PASTOR (Tony (Antonio),1833-1908, American Impresario, Variety Performer and Theatre Owner, the Father of Vaudeville)

Fine Albumen Cabinet Photograph by Rockwood signed and inscribed “with kind regards”, showing him head and shoulders, full face, with a moustache, 6½” x 4¼”, New York,

Pastor began his career as a circus clown, later shifting to comic singer on stage, and finally to manager and entrepreneur. The strongest elements of his entertainments were an almost jingoistic brand of United States patriotism and a strong commitment to attracting a "mixed-gender" audience, the latter being something revolutionary in the male-oriented variety halls of the mid-century. Although he was a performer and producer, Pastor is best known for "cleaning up" bawdy variety acts and presenting a clean and family friendly genre called vaudeville.
George Gardner ROCKWOOD (1832-1911) was a 19th-century celebrity photographer. His New York City studio photographed over 350,000 people.

Item Date:  1902

Stock No:  41997      £275

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