Fredricks Vaudeville Stage Show

August Bert Fredrick was the half-brother of my husband’s great-grandmother, Bozana Fridrich Svejkovsky. He was born on the 31st of August 1883. His 1907 marriage license names his parents as, “Jas Pessick and Frances F Fredrick”.  It is uncertain whether his parents were ever married. I became interested in AB Fredrick’s story when I learned he was a “vaudevillian”. Searching the traditional family resources, along with newspapers and Billboard magazine opened up his story.

In 1946 Anna Stransky sent a letter to her cousin Bill Svejkovsky in Oklahoma. She shared some family news and mentioned her Uncle August and his family, who she had hardly known - “. .  the last time we heard of them they were traveling with a Circus side-show.” Family members were surprised that August had gone into “that sort of life.” In the early twentieth century, when August Fredrick was beginning his family, he operated a postal route near Geddes South Dakota. But, the 1930s and 40s found he, his wife Vera, and his two children Carlyle and Maxine, caught up in the Show Business life.

The Fredrick family may have begun this new life by “joining the circus”. They capitalized on their various talents by forming a sort of family group.  They made their home-base in Houston Texas and travelled primarily in Texas. August Fredrick was both a performer and promoter; his wife Vera Frush Fredrick was a magician; son Carlyle Fredrick a musician; and daughter Maxine Fredrick an aerial artist.

1932 City Directory of Houston Texas
Aug B Fredrick (Vera M); Orient Ball Room, manager
Carlisle M Fredrick; Musical Fredricks Novelty Band, director
Maxine, Miss; musician; Musical Fredricks Novelty Band
Musical Fredricks Novelty Band; home 5400 Harrisburg Blvd

Billboard (magazine) was founded in Cincinnati as a trade publication for men who posted “bills” on walls. From its first issue in 1894, Billboard covered the entertainment industry, such as circuses, fairs and burlesque shows, and also created a mail service for traveling entertainers.  August Frederick and his family used the Billboard mail service, and occasionally purchased promotion ads.

AB Fredrick circus unit has signed with Rice Brothers. It consists of musical act; Madam VeOra, magic and illusions; Major Dot, midget for Side Show; Maxine Fredrick, tight wire and rings; and Fredrick's trained dogs for big show. Will leave for Jackson Tennessee.
The Billboard, 21 March 1936.

In 1943 the family matriarch, Vera Frush Fredrick, died. She was remembered with a brief obituary and a memorial statement in Billboard.  

Vera M Frederick, 53, known as Madam Ve_Ara, magician, at Memorial Hospital. Houston, October 22 following a long illness. She formerly toured with the Frederick Vaudeville Playhouse tent show. Survived by her husband AB Frederick; a daughter Maxine, aerial artist; a son Carlyle, for the musical act, Fayne and Foster; and a foster son Louis L Stice, in the armed service. Interment in Brookside Memorial Park, Houston.
The Billboard, 13 November 1943.

In Memory of Our Dearly Beloved Wife and Mother “Madam Ve-Ara” Who passed away 22 October 1943. Husband – AB Fredrick, son – Carlyle I Fredrick, daughter – Maxine C Fredrick.
The Billboard, 4 November 1944.

Following Vera’s death the family forged on, placing occasional ads in Billboard’s magazine through the 1940’s.    

Wanted at Once; Team or family with specialities, anything suitable for three night stand vaudeville Tent Show. Established Texas territory. Long season; AB Fredrick, 4845 Yale Street, Houston Texas.
The Billboard, 5 April 1947.

Wanted - Single or Team doing two or more spots for Fredricks vaudeville stage show (tent), little spots, short jumps, two and three night stands. Texas only, long season. AB Fredrick, 302 Payne St, Houston Texas.
The Billboard, 16 April 1949.

The great depression years signaled a slow demise for the canvas playhouses of the Midwest. Vaudeville disappeared and the small circus began a decline.  Radio shows kept people at home, and after WWII, television and air-conditioning held sway.  Carlyle Fredrick married Mary Pearl Dozier in 1934. Maxine Fredrick married her ‘foster brother’ Louis Stice in 1946. There is no evidence that either had children. August Burt Fredrick died in 1967.  His obituary describes him as “retired entertainer and operator of a local trailer park”. He is buried with his wife Vera at Brookside Memorial Park in Houston.


Would you like to know more?

Tent Shows, by Randy Mallory, December 2018.
At the turn of the 20th century, traveling circuses and repertory theaters brought live shows to the Texas countryside. Blog Post appearing at the Sam Houston Electric Cooperative website.

About the Photo:
Trapeze Artist, by James Lechay, 1940; Smithsonian American Art Museum.