Station exchange booth. A few months later, she traveled to California, visiting a friend in Oxnard. During her visit, she accepted what was supposed to be a short term gig as a hat-check girl at the Colonial House Restaurant, the most popular spot in Ventura County frequented by Hollywood stars. Instead, this visit turned into a permanent residency. For the next 22 years, she checked coats, waited tables and occasionally performed onstage at the Colonial House. In-between songs, she frequently recounted stories of her time in Europe to diners. Suffering from a heart condition, she retired in 1965.

On April 2nd, 1974, Ollie Burgoyne passed away in Oxnard. Four days later, after a service at Payton’s Mortuary Chapel, she was buried at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. 

Tiger Lily (1892-19??)

On February 6th, 1892, Beatrice Anderson was born in the village of Calhoun in Ouachita County, Louisiana. She was the one of three children to John Anderson. Beatrice, like many members of the Anderson family, was affected by Piebaldism, a rare, inherited disorder of pigmentation characterized by patchy areas of skin and hair that lack melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells. This leads to white patches of skin and hair, most notably a white forelock of hair. Because of this condition, several members of the Anderson family, traveled the United States and Europe with Vaudeville companies and freak shows. Three of Beatrice's aunts, Sadie, Fannie and Rosie were touring Europe as the Three Tiger Graces.

Around 1901, Beatrice and her Aunt Hattie (who was a year older), traveled to New York in the care of retired acrobat, Henry “Harry Mack” McDonough (Apr.22, 1839-Mar.2, 1909) and his German wife, Emilia Marie Margarethe Franke (Jan.1, 1877-Apr.7, 1948). There the girls were given lessons in song, dance and acrobatics. That November, the young duo sailed to France with Barnum and Bailey's Circus, touring for months before the circus returned to the United States. 

However, Beatrice (now Tiger Lily) and Hattie (now Texas Hattie) relocated to Berlin with their caretakers and began touring for the next 13 years around Continental Europe, North Africa and the United Kingdom. In April 1907, while appearing at Rome's Salon Marguerita, were interviewed by Fabio Frassetto (1876-1953), Italian anthropologist and professor at the University of Bologna about the Anderson family history and their pigment condition.

In March 1909, after Harry Mack's death, Margarethe took over as their manager for the next eight years. After the outbreak of the First World War, the duo departed Switzerland for the Russian Empire where they signed a contract with Anatoly Durov's Salamonsky Circus in Moscow. 

In January 1916, after a thirteen month tour across Russia, Finland, Latvia and Estonia, Anatoly Durov suddenly died in the Ukraine. The women began appearing in cinemas, cabarets and variety halls in Petrograd and Moscow until departing for Finland in September for a four month appearance with Helsinki's Circus Olsen. 

Returning to Petrograd in January 1917, the women were engaged again for four months at the Circus Salamonsky (now run by Durov's son). It was during this engagement that the February Revolution broke out. After renewing passports at US Embassy, the women made appearances in Tula, Helsinki and Riga throughout the summer before returning to Petrograd in September.

In October, the women returned to Moscow for another four months at the Circus Salamonsky. During this engagement, they were caught up in the October Revolution. Instead of fleeing, they continued touring Russia and Estonia throughout 1918.

In February 1919, Durov Jr. escaped with the Salamonsky Circus to France, however Beatrice and Hattie Anderson were stopped at the Russian frontier and returned to Moscow. Their manager, Margarethe McDonough was able to return home to Germany. Beatrice Anderson, who was already suffering from an illness, was hospitalized for seven months. Hattie disappears from records and may have perished. After being released from the hospital, Tiger Lily resumed working at the Aquarium Theater in the fall. In February 1920, she received a medical operation and with the help of the Red Cross, was able to relocate to Reval, Estonia seven months later, where she made appearances before sailing to Germany. 

Tiger Lily resided at Cranachstraße 51 in Berlin's Friedenau district with Margarethe McDonough and after a month of rest in a clinic, resumed performing in January 1921. After running a dance school in Berlin briefly, she left for an extended European tour across Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands until 1924. From 1924-25, she traveled Central Europe as a tap dancer with the Bailey Brothers. Afterwards, she joined Louis Douglas's Black Follies company, with whom she traveled as a chorus girl for a year. 

1932 Marriage Certificate

From 1929-1932, Tiger Lily's career began to fade. She toured Eastern Europe, Turkey and Egypt as a member of the Cubanola Trio. On October 22nd, 1932, while appearing in Copenhagen, she married Karl Kristian Olsen and settled in Denmark, becoming a Danish citizen. Unfortunately the marriage was brief, as Tiger Lily was listed as a widow in the 1940 Danish Census. 

1940 Danish Census

She lived quietly in Denmark, surviving the German occupation until April 1953, when she sailed from Copenhagen aboard the SS Oslofjord to New York. She listed 312 Manhattan Avenue as her destination. 

Her trail goes cold afterwards. It's possible she joined her Aunt Sadie Anderson (June 20, 1886-July 1965) in Harlem, who had returned to the US in 1925 and was still touring across America in the 1950s as Sadie: The Leopard Skinned Woman. Another aunt, Rosie Meschi-Anderson (December 28, 1877-December 10, 1955) had retired and was living quietly in Syracuse with her daughter Victoria. 

Louis Cole: Brazil's Black Gay Crooner (1908-1957)

 

Louis Aaron Cole was born July 5th, 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland to Lottie and Thomas Cole.

In 1926, shortly after graduating from Dunbar High School, he departed west for Chicago, working as a dancer at the Vendome Theater. The following year, he returned east to Harlem, dancing at Connie’s Inn and the Kentucky Club with Duke Ellington’s orchestra.

During the summer of 1927, he landed a supporting role in Clarence William’s “Bottomland” at New York’s Princess Theater.  Following this engagement, Louis began building a name for himself as a popular female-impersonator at Harlem’s Lenox Club, a popular risqué interracial cabaret located between 143rd Street and Lenox Avenue. A popular establishment for New York’s gay community, Louis became extremely close with white, homosexual writer and photographer.

By mid-1928, Louis Cole found himself as the primary star of the Lenox Club’s extravagant floor show, “The Lenox Club Revue”, which ran for at least 11 months. In October, he found a place in Earl Dancer’s “Deep Harlem”, which opened at the Lafayette Theater. Two months later, the show relocated to the Biltmore Theater. 

In January 1929, the show finally opened on Broadway, where it lasted a week before closing. Three months later, that April, Louis starred in “Springbirds”, a floor show at the Cotton Club. The following month, he joined the cast of Lew Leslie’s “Blackbirds of 1929”, boarding the SS Ile-de-France on May 24th bound for France. Opening June 7th, at Paris’ Moulin Rouge cabaret, the spectacle ran for three successful months before returning to America in early-September 1929. For the next five months, Louis remained with the revue, as it continued it’s US tour across Washington DC, Newark, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh, Lansing, Detroit, Indianapolis and Chicago before the show finally closed early 1930.

In the spring of 1930, Louis returned to the Lenox Club, quickly reclaiming his spot as the star of its floorshows. That April, he returned to Paris as the star of Eugene Newton’s “Chocolate Revue”. Not only was he showcased as a dancer, but he was now a popular vocalist as well. The show briefly had a run at the Gaiety cabaret before being shut down by French authorities. The show moved over to Eugene Ballard’s Embassy cabaret, where it was revamped and reorganized as, “Revue Noire: Hot Stuff”. Louis also doubled after hours at the Enfants-Terrible restaurant, Boeuf-Sur-Le-Toit and Chez Florence. In September, once the revue closed, he departed for a tour of the French Riviera and Hungary.

Photo by Van Vechten (July 1931)

Early-1931, Louis became a regular vocalist at Ada “Bricktop” Smith’s nightclub, Chez Bricktop. He also soon became her pianist and secretary, soon moving into the top floor of her mansion located in the lavish Parisian suburb, Bougival, 40 minutes west of Paris. On February 3rd, alongside Bricktop, Josephine Baker and many other African-American entertainers, performed at the “Bal des Petits Lits Blanc”, an annual charity event held at the Paris-Opera. 

Bricktop and Louis Cole (1930s)

Throughout 1931-1933, besides performing at Chez Bricktop, he also appeared at various nightclubs and private parties around Paris, even reuniting with Carl Van Vechten in July 1931, photographed him in the streets of Paris. During the summer of 1932, Louis departed for a brief German tour. The following summer, accompanied by Freddie Johnson’s All-Star Orchestra, he recorded three songs for the French Brunswick Recording Company. He also began making frequent appearances on Radio Poste-Parisien.

Grill-room of the Cassino Atlantico

In 1934, with France plunged into economic depression, Louis ended his partnership with Bricktop, becoming a vocalist with Romeu Silva’s Orchestra, which was mostly composed of African-American musicians. Throughout 1934-1935, he began appearing around the French Riviera and Paris. In May 1935, he left Europe for the final time, traveling to Brazil with a contract to appear in Rio de Janeiro’s brand new, ultra-modern Cassino Atlântico. Opening late-February 1935, the Atlântico became the most successful casino in the Brazilian capital. Droves of wealthy businessmen, gamblers and tourists from Europe and North America flocked to the casino nightly to lose their money and enjoy the elaborate floor shows held in the grill-room. Louis Cole’s appearance was not mentioned by the Brazilian press. This was a tactic organized by the artistic directors of the Cassino Atlântico, who used Louis’ nightly surprise performances as a way to compete with the nearby Cassino da Urca, who had its own Black band, Julio Galindo’s orchestra. After Romeu Silva’s contract ended early-1936, he and his orchestra departed for Argentina. However, Louis Cole remained in Rio, as a resident entertainer and artistic director of the Cassino Atlântico. He also became bandleader of the newly organized Orquestra do Cassino Atlântico, which made daily appearances on Radio-Ipanema.

Romeu Silva

In May, he was working once again Romeu Silva, Louis made his only known film appearance, as a vocalist in Luiz de Barro’s *O Jovem Tataravô*. The film was released several months later, on September 14th. From 1936-1946, Louis Cole was the top vocalist and bandleader at Rio’s Cassino Atlântico. In Between his casino and radio appearances, Louis and his orchestra also began frequenting Sao Paulo for quick engagements at the Palácio de Rádio.

In February 1938, as Brazil was celebrating Carnival, Louis staged an elaborate revue at the Atlântico, “As Pastorinhas”, based on a popular 1934 song composed by João de Barro and Noel Rosa as well as being a personal favorite of Louis. Brazilian press immediately declared the song as the theme for Brazil’s Carnival of 1938. 

Rio de Janeiro (1940s)

As WWII broke out, instead of returning to the United States, Louis renewed his passport and moved into a lavish Copacabana apartment at 128 Rua Santo Clara. By 1940, Louis was performing in fluent Portugese onstage. That summer, he also recorded two congas for Brazil’s Victor Recording Company. His orchestra also accompanied the vocalists: Linda & Dircinha Batista in several sessions. The following year, Louis and his orchestra returned to the recording studio again to accompany Edmundo Silva and Nilton Paz.

Cassino Atlántico 

Throughout the 1940’s, Louis Cole continued to enjoy overwhelming success with Brazilian audiences until April 30th, 1946, when President Eurico Gaspar Dutra. The management of the Atlântico quickly converted the massive casino-hotel into a cabaret, the O Atlântico Nightclub. This establishment continued to run possibly until 1947. Afterwards, Louis’ Orquestra do Cassino Atlântico disbanded and throughout 1948, he became a vocalist at Chez Penny, another local cabaret.

In 1949, Louis Cole became the premier entertainer at Rio’s Club Vogue, a brand new cabaret, which since 1946, had replaced the old Atlântico as the latest hotspot in Copacabana. By 1950, Louis had quickly taken over the Orquestra do Vogue and recorded his debut album, “Uma Noite No Vogue”, which consisted of four popular American numbers performed by Louis himself and seven sambas performed in Portugese by other musicians in his orchestra. He soon purchased a home at 112 Rua Santo Amaro in the cozy hilltop Bairro Glória in Central Rio de Janeiro, where he resided with his lover, Leal Gomes.

Club Arpege (September 9, 1955)

Louis Cole reigned at Club Vogue from 1949-1955. In October 1955, while appearing in Sao Paulo, Club Vogue suddenly burned to the ground. For the next 10 months, Louis remained in Sao Paulo, appearing in various establishments around the city and performing on early Brazilian television programs. In July 1956, after much difficulty, Louis was able to open a brand new Club Vogue in Sao Paulo, with funding from African-American pianist, Claude Austin (an old friend from his Romeu Silva days). However, the cabaret closed several days later.

Copacabana (1957)

In January 1957, Louis and Claude had returned to Rio with an extended six-month contract with Club Rio. In April, Louis was suddenly hospitalized for an unknown ailment and the press soon announced his death. This proved to be false, when he returned to performing the following night. However, on May 14th, 1957, at 1:00 p.m., Louis Aaron Cole was discovered dead in his home from pulmonary tuberculosis, uremia and an asthma attack. On May 16th, after a catholic ceremony held at his favorite church, Louis Cole was buried at the nearby Cemitério de São Francisco Xavier.

Arabella Fields: Schwarze Nachtigall (1879-1933)

Arabella Fields (1879-after 1933)

Sarah Arabella (or Isabella?) Middleton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 31, 1879. Currently, there is absolutely no information about her parents, although its possible they immigrated to Philadelphia shortly after the American Civil War.

Stockholm (April 1895)

In July 1894, at the age of 14, Bella Middleton was recruited into Cunningham's "San Francisco Minstrels", a vaudeville troupe consisting of four men: James C. Fields (Mar.4, 1860 - Washington DC), William Campbell (Apr.29, 1866 - Washington DC), John Walter Brown (Nov.14, 1866 - Washington DC), Joseph Samuel Papisco (Feb.28, 1870 - Newark) and four women: Sarah Price (May 14, 1875 - Washington DC), Laura Charlotte Miller (Feb.2, 1873 - Philadelphia), Ida Day (Nov.25, 1875 - Washington DC), Bella Middleton (Jan.31, 1879 - Philadelphia). The majority of the cast's previous musical experience is unknown except for William Campbell, who had been touring Europe since 1890, and the young Bella Middleton (who recalled in a 1931 interview that she had appeared as Topsy in a production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" before traveling to Europe. Having previously organized the failed "Afro-American Specialty Company" in 1891, Canadian theatrical agent, Robert A. Cunningham was eager to organize another show to bring over to Europe. 

The one act show consisted of nine parts:

1. Tenor Solo (J.W. Brown)

2. Old Folks at Home (B. Middleton)

3. Quintessential of Women

4. Mixed Quartet

5. Sweet Music Strings

6. Cotton Pickin' on the Plantation

7. Dancing is the best Inception (W. Campbell)

8. Big Song and Dance

9. Knuckles and Tambourines

1894:

(July ?) Sails to Hamburg

(July 20) Hamburg, Germany- Flora Theater 

(August 22-September 23) Berlin, Germany- Flora zu Charlottenburg 

-October-

-November-

(December 16-January 30) Copenhagen, Denmark- Nationals Variete 

1895:

(January 31) Copenhagen, Denmark- Handvaerkerforeningens Festsal

(February 3-9) Aarhus, Denmark

(February 28-March 24) Christiania, Norway- Eldorado

(March 28-April 13) Goteborg, Sweden 

(April 17-20) Stockholm, Sweden- Blanch's Café 

(May 2) Linkoping, Sweden

(May 3) Kalmar, Sweden

(May 4) Vaasa, Finland

(May 7-11) Norrkoping, Sweden

(May 13-18) Oreboro, Sweden

(May 24-27) Riga, Latvia - Kaiserlichen Garten

(June ?) Saint Petersburg, Russia 

(June 28) Helsingfors, Finland- Brunnshuset 

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

-November-
(December 20-28) Kharkov, Ukraine- Alhambra Cabaret

1896:

(Janaury 23) Rostov-on-Don, Russia - US Embassy

-February-

-March-

-April-

-May-

(June 4) Moscow, Russia

Arriving in Germany shortly after July 4th, the troupe opened at Hamburg's Flora Theater (Jul.20-Aug.16) where it played for four weeks. A week later, the show made its way to Berlin's immense Charlotteburg Flora Theater (Aug.22-Sep.23) for another month of enormous success with German audiences. For the next two undocumented months, the troupe most likely traversed across other smaller German cities.

Aarhus (February 1895)

On December 16th, the Minstrels arrived in Denmark, opening at the Nationals Variete (Dec.16-Jan.30). After a week in Aarhus (Feb.3-9), the troupe sailed to Norway for a month at the Eldorado Cabaret (Feb.28-Mar.24) in Christiania. On March 28th, the show opened in Gothenburg, Sweden (Mar.28-Apr.13). As their Scandinavian tour continued, audiences began paying closer attention to the youngest member of the troupe, the now 15-year old 'Isabella' Middleton, who's powerful deep soprano voice and her rendition of Stephen Foster's 'Old Folks at Home' kept audiences on the edges of their seats. On May 24th 1895, the troupe arrived in the Russian Empire, appearing in Riga, Latvia's Kaiserlichen Garten (May 24-27). The show later made its way to St. Petersburg and Helsinki's Brunnshuset (Jun.28). During the course of their Russian tour, baritone singer James C. Fields married the sixteen year old Bella Middleton. Born March 6th 1860 in Washington DC, not much is known about the Mr. Fields as hardly any records of him exist. His mentions in his passports, that his last American residence was at 1303 27th Street in DC's southeastern Fairlawn neighborhood, which until 1940 was a very underdeveloped rural district of the city. 

Kharkov (December 1895)

Six months later in December, the troupe arrived in the Ukrainian city of Kharkov, where they appeared at the Alhambra Cafe-Concert. At this point, the young Arabella had become the star of the troupe, billed as the "Black Patti". The following month, the show travelled further east to the city of Rostov-on-Don. After June 1896, the troupe disappeared, several of the members returning to America. Throughout 1897-1899, Arabella, as the Black Patti continued touring Russia as a solo artist.

In the winter of 1899, James and Arabella left for a European tour, the earliest appearance being at Prague's Etablissement Sykora (Nov.1-15) alongside another Afro-American singer known as Miss Rosebuds. The following month, the couple traveled southwest to southern Germany, performing at Augsburg's Apollo Theater (Jan.1-15, 1900).

In December 1900, James Fields organized the "American Jubliee Singers" consisting of James & Bella Fields, James Terry, Mr. Nappy, Alfonzo Colbert and Ida Ennis. The troupe toured across the Netherlands, England and France for the next ten months (December 1900-August 1901). During this tour, Bella Fields was first advertised as the "Black Nightingale" direct from Philadelphia's musical conservatory. Throughout this tour, she was always accompanied by her husband and manager, James who was always bedecked in medals presented to him by Tsar Nicholas II during their time in Russia. 

1900:

(January 1-15) Augsburg, Germany- Apollo Theater 

-February-

-March-

-April-

-May-

-June-

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

-November-

(December 4) Zwolle, Holland- Buitensocieteit

(December 9-11) Leuwaarden, Holland- Harmoniezaal 

(December 13) Sneek, Holland- Amicitia Theater 

(December 17) Apeldoorn, Holland- Tivoli Theater

(December 31) Leuwaarden, Holland- Stadschouwburg

1901:

(January 4-5) Groningen, Holland- Harmoniezaal 

(January 7) Veendam, Holland- Hotel de Boer 

(Februry 8) Amsterdam, Holland- Odeon Theater

(February 9) Zwolle, Holland- Zwolle Casino 

(February 12) Eindhoven, Holland- Harmonie Apollo 

(February 17) Delft, Holland- Stads Doelen 

(March-June) British Tour 

(July 5-August 3) Paris, France- "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Theatre Porte St. Martin

-August-

-September-

-October-

-November-

-December-

James & Bella Fields reappear early-1902, performing at Rotterdam's Casino Variete (Jan.1-15). That summer, they were at Berlin's American Embassy (Jul.4) applying for a passport to return east to the Russian Empire, where they were probably residing. However, by August, Arabella was engaged at Hamburg's Hansa Theater (Aug.23) billed as a solo artist, her husband nowhere in sight. Possibly, James Fields continued onwards to Russia on his own.

Arabella resurfaces the following year in the Danish capital, performing at the Tivoli Gardens (Sep.30, 1903). She was later booked for two weeks at Copenhagen's Folketheatrets (Nov.3-15) dancing alongside a dark-skinned "Indian" (possibly James Fields). During her Danish engagement, her cakewalk enticed a young pharmacist, Victor Jorgensen and the two quickly carried on an affair. Sunday, November 1st, Arabella was also engaged in the nearby city of Odense. When she left for her engagement there, her Danish lover accompanied her as her new impresario. The following morning, Jorgensen's mother arrived with the police demanding him to return home and threatening the tearful African-American singer. Jorgensen returned with his mother and Arabella returned to Copenhagen to continue her engagement there.

Hamburg - Tivoli Garten (October 1904)

Early 1904, Arabella was back in Germany, performing at the Residenz Theater (Jan.1-15) in the town of Gera, 47 miles south of Leipzig. This was followed by two more weeks at Berlin's Unions-Brauerei (Jan.16-31) a beautiful leafy beer garden on the Hasenheidestrasse. Three months later, she was at Gustav Behren's Specialitäten Theater (Apr.1-15) billed as Princess Bet-Ti-Filds. That summer, she was employed at Reinhardt's Sommertheater (Jun.16-Jul.20), where she is first mentioned performing German lieder and arias. That fall, while performing at Hamburg's Tivoli Garten (Oct.7-25), Arabella won first place in a German beauty contest. During this time, Arabella met 26-year old German pianist and impresario, Engelhardt Albert Georg Winter. Born December 29, 1878 in Bremen's Gropelingen district to Antoinette Marie Caroline Lulling and Georg Gottfried Winter. Arabella frequently referred to her her husband as being Dutch, so it's possible Engelhardt had Dutch heritage. From 1897-1898, Engelhardt served in the Jager Battalion #9 before returning home to Bremen, residing at Humboldtstrasse 75 (1903) and beginning a career as a pianist. The young Engelhardt possibly met the young American entertainer in Hamburg and soon afterwards the couple married. The couple may have settled into an apartmen in the three-story Humboldstrasse house in the cozy Steintor district.

That summer, now managed by her German husband, Arabella embarked on a 31-month tour across the Netherlands, Austria and the German Reich. 

1905:

-Disappears for 5 months-

(June.11-12) Heerenveen, Holland - Concertzaal Posthuis

(July 1-31) Berlin, Germany - Walhalla Theater

-August-

(September 16-30) Dresden, Germany - Variete Konigshof

-October-

(Nov.16-30) Bremen, Germany - Tivoli Theater

-December-

1906:

(January 1-31) Chemnitz, Germany - Kaiser Cafe

-February-

-March-

-April-

-May-

-June-

(July 16-31) Karlsbad, Austria - Hotel Weber

(August 1-10) Amsterdam, Holland - Concertzaal Panopticum 

(August 16-31) Cologne, Germany - Apollo Theater

(September 16-31) Gorlitz, Germany - Wilhelm Theater

(October 1-15) Lwów, Austria - Colosseum Hermanów

(October 20-28) Teplitz, Austria - Schwan Theater

-November-

-December-

1907:

-January-

-February-

-March-

(April 1-30) Dresden, Germany - Variete Konigshof

-May-

(June 16-30) Reichenburg, Austria - Meininger's Theater

(July 16-30) Prague, Austria - Variete Schoebl

-August-

(September 16-October 15) Wurzberg, Germany - Odeon Theater

(November 1-15) Berlin, Germany - Passage Theater

(November 23-December 31) Berlin, Germany - Cabaret Bierabend

Karlsbad (July 1906)

Billed as "La Belle Fields", the tour began in Northern Holland, with Arabella appearing in Heerenveen's Concertzaal Posthuis (Jun.11-12), later moving on to an extensive year-long German tour. On July 16th, 1906, the Arabella opened as the headliner at Karlsbad's Hotel Weber (Jul.16-31) for two weeks. All over the Austrian resort town, her posters could be seen. Visiting American vaudeville artist, Frederic Melville, was so shocked that a 'colored singer' was the headliner of a European variety bill, that he mentioned her performance in the Buffalo Courier (July 29, 1906). The following month, the couple traveled 508 miles northwest to Amsterdam for two-weeks before crossing back into Germany for another 14-month tour across Germany and Austria's Galicia region.

The tour concluded successfully in the winter of 1907 with two weeks at Berlin's popular Passage-Theater in the Lichtprunksaale (Nov.1-16) and six weeks at the Cabaret Bierabend (Nov.23-Dec.31), also located within the massive Passage. During this engagement, she was received high praise for her performance of the beautiful torch song, Sweet Marguerite Farewell! and the cheeky German folk song, Wenn der Auerhahn balzt. Also around this time, Engelhardt decided it was time for Arabella to capitalize on the latest film and recording technologies. In 1902, fellow African-American entertainer Belle Davis had recorded three songs in London with the Berliner Gramophone Co. and five years later in October 1906, Miss Davis and her Piccaninnies appeared in two short films produced by Pathe Film during a Parisian engagement. These films did well commercially, appearing across France, Germany, England, Russia and the Dutch East Indies.

Danish ad mentioning film: "Hello my Baby" (July 9, 1909)

Around December 1907, Arabella made six recordings: six recordings, My Old Kentucky Home, Because I Love You, Farewell Marguerite, Down on the Farm, Home Sweet Home and Swanee River with Anker Phonogramm Records at the Wintergarten. The records were later developed at a studio on the Ritterstrasse. Around this same time, she also appeared in three short films (now lost): "The Whistling Bowery Boy", "Hello, My Baby!" and "The Song that reached my Heart".

Poster advertising her 1908 Italian Tour

In April 1908, she began a 36-month tour, which opened in Italy. Two weeks in Genoa and Turin, both at the Teatro Eden. A month in Florence at the Alhambra. This was followed by a month at Munich's Bluemensaele. In July, she appeared at the Copenhagen's Over Stalden cabaret in a show headlined by Dagmar Hansen Heinemann. As Autumn arrived, her records were being distributed and sold and her films were also being shown in local theaters as she appeared across various European theaters. Critics spoke extremely well of Fields' performances. In October, Arabella began a 8-month German tour (with a brief two-week intermission in Austria), beginning in the Lower Silesian city of Liegnitz.

In May, Arabella arrived for the first time in the Hungarian capital, Budapest for a two-month engagement. A week at the Eloadas Cabaret. One afternoon dancing at the Karolyi Gardens. A week at the Keckemeti Variete Szinhaz, which ended abruptly after a Hungarian cymbalist, Elek Racz inappropriately groping the American singer and the Black Nightingale punching the musician in the face. After two weeks in the Hungarian town of Szabadka, she returned to Italy for two and half months in Genoa, Turin and an appearance on the island of Sicily. She returned north to the Hungarian capital for a month at the Etablissement Tatra. On November 1st, she opened at Vienna's Budapester Variete for a months engagement. While there, she met Austrian composer (and musical director of the Budapester Variete and K.K. Gartenbau), Theodor Wottitz, whose 1899 composition, "Weil Ich dich Liebe" (Because I Love You) she had recorded three winters earlier. On November 27th, Arabella arrived at the American Embassy for the first time in seven years to apply for a passport to enter Romania in four months. At the Austrian Embassy, she also ran into, Joseph Samuel Papisco, an old compatriot from the San Francisco Minstrels, who had been touring with his European wife.

1908:

-January-

-February-

-March-

(April 1-15) Genoa, Italy - Teatro Eden

(April 16-30) Turin, Italy - Teatro Eden

(May 8-31) Florence, Italy - Teatro Alhambra

(June 1-30) Munich, Germany - Kabarett Bluemensaele

(July 1-August ?) Copenhagen, Denmark - Over Stalden

-September-

(October 1-15) Liegnitz, Germany - Central Theater

(October 16-31) Gorlitz, Germany - Wilhelm Theater

(November 1-15) Munster, Germany - Festhalle

(November 16-30) Krefeld, Germany - Monopol Theater

(December 1-15) Bonn, Germany - Sonne Am Markt Theater

(December 18) Linz, Austria - Colosseum Theater

(December 31) Linz, Austria - Kauffmanischen Bereinshauses

1909:

(January 1-31) Dortmund, Germany - Olympia Theater

(January 3) Linz, Austria - Silvesterfeirn

(February 1-15) Cologne, Germany - Apollo Theater

(March 1-15) Schweidnitz, Germany - Volksgarten

(March 22-28) London, England - Shepherd's Bush Theater *cancelled

(April 1-15) Liegnitz, Germany - Central Theater

(April 17-30) Posen, Germany - Apollo Theater

(May 22-28) Budapest, Hungary - Eloadas Cabaret

(June 1) Budapest, Hungary - Karolyi Gardens

(June 15-20) Budapest, Hungary - Keckemeti Variete Szinhaz

(July 1-15) Szabadka, Hungary - Hotel Hillinger

(July 16-August 1) Genoa, Italy - Lido d'Albano

(August ?) Turin, Italy - Teatro Maffei

(September 1) Catania, Sicily - Tournee Villani

(October ?) Budapest, Hungary - Etablissement Tatra

(November 1-28) Vienna, Austria - Budapester Variete

(December 12) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement Gschwandner

1910:

(January 1-15) Brunn, Austria - Bruenner Variete

(January 16-31) Graz, Austria - Orpheum Theater

(February 1-24) Vienna, Austria - Budapester Orpheum 

(February 26) Vienna, Austria - Militarkasino 

(February 28) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement Gschwandner

(March 13-14) Teschen, Austria - Variete Borstellungen & Etablissement Europas

(March 27) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement Gschwandner

(April 1-15) Budapest, Hungary - Castelul de Flori Cinema

(April 16) Vienna, Austria - Grinzinger Wintergarten

(May 1-June 30) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement K.K. Gartenbau

(July 1-8) Budapest, Hungary - Variete az Otthonban

(July 9-August 31) Baden, Austria - Etablissement Schwanke Maxim

(August 6) Baden, Austria - Hotel Buberl

(August 20) Baden, Austria - Goldner Lowe

(September 1-15) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement K.K. Gartenbau

(September 16-31) Budapest, Hungary - Royal Cabaret

(October 1-30) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement K.K. Gartenbau

(October 22-25) Vienna, Austria - Klub der Egerlander

-November-

(December 1-31) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement K.K. Gartenbau

1911:

(January 1-3) Linz, Austria - Colosseum Theater

(January ?) Geneva, Switzerland

-February-

"Nach Zigeuner Art" sheet music (1910)

January 1st, 1910, Arabella found herself in the Austrian town of Brunn, performing for two weeks at the Bruenner Variete (Jan.1-15) then continuing south to the city of Graz for a performance at the Orpheum Theater (Jan.16-31). Afterwards she returned to Vienna for two weeks back at the Budapester Variete (Feb.1-24) and the Etablissement Gshwandner (Feb.28). In March, she travelled to the city of Teschen, where she performed at the Variete Borstellungen (Mar.13-14) accompanied by her husband Engelhardt on piano. While in the city, the couple also appeared in the late hours at the Etablissement Europas. The end of the month, they were back in Vienna once again at the Etablissement Schwandner (Mar.27). In April, the Black Nightingale arrived in Romania, at Bucharest's popular Cinema Castelul de Flori on the Strada Şelari 10, where Romanian audiences were mesmerized by Arabella's unique Red Indian dances.

Vienna's Etablissement Gartenbau

In May, Arabella had once again returned to Vienna for a lengthy 2-month engagement at the Etablissement K.K. Gartenbau (May 1-Jun.30). There she performed several German lieder and attempts to yodel receiving mixed reviews from critics. Her most popular song during this time was Franz Schubert's "Am Meer", a 90-year old song of how the singer and "her" beloved met in silence beside the sea, and he wept; since then she has been consumed with longing — he has poisoned her with his tears. The performance completely intrigued Austrian audiences. 

Mr. & Mrs. Winter on holiday in Baden (July 1910)

On July 1st, she returned to Budapest for a week at the Variete az Ottonban. On July 9th, Herr and Frau Winter took a little vacation in the Austrian spa-town of Baden, residing at Neustiftgasse 15. Shortly afterwards, Arabella began performing at the Etablissement Schwanke-Maxim (Jul.9-Aug.31) dressed in a Styrian dirndl, yodeling and singing, Wenn der Mondschein schon scheint… (When the Moonlight is shining Beautifully). On August 6th, she participated in "Kunstler-Entre-Nous-Abend" at the Hotel Buberl. A week later, the Badener Zeitung covered a detailed account of Arabella's trip (with her entourage) to the Baden Sulphur Baths (Aug.13). On August 20th, she participated in "Wiener Kunstler-Abend" at the Hotel Goldener Lowe. During her last performance in Baden, she once again met with the journalists of the Badener Zeitung, mentioning her happy marriage to her Germanic blond-haired, blue-eyed impresario and flashing her silver wedding ring.

Budapest's Royal Cabaret (September 1910)

On September 1st, Arabella was back in Vienna at the Gartenbau Etablissement for two weeks before leaving for Budapest's Royal Cabaret. In October she returned to Vienna's Gartenbau for another month (Oct.1-30), this time with a brand new repertoire. This was the height of her tour, as Theodor Wottitz had composed the a beautiful new creation for her. She opened with two American numbers, My Old Kentucky Home and Honey Boy, followed by her soulful performance of Unter dem Lindenbaum dressed as a Tyrolean cowgirl, which left the audience speechless. After another costume change, for the finale Arabella performed Kapellmeister Wottiz's Zigeunerart which she sung while dressed a guitar playing gypsy (the audience was also impressed with her skills with the guitar). This final song was followed by loud applause. In the meantime, for a week, she was also engaged for a week at the Klub der Egerlander. After a month's vacation from the stage, Arabella returned to the Gartenbau in December to end the year. Early 1911, Arabella appeared for three days in Linz at the Colosseum Theater (Jan.1-3) once again performing her usual repertoire of two English songs and Shubert's Am Meer, before departing on January 6th for French-Speaking Switzerland (Suisse Romande) possibly appearing around Geneva and Lausanne. 

Leizpig (May 1911)

In February, Arabella had returned home to Germany, appearing the following month at Hamburg's Trocadero Theater. On April 12th, the Winters renewed their Deutsche Passregister (German Passport). Interestingly, Engelhardt listed his occupation as a engineer. Arabella resumed touring again for another 34-months, beginning May 1911 in Leipzig. This tour took her once again across the European continent and a new exotic destination, Turkey.

1911 (Continued):

(May 1-31) Leipzig, Germany - Kabarett Blumensaele

(June 1-15) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement K.K. Gartenbau

(June 16-30) Frankfurt, Germany - Kristallpalast

(July 1-31) Dresden, Germany - Trocadero Kabarett

-August-

-September-

(October 1-31) Hamburg, Germany - Eden Theater

(November ?) Frankfurt, Germany - Kristallpalast

(Decmber 1-February 29) Vienna, Austria - Etablissement K.K. Gartenbau

1912:

(February 26-29) Vienna, Austria - Nues Orpheum Theater

(March ?) Bucharest, Romania

(April 1-15) Constantinople, Turkey - Kafesantan Parisiana

-May-

(June 12-28) Budapest, Hungary - Szegedi Orfuem 

(July 1-August 31) Frankfurt, Germany - Kristallpalast

(September 1-16) Wurzburg, Germany - Palast-Theater Variete

(October 1-15) Cologne, Germany - Cabaret Simplizissimus

(November 16-30) Bolzano, Austria - Deutstches Variete

(December 1-15) Merano, Austria - Cabaret Marchetti

(December 16-31) Linz, Austria - Colosseum Theater

1913:

(January 1-15) Frankfurt, Germany - Kristallpalast

(February 16-28) Mainz, Germany - Apollo Theater

(March 1-31) Munich, Germany - Kabarett Bluemensaele

(April 15-30) Augsburg, Germany - Apollo Theater

(May 1-15) Nuremberg, Germany - Spever's Wintergarten

-June-

(July 1-15) Cologne, Germany - Cabaret Simplizssimus

-August-

(September 1-30) Cologne, Germany - Metropol Bierpalast

(October 16-31) Stuttgart, Germany - Friedrichbau Variete

-November-

-December-

1914:

(January 1-31) Dusseldorf, Germany - Pavillon Mascotte

(February 1-28) Hamburg, Germany - Eden Theater

-March-

-April-

(May 1-15) Hamburg, Germany - Rathaus Cafe

In May, Arabella was performing in Leipzig at the Kabarett Blumensaele. The following month, she returned to Vienna for another return engagement at the Apollo Gartenbau (Jun.1-15) before heading to Frankfurt for an appearance at the Kristallpalast (Jun.16-30). In July, she engaged in Dresden for two months at the Trocadero Kabarett with the American duo, Rastus and Banks. Followed by an appearance at Hamburg's Eden Kabarett (Oct.1-31), Frankfurt's Kristallpalast (Nov) and ended the year back in Vienna for three months at the Apollo Gartenbau (Dec.1-Feb.24), her final noted performance at the establishment. On February 25th, 1912, Arabella visited Vienna's American Embassy for an emergency passport for an upcoming Romanian concert. For her final week in Vienna, she appeared at the Nues Orpheum Theater (Feb.22-29) alongside Kapellmeister Herman Steinitz. In March, she made her appearance in Bucharest before traveling into the Ottoman Empire's capital Constantinople, where she appeared for two-weeks at the Kafesantan Parisiana (Apr.1-15). By the summer, Arabella had returned to Europe, appearing at Budapest's Szegedi Orfeum (Jun.12-28), Frankfurt's Kristallpalast (Jul.1-Aug.31), Wurzburg's Palast Theater (Sep.1-16), Cologne's Cabaret Simplizissimus (Oct.1-15), in November she was touring the Tyrol region performing at Bozen's DeutchesVariete (Nov.16-30) and Meran's Kabarett Marchetti (Dec.1-15) before ending the year in Linz at the Colosseum Theater (Dec.16-31).

Stuttgart (October 1913)

The year 1913, was another successful year of touring, although for the first time in nine years, Arabella primarily remained within the borders of Germany performing at Frankfurt's Kristallpalast (Jan.1-15), Mainz's Apollo Theater (Feb.16-28), Munich's Kabarett Blumensaele (Mar.1-31), Augsburg's Apollo Theater (Apr.15-30), Nuremburg's Spever Wintergarten (May 1-15), Cologne's Cabaret Simplizissimus (Jul.1-15) and Metropol Bierpalast (Sep.1-30). Her last noted performance that year was in Stuttgart at the Friedrichbau Variete (Oct.16-31). 

Early 1914, Arabella was performing in Dusseldorf at the Pavilion Mascotte (Jan.1-31), the following month, she was was once again in Hamburg, performing at the Eden Theater (Feb.1-28). Three months later, she had moved over to the Rathaus Café (May 1-15). 

1915:

(June 16-30) Wiesbden, Germany - Vergnügungspalast

-July-

(August 30) Bremen, Germany - German Embassy

-September-

(October 1-31) Amsterdam, Holland - Taverne Grand Gala

(November 1-15) The Hague, Holland - Scala Theatre 

(November 22) Rotterdam, Holland - New American Concert Hall

(December 17) Groningen, Holland - Bioscoop Cinema Palace

Painting by Geert Grauss (c. 1915)

In the summer of 1915, Arabella traveled southwest to the spa town of Wiesbaden to the province of Hesse-Nassau, for a two-week appearance at theVergnügungspalast (Amusement Palace). Two months later, the Winters resided for two weeks at Auf der Brake 2 in Bremen's Mitte District. During this time, they filed for passport with the German Embassy, receiving them on August 30th.

The couple then traveled to the Netherlands, establishing a residence in Amsterdam and where for the next four months, Arabella made appearances across the tiny neutral country in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Groningen. During her short Dutch tour during the winter of 1915, she became acquainted with composer, Armand Haagman, who composed for her, Arabella's most popular song during her sourjurn in the Netherlands, "My Indian Boy". The song was advertised as early as December 13th, 1915.

1916:

(January 1-15) Wiesbaden, Germany - Vergnügungspalast

(February 1-March 15) Amsterdam, Holland - Taverne Grand Gala

(April 23) Arnhem, Holland - Musis Sacrum Concertzaal

(May 1-15) The Hague, Holland - Palace Music Hall 

(May 18-21) Tilburg, Holland - Palace Wintergarden

(May 26) Rotterdam, Holland - Cafe Pschorr

(June 22) Breda, Holland - Cinema Hof van Holland

(June 23) Rotterdam, Holland - Cafe Pschorr

(July 6-13) Leiden, Holland - Thalia Theatre

(July 29-31) Rotterdam, Holland - "Great Song Contest" Metropole Theatre

(August 1-12) Middelburg, Holland - "Chanteuse Contest" De Oude Schouwburgzaal

(August 13) Vlissingen, Holland - Schouwburgzaal

-September-

(October 1-15) The Hague, Holland - "International Soubrette Contest" Palace Concert Hall

-November-

(December 15-16) Groningen, Holland - Bioscoop Palace

(December 29) Leiden, Holland - Thalia Theater 

(December 30-January 13) Amsteram, Holland - Taverne Grand Gala

1917:

(January 21) The Hague, Holland - Palace Concert Hall

-February-

-March-

(April 16-28) Amsterdam, Holland - Taverne Grand Gala

(May 1-15) Rotterdam, Holland - "Negress Soubrette Concert" De Matador

(May 31-June 27) The Hague, Holland - Palace Concert Hall

(July 15-30) Amsterdam, Holland - Taverne Grand Gala

(August 1-2)Rotterdam, Holland - Cabaret Artistque

(September 1-2) Tilburg, Holland - Societeit Zang en Vriendschap

-October-

(November 1) Rotterdam, Holland - New American Concert Hall

(December 29-January 16) Leeuwarden, Holland - Cabaret Grand Gala

1918:

(February 28) Middelburg, Holland - De Vergenoeging Concertzaal

-March-

(April 16-30) Amsterdam, Holland - Taverne Grand Gala

(May 1) Breda, Holland - Cinema Pathe

(May 3) Breda, Holland - Cinema Hof van Holland

-June-

-July-

(August 27) Amsterdam, Holland - "Benefit avond Max Divert" Taverne Grand Gala

(September 20-26) Groningen, Holland - Luxor Bioscoop Theater

(October 11-17) Haarlem, Holland - Cinema Palace

(October 29) Breda, Holland - German Embassy

(November 1) Rotterdam, Holland - New American Concert Hall

(December 1-15) Amsterdam, Holland - Taverne Grand Gala

1919:

(Janaury 7) The Hague, Holland - Karseboom Cabaret

(Janaury 16-31) Amsterdam, Holland - Taverne Grand Gala

(February 7-10) Haarlem, Holland - Cinema Palace

(March 16-31) Rotterdam, Holland - Gebouw voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen

-April-

(May 1) Breda, Holland - Cinema Pathe

(May 24) Hamburg, Germany - German Embassy

(June 4-11) Zandvoort, Holland - Cabaret de Paris

(July 1-15) Rotterdam, Holland - Gebouw voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen

-August-

(September 29-October 31) Utrecht, Holland - Hotel de l'Europe

(November 1-14) The Hague, Holland - Pavillon Mascotte

(December ?) Amsterdam, Holland - Folies-Bergere Cabaret

(December 23) Haarlem, Holland - Jacob van Lennep Cabaret

(December 31) Breda, Holland - Pergola Theater

After a brief two-week appearance in Germany, from 1916-1920, The Winters settled in Amsterdam at 21 Huunstraat and Arabella was innudated with numerous contracts from Dutch theatrical agents, as she was employed during this five year period, criss-crossing across the Netherlands non-stop.

1920:

-January-

(February 1-4) Amsterdam, Holland - Cabaret de la Monnaie

-March-

-April-

-May-

-June-

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

(November 8-15) Hamburg, Germany - Eden Theater

-December-

1921:

-January-

-February-

-March-

(April 9) Bremen, Germany - Deutscher Garten

-May-

-June-

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

(November 17-January 27) Salzburg, Austria - Hotel Horn

1922:

(February 14) Vienna, Austria - Zirkus Metropol

(February 27) Vienna, Austria - Kasino Monte Carlo

-March-

(April 1-5) Prague, Czechoslovakia - Alhambra Theater 

-May-

-June

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

(November 6) Vienna, Austria - Ronacher Theater

(December 8-February 4) Budapest, Hungary - Cercle des Estrangers

1923:

-March-

-April-

-May-

-June-

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

(November 24) Belgrade, Yugoslavia - Palace Hotel

-December-

On April 29th, 1920, Arabella's German passport expired and she returned to her adopted home of Germany. Seven months later, she opened in Hamburg at her old stomping grounds, the Eden Theater for two weeks.

Billboard Magazine (April 1921)

In April 1921, after a short trip to Sweden, Arabella appeared at Bremen's Deutscher Garten. Seven months later, due to Germany's crumbling economy and inflation, the Black Nightingale departed for a 26-month European Tour. On November 17, 1921, she opened in Salzburg for two-and-a-half months at the Hotel Horn. From 1921-1923, her touring took her across Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. She may have even appeared in provincial Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. 

The year 1924, Arabella completely disappears. Most likely she returned to Germany, working quietly in various cafes and cabarets around Hamburg.

1925:

(Janaury 1-15) Hamburg, Germany- Eden Theater

-February-

-March-

-April-

-May-

-June-

-July-

(August 24-September 15) Stockholm, Sweden- "Chocolate Kiddies" Cirkus Theater

(September 16-24) Copenhagen, Denmark- "Chocolate Kiddies" Cirkusbyningen

(September 19) Copenhagen, Denmark - Rode Kro Teater

(September 25) Hannover, Germany

(October) Prague, Czechoslovakia

(November 3-19) Budapest, Hungary- "Chocolate Kiddies" Renaissance Szinhazban

(November 20-December 5) Vienna, Austria- "Chocolate Kiddies" Raimund Theater

1926:

(January 9) Frankfurt, Germany- "Chocolate Kiddies" Thalia Theater

(January 14-Februry 10) Barcelona, Spain- "Chocolate Kiddies" Teatro Olimpia

(February) Madrid, Spain- "Chocolate Kiddies" Circo Price

(March 14-16) Riga, Latvia

(March 19-May 5) Moscow, USSR- "Chocolate Kiddies" Gostsirk

(May 8-23) Leningrad, USSR- "Chocolate Kiddies" Music Hall

(May 28) Konigsberg, Germany

(June 4-11) Danzig, Germany- "Chocolate Kiddies" Wilhelm Theater

(July 14-27) Berlin, Germany- "Black People" Metropol Theater

(August 18) Saltsjobaden, Sweden- "Black People" Grand Hotel

(August 14-26) Stockholm, Sweden- "Black People" Vaasa Teatern

(September 9-14) Oslo, Norway- "Black People" Casino Theater

(September 15-18) Hamburg, Germany

(September 19-23) Bremen, Germany- "Black People" Schauspielhaus

(September 25-October 3) The Hague, Holland- "Black People" Gebouw Wetenschappen

(October 4) Haarlem, Holland

(October 5-6) The Hague, Holland- "Black People" Gebouw Wetenschappen

(October 7-10) Rotterdam, Holland- "Black People" Groote Schouwburg

(October 16-22) Amsterdam, Holland- "Black People" Paleis Volksvlijt

(October 23-26) Dusseldorf, Germany- "Black People" Apollo Theater

(November 2-11) Munich, Germany- "Black People" Deutches Theater

(November 15-18) Zurich, Switzerland- "Black People" Corso Theater

(November 23) Basel, Switzerland

(December) Italy

Madrid (February 1926)

By January 1925, Arabella was back home in Hamburg, appearing for two weeks at the Eden Kabarett-Theater for it's final season (It would be sold and converted into a pub the following year named Gastwirtschaft Oberbayern). 

During the summer, an Afro-American Jazz revue named, "Chocolate Kiddies", swept across Germany with major success and lots of publicity. The cast included Adelaide Hall, Lottie Gee, Greenlee & Drayton and Sam Wooding's Orchestra. Arabella most likely caught a glimpse of the show during its two-week run at Hamburg's Thalia Theater (August 9-23). Shortly afterwards, as the revue departed for Scandinavia, the former Black Nightingale was given a place in the show, performing duets with baritone, Arthur "Strut" Payne. The show played Sweden and Denmark for a month. During the Danish engagement, Arabella also doubled over at the Rode-Kro Teater on her own. During the fall of 1925, the show left for a tour of Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Austria before returning to Germany in January 1926. 

Moscow (March 1926)

From January to February 1926, the revue appeared in Spain, at popular venues in Barcelona and Madrid. The Chocolate Kiddies company arrived in Moscow that spring, where the show performed at the People's Circus, on Bolshaya Sadovaya Street. In May, the revue also performed in Leningrad at the Leningrad Music Hall. The Chocolate Kiddies returned to Germany that summer and merged with the remnants of the tab show, La Revue Negre, before dissolving in mid-June.

In July 1926, Afro-American dancer, Louis Douglas, reruited Arabella to join his "Black People" company. For the next eight months, the company appeared in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. The company dissolved in March 1927, and Douglas (and other members of the company) departed for the United States to star in "Africana" alongside Ethel Waters. For the next six months, instead of taking this opportunity to return to America (or joining the Chocolate Kiddies on their South American tour), Arabella remained quietly in Germany. When Douglas returned in September, he re-organized the company as the "Black Follies" company, he took the show on another eight month tour across Belgium, Italy, Algeria, France, Spain, Holland, Germany, Romania and Poland. 

1927:

(January 18) Madrid, Spain- "Black People" Teatro Maravillas

(February 13) Vienna, Austria

(February 14-18) Budapest, Hungary- "Black People" Varosi Szinhazban

(February 20) Belgrade, Yugoslavia

-March-

-April-

-May-

-June-

-July-

-August-

(September 9) Brussels, Belgium- "Black Follies" Casino

(October 5) Trieste, Italy

(October 14-15) Turin, Italy

(October 16-17) Bologna, Italy

(October 18) Firenze, Italy

(October 19-26) Milan, Italy- "Black Follies" Teatro del Verne

(November 2-21) Paris, France- "Black Follies" Concert Mayol

(December 13-15) Algiers, Algeria- "Black Follies" Opera d'Alger

(December 24-January 1) Bordeaux, France- "Black Follies" Salle Alhambra

1928:

(January 17-19) Madrid, Spain- "Black Follies" Teatro Comedia

(February 3-12) Barcelona, Spain- "Black Follies" Teatro Novedades

(February 26) Rotterdam, Holland- "Black Follies" Groote Schouwburg

(February 27) The Hague, Holland

(February 28) Arnheim, Holland

(March 1) Utrecht, Holland- "Black Follies" Stadsschouwburg

(March 6) Cologne, Germany- "Black Follies" Reichhallen

(March 15-27) Bucharest, Romania- "Black Follies" Sala Eforie

(April) Warsaw, Poland

(April 24-25) Lodz, Poland- "Black Follies" Philharmonic Hall

-May-

-June-

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

-November-

-December-

1929:

(January 25) Amsterdam, Holland- Edison Theater

(February 8) Amsterdam, Holland- Tip Top Theater

-March-

-April-

(May 10-11) The Hague, Holland- Centraal Cabaret-Dancing

(May 25) The Hague, Holland- Florida Cabaret

-June-

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

-November-

-December-

The Hague (May 1929)

In April 1928, as Arabella abandoned "Black Follies", she was aproached by British theatrical agents to star in the latest London West End production of "Show Boat" alongside Paul Robeson, set to open May 3rd, 1928, at the Theatre Royal. At a period when African-American Spritiuals and Blues were extremely popular amongst the British public and Black artists such as Zaidee Jackson were successfully recording, touring on variety circuits and appearing on BBC-Radio programs, Arabella Fields could've gained immense success and noteriety amongst the Western European press (and possibly America as well).

Arabella turned down the lucrative offer, instead returning to The Netherlands with her husband for the next two-and-a-half years. As the "Black Venus", Josephine Baker, dominated European stages, the aging Black Nigtingale scrapped by performing a few songs in small, relatively unknown Dutch nightclubs.

1930:

-January-

-February-

-March-

-April-

-May-

(June 3-July 11) Paris, France- "Liza" Theatre Porte St. Martin

(July 26-August 2) Riga, Latvia- "Black Flowers" National Opera

(August 6) Edinburg, Latvia- "Black Flowers" Edinburger Seepavillon

(August 8-9) Tallinn, Estonia- "Black Flowers" Estonia Theater

(August 10-20) Helsinki, Finland

(August 22-30) Copenhagen, Denmark- "Black Flowers" Casino

(September 1-2) Stockholm, Sweden- "Black Flowers" Cirkus Variete

(September 3-16) Djurgarden Island, Sweden

-October-

-November-

(December 17) Venice, Italy- "Black Flowers" Teatro Maliban

1931:

-January-

-February-

(March 14) Frankfurt, Germany- "Louisiana" Schumann Theater

(March 30-April 2) Zurich, Switzerland- "Louisiana" Corso Theater

(April 4-6) Winterthur, Switzerland

(April 29-May 15) Warsaw, Poland

-June-

(July 18) Berlin, Germany- "Louisiana" Deutsche Kunstlertheater

(July 27-31) Riga, Latvia- "Louisiana" National Opera

(August 12-November 28) Nice, France- Studios de la Victorine *filming Baroud

(November 29-December 10) Marrakech, Morocco*filming Baroud

(December 19-January 16) Nice, France- Studios de la Victorine *filming Love In Morocco

Copenhagen (August 21, 1930)

In the summer of 1930, Arabella once again reunited with Louis Douglas in Paris to join his "Black Flowers" company. With a large cast including 26-year old Valaida Snow, the company opened on June 3rd at the Theatre Saint-Porte Martin, where they cast showcased the all-Black operetta, "Liza". This was the same theatre where 22-year old Arabella had appeared in Uncle Tom's Cabin to much acclaim, twenty-nine years earlier. Now 51-year old Arabella was appearing as Liza's Mammy beside the young upcoming vedette, Valaida, who was the star of this operetta and company.

In late July, the Black Flowers company departed for a two-month Baltic and Scandinavian tour.

After traversing around Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Denmark and Sweden, the troupe was renamed the "Louisiana" company and continued touring for the next ten months around Italy, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Germany, Switerland, Austria and Poland.

July 31, 1931

By July, Irish-American film director, Rex Ingram, who had been occupying the brand new Studios de la Victorine in Southern France, was preparing for his latest film, "Baroud" and needed an older African-American actress capable of speaking in French and English to play the role of the Arab nanny, Mabrouka. No other Black actress in Europe fit that profile but Arabella Fields. Agents chased after Arabella across Poland and Germany until they finally caught up with her in Austria. She was promptly put on a train to the Cote d'Azur to begin filming on August 12th.

For the next four months, Arabella worked closely alongside Ingram, Rosita Garcia, Pierre Batcheff and Roland Caillaux. In-between filming, she occupied herself by drinking and gambling with the film crew. On November 29th, the crew departed for Morocco to film on location in the Atlas Mountains for a month. After filming wrapped up on December 10th, the film crew returned to France to begin filming the English-version of the film, "Love In Morocco", flying back and forth once again between North Africa and the Cote d'Azur. 

After filming wrapped up on January 16th, 1932, 53-year old Arabella Fields disappears, possibly retiring and living quietly in Germany.