June Havoc, Vaudeville Star, Dies

[brentspeak]

Source: New York Times

June Havoc, who first appeared on vaudeville stages when she was 2 as Baby June and went on to a successful stage and film acting career — but saw her real-life accomplishments overshadowed by the fictionalized portrayal of her in the 1959 musical “Gypsy” — died on Sunday. She was believed to be 97 and lived in Stamford, Conn.

The death was confirmed by her caregiver, Tana Sibilio.

In “Gypsy” — whose book, by Arthur Laurents, was based on a memoir by her sister, the stripper Gypsy Rose Lee — the adorable, pampered June (now known as Dainty June, having outgrown the baby billing) quits show business to elope with one of the boys in her act and is never heard from again. In real life, not long after her sister rose to burlesque fame in the 1930s, June established a solid career on Broadway and in Hollywood films.

Ms. Havoc did not have an easy time of it at first. The little girl who had earned as much as $1,500 a week on the vaudeville stage —when the average American worker earned roughly that much annually — spent her teenage years on the edge of destitution.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/theater/30havoc.html

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Here are some YouTube links of Ms. Havoc:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKkEgu82jCU">singing "The Man With the Big Sombrero"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSm-MOCjBlI">as the mystery guest on "What's My Line?"

[joeybee12]

1. wow...97...

RIP.

[Demeter]

2. RIP Baby June

She who laughs last, lasts.

[Lithos]

10. Good night Baby June

...

[blm]

3. Let me entertain you....let me make you smile....

let me do a few tricks...some old and then some new tricks...I'm very versatile.

[JuniperLea]

4. RIP, June...

There's always been a special place in my heart for all of my theatrical namesakes, but Baby June had the sweetest spot.

[gauguin57]

5. " ... a barrel of charm, a fabulous thrill ... the biggest little headline in vaudeville ..."

R.I.P. "Dainty June."

[joeybee12]

6. I just read the whole article...yeesh, her mother lived in luxury while June was homeless...

...ruthless, ruthless woman...you gotta admire June mking it through a childhood like that.

[KittyWampus]

7. What a life! You were quite a woman.

[defendandprotect]

8. Also a role in "Gentleman's Agreement" --- excellent actor and comedian ...

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369896/

[Ian David]

9. RIP, Ms. Havoc. She was younger than McCain. n/t