3 scalding water: Havoc, scalding water: Havoc, More Havoc More Havoc, 39.
4 tearing her mother: Laura Jacobs, "Taking It tearing her mother: Laura Jacobs, "Taking It All All Off," Off," Vanity Fair Vanity Fair, March 2003; Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 122.
5 A caul: Lee, A caul: Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 44.
6 dark circles: Ibid., 10. dark circles: Ibid., 10.
7 fit into a teacup: Havoc, fit into a teacup: Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 14.
8 including her older daughter"s name: Washington State certificate of birth, record number 193, file number 1388. This is the original birth certificate on file and specifies that there is "one child living of this mother"-clearly marking it as Louise"s/Gypsy"s. Though Rose Hovick certainly could have doctored a copy of a birth certificate, it would have been impossible for her to doctor the original. Charlene Peoples, a representative of the Washington State Department of Health, as well as officials at the King County Health Department, confirmed that this certificate is indeed the one that was filed at the time of birth. Though the birth certificate gives "Ellen June"s" date of birth as January 8, 1911, I cite January 9 as Gypsy"s birthday in the book since that is the date she used throughout her life (she also cited 1914 as the year of her birth). It"s also possible, of course, that Rose never registered the name "Rose Louise" at all, and that, after the girls began their vaudeville careers, she requested that Gypsy"s certificate be amended to read "Ellen June." The King County Health Department was unable to verify when "Ellen June" was added to the certificate, or who, specifically, updated the doc.u.ment. Erik Preminger also believes that his mother was born in January 1911. including her older daughter"s name: Washington State certificate of birth, record number 193, file number 1388. This is the original birth certificate on file and specifies that there is "one child living of this mother"-clearly marking it as Louise"s/Gypsy"s. Though Rose Hovick certainly could have doctored a copy of a birth certificate, it would have been impossible for her to doctor the original. Charlene Peoples, a representative of the Washington State Department of Health, as well as officials at the King County Health Department, confirmed that this certificate is indeed the one that was filed at the time of birth. Though the birth certificate gives "Ellen June"s" date of birth as January 8, 1911, I cite January 9 as Gypsy"s birthday in the book since that is the date she used throughout her life (she also cited 1914 as the year of her birth). It"s also possible, of course, that Rose never registered the name "Rose Louise" at all, and that, after the girls began their vaudeville careers, she requested that Gypsy"s certificate be amended to read "Ellen June." The King County Health Department was unable to verify when "Ellen June" was added to the certificate, or who, specifically, updated the doc.u.ment. Erik Preminger also believes that his mother was born in January 1911.
There are several theories and guesses about the Hovick sisters" true ages and names; I base my own conclusions on this birth certificate and several other pieces of doc.u.mentation:a. June"s letter to Gypsy, Series I, Box 2, Folder 9, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD, dated April 25, 1949: "I wired to Vancouver and received a birth certificate which makes me 35-born November 8, 1913. Here is the end of the world. I am also called Ellen June. Mother requested they put down the same name as only she would do."I tried to obtain a copy of June Havoc"s birth certificate and was told that such records are not public information until 120 years after an individual"s birth. A representative of the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency said it would have been impossible for Rose Hovick to steal an original birth certificate, as June describes in Early Havoc Early Havoc.b. The divorce records of Rose Hovick and John Hovick. Rose began divorce proceedings by filing a restraining order against John O. Hovick on July 3, 1914, which states "that there are two children the issue of the said marriage, to wit, Rose Louise Hovick and Ellen June Hovick, age respectively three years and one year."If Louise had been born in January 1911, and June in November 1913, they would have been three and a half and nearly one, respectively, in 1914. Since the children were not yet in show business, Rose Hovick had no true motive to manipulate their ages. Judgment Decree for Rose E. Hovick vs. John O. Hovick, Filed August 20, 1915, #102195, Superior Court, State of Washington, King County, King Co. Court House, Docket Vol. 46, Folio 104, Journal 537, Folio 160.c. Finally, in 1916, Rose Hovick enrolled Gypsy in the Seattle public school system using the name Rose Louise and a birth date of January 9, 1911: Frankel, 4; Seattle School District No. 1 enumeration record for J. O. Hovick, May 15, 1916, Seattle Public Schools.
9 Description of 4314 W. Frontenac Street: Office of the Secretary of State, Division of Archives and Records Management, Puget Sound Regional Archives, Bellevue, Washington. Description of 4314 W. Frontenac Street: Office of the Secretary of State, Division of Archives and Records Management, Puget Sound Regional Archives, Bellevue, Washington.
10 square of Puget Sound: Residence, King County a.s.sessor, Seattle, Washington, file number 3334. square of Puget Sound: Residence, King County a.s.sessor, Seattle, Washington, file number 3334.
11 "Her low tones": Havoc, "Her low tones": Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 22.
12 Rose had married: Marriage certificate, license no. 27327, filed on May 28, 1910, Seattle, King County, Washington. Both Rose"s mother, Anna Thompson (aka Big Lady), and her grandmother Mary Stein (Dottie) signed the certificate as witnesses, which refutes the notion-invented by Rose and repeated by her daughters-that she fled a convent and eloped when she was fifteen. She lists her age as "18" on the marriage certificate, a number confirmed by the 1900 and 1910 U.S. censuses, both of which give her birth year as 1892: Year 1900; Census Place: Seattle Ward 8, King, Washington, Roll T623_1745; Page 7A, Enumeration District 114; Year 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 3, King, Washington; Roll T624_1659; Page 11A, Enumeration District 148. Rose had married: Marriage certificate, license no. 27327, filed on May 28, 1910, Seattle, King County, Washington. Both Rose"s mother, Anna Thompson (aka Big Lady), and her grandmother Mary Stein (Dottie) signed the certificate as witnesses, which refutes the notion-invented by Rose and repeated by her daughters-that she fled a convent and eloped when she was fifteen. She lists her age as "18" on the marriage certificate, a number confirmed by the 1900 and 1910 U.S. censuses, both of which give her birth year as 1892: Year 1900; Census Place: Seattle Ward 8, King, Washington, Roll T623_1745; Page 7A, Enumeration District 114; Year 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 3, King, Washington; Roll T624_1659; Page 11A, Enumeration District 148.
13 Rose got her chance: July 8, 1914: Rose E. Hovick vs. John O. Hovick, Filed August 20, 1915, no. 102195, Superior Court, State of Washington, King County, King Co. Court House, Docket Vol. 46, Folio 104, Journal 537, Folio 160. Rose got her chance: July 8, 1914: Rose E. Hovick vs. John O. Hovick, Filed August 20, 1915, no. 102195, Superior Court, State of Washington, King County, King Co. Court House, Docket Vol. 46, Folio 104, Journal 537, Folio 160.
14 "damp and full of knot holes": Ibid. "damp and full of knot holes": Ibid.
15 "bad reputation": Ibid. "bad reputation": Ibid.
16 "struck and choked"; beat Louise "almost insensible": Ibid. "struck and choked"; beat Louise "almost insensible": Ibid.
17 "any underwear to speak of": Ibid. "any underwear to speak of": Ibid.
18 Professor Douglas"s Dancing School: Series II, Box 14, Folder 7, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD. Professor Douglas"s Dancing School: Series II, Box 14, Folder 7, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD.
19 "I cannot recall": Havoc, "I cannot recall": Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 15.
20 favorite bit of family lore: Preminger, 186187. favorite bit of family lore: Preminger, 186187.
21 "In a few years": Havoc, "In a few years": Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 15.
22 "Mrs. Hovick, here you have": "Mrs. Hovick, here you have": New York Sunday News New York Sunday News, June 22, 1941. (In this article, the dance instructor is called "Professor Belcher.") 23 any child who: Lee, any child who: Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 10.
24 "We simply haven"t the money": Havoc, "We simply haven"t the money": Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 15.
25 Jack Hovick told: Author"s interview with Bette Solomon, September 18, 2009. Jack Hovick told: Author"s interview with Bette Solomon, September 18, 2009.
26 Would-be millionaires: Eugene Clinton Elliott, 35. Would-be millionaires: Eugene Clinton Elliott, 35.
27 "jungle mother": Series VI, Box 42, Folder 4, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD. "jungle mother": Series VI, Box 42, Folder 4, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD.
28 Judson Brennerman: Marriage Certificate No. 8289, State of Washington, King County. Judson Brennerman: Marriage Certificate No. 8289, State of Washington, King County.
29 newspapers reported: newspapers reported: The Fort Wayne Sentinel The Fort Wayne Sentinel, May 16, 1916.
30 "Daddy Bub": Havoc, "Daddy Bub": Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 123.
31 The following September: The following September: Judson Brennerman v. Rose E. Brennerman Judson Brennerman v. Rose E. Brennerman, Filed September 14, 1917, no. 124577, Superior Court, State of Washington, King County.
32 "cruel in many ways": Ibid. "cruel in many ways": Ibid.
33 "Men," she told her daughters: Havoc, "Men," she told her daughters: Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 122.
34 "G.o.d cursed them by adding an ornament": Ibid. "G.o.d cursed them by adding an ornament": Ibid.
35 red rose...cabbage leaf: Lee, red rose...cabbage leaf: Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 61.
36 323 Fourth Avenue: U.S. Census, 1910. 323 Fourth Avenue: U.S. Census, 1910.
37 drowning when he was nine: Author"s interview with Erik Preminger, November 3, 2009; drowning when he was nine: Author"s interview with Erik Preminger, November 3, 2009; Seattle Post-Intelligencer Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 25, 1897.
38 died of a drug overdose: Havoc, died of a drug overdose: Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 24.
39 "Of course, he was only a man": Ibid. "Of course, he was only a man": Ibid.
40 Big Lady often fled: Havoc, Big Lady often fled: Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 23; Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 11.
41 embroidering an altar cloth: Series VI, Box 42, Folder 5, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD. embroidering an altar cloth: Series VI, Box 42, Folder 5, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD.
42 "Dozens of tiny squares": Havoc, "Dozens of tiny squares": Havoc, Early Havoc Early Havoc, 23.
43 Great Northern Railway: Ibid., 24. Great Northern Railway: Ibid., 24.
44 "Indian necklaces": Carney et al., n.p. "Indian necklaces": Carney et al., n.p.
45 "Vaudeville was America": Gilbert, 3. "Vaudeville was America": Gilbert, 3.
46 the more popular term: Ibid., 4. the more popular term: Ibid., 4.
47 George Washington: George Washington: The New York Times The New York Times, April 24, 1927.
48 "c.o.o.n shouters": Tucker, 4. "c.o.o.n shouters": Tucker, 4.
49 two dozen eggs: Gilbert, 53. two dozen eggs: Gilbert, 53.
50 "The Haymakers": Ibid., 11. "The Haymakers": Ibid., 11.
51 Bertha Mills: Ibid., 2022. Bertha Mills: Ibid., 2022.
52 "This is a very": Gerald Marks interview, "Vaudeville," a PBS "This is a very": Gerald Marks interview, "Vaudeville," a PBS American Masters American Masters special, 1997. special, 1997.
53 Tony Pastor: Tony Pastor: The New York Times The New York Times, August 16, 1908.
54 new commandments of vaudeville: Author"s interview with June Havoc, March 2008. new commandments of vaudeville: Author"s interview with June Havoc, March 2008.
55 Catholic boarding school: There is a record for an "R. Thompson" in an 1898 attendance book for Holy Names Academy in Seattle, Washington. This individual was enrolled for one semester, from August 1898 through December 1898. If "R. Thompson" is Rose Thompson, she would have been six years old during her tenure at Holy Names and certainly wouldn"t have escaped to elope, or to run away with any vaudeville troupe (research contributed by Carolyn Quinn). Catholic boarding school: There is a record for an "R. Thompson" in an 1898 attendance book for Holy Names Academy in Seattle, Washington. This individual was enrolled for one semester, from August 1898 through December 1898. If "R. Thompson" is Rose Thompson, she would have been six years old during her tenure at Holy Names and certainly wouldn"t have escaped to elope, or to run away with any vaudeville troupe (research contributed by Carolyn Quinn).
56 "learn manners and obedience": Havoc, "learn manners and obedience": Havoc, More Havoc More Havoc, 23.
57 "G.o.d wouldn"t like": Ibid., 24. "G.o.d wouldn"t like": Ibid., 24.
58 paper doll family: Ibid. paper doll family: Ibid.
59 she joined any roving vaudeville troupe: she joined any roving vaudeville troupe: New York Sunday News New York Sunday News, June 22, 1941.
60 "We always," June said: Ibid. "We always," June said: Ibid.
61 "Plug": Lee, "Plug": Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 11.
62 "I"m a hard-boiled rose": Series VIII, Box 56, Folder 1, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers; BRTD. "I"m a hard-boiled rose": Series VIII, Box 56, Folder 1, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers; BRTD.
63 "The rose step": Lee, "The rose step": Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 10.
64 "Fank you": Ibid. "Fank you": Ibid.
CHAPTER 3: NEW YORK CITY, LATE SPRING 1912.
1 "A Minsky never says die": "A Minsky never says die": The New York Times The New York Times, September 7, 1930.
2 "Billy Minsky!": Minsky and Machlin, 19. "Billy Minsky!": Minsky and Machlin, 19.
3 14th Street and Second Avenue: The Minsky family"s home address was 228 Second Avenue, at Fourteenth Street. New York City telephone directory, May, October 1912February 1913, Reel 23. 14th Street and Second Avenue: The Minsky family"s home address was 228 Second Avenue, at Fourteenth Street. New York City telephone directory, May, October 1912February 1913, Reel 23.
4 Wasn"t it just a few weeks ago: Trager, 334335. Wasn"t it just a few weeks ago: Trager, 334335.
5 "This is a get-things-done-quick age": Quoted in Barber, 27. "This is a get-things-done-quick age": Quoted in Barber, 27.
6 the most crowded neighborhood in the world: Trager, 697. the most crowded neighborhood in the world: Trager, 697.
7 "As I enter": Barber, 58. "As I enter": Barber, 58.
8 "gutter education": Minsky and Machlin, 18. "gutter education": Minsky and Machlin, 18.
9 adult height: Michael William Minsky pa.s.sport application; U.S. Pa.s.sport Applications, 17951925 (database online), Provo, Utah, USA, adult height: Michael William Minsky pa.s.sport application; U.S. Pa.s.sport Applications, 17951925 (database online), Provo, Utah, USA, www.ancestry.com.
10 "In G.o.d We Trust": "In G.o.d We Trust": The New York Times The New York Times, November 14, 1907; undated clipping, Burlesque Clippings Files, Museum of the City of New York.
11 Billy counted it as a win: Barber, 77. Billy counted it as a win: Barber, 77.
12 Gladys Vanderbilt"s wedding: Gladys Vanderbilt"s wedding: The New York Times The New York Times, October 27, 1907.
13 behind the event"s barred doors: Louis Sobol, "The Voice of Broadway," Burlesque Clippings Files, Museum of the City of New York. behind the event"s barred doors: Louis Sobol, "The Voice of Broadway," Burlesque Clippings Files, Museum of the City of New York.
14 laundry lines: Jackson, 1129. laundry lines: Jackson, 1129.
15 Hit men abided by: Hit men abided by: The New York Times The New York Times, November 8, 1908.
16 Billy"s father had faced: Author"s interview with Edward Orzac, nephew of Abraham Minsky, November 2009. Billy"s father had faced: Author"s interview with Edward Orzac, nephew of Abraham Minsky, November 2009.
17 Louis Salzberg became: Ibid. Louis Salzberg became: Ibid.
18 "How can you stand it?": Minsky and Machlin, 15. "How can you stand it?": Minsky and Machlin, 15.
19 "The politicians used to": Kisseloff, 37. "The politicians used to": Kisseloff, 37.
20 "Mayor of Grand Street": "Mayor of Grand Street": The New York Times The New York Times, April 30, 1904.
21 "I would spend $10,000": "I would spend $10,000": The New York Times The New York Times, September 16, 1898.
22 "Do you know who I am?": "Do you know who I am?": The New York Times The New York Times, April 29, 1904.
23 Louis was arrested: Ibid. Louis was arrested: Ibid.
24 "I will have stories": Ibid. "I will have stories": Ibid.
25 a cyclical p.a.w.ning system: Barber, 23. a cyclical p.a.w.ning system: Barber, 23.
26 his scheme to defraud: his scheme to defraud: The New York Times The New York Times, May 14, 1909.
27 more than 45 million Americans: more than 45 million Americans: The New York Times The New York Times, January 3, 1909.
28 "It amounts practically": "It amounts practically": Billboard Billboard, September 15, 1906.
29 Houston Street Hippodrome: Minsky and Machlin, 17. Houston Street Hippodrome: Minsky and Machlin, 17.
30 S. Erschowsky & Sons Deli: National Winter Garden program, 1921, Burlesque programs after 1900, Museum of the City of New York. S. Erschowsky & Sons Deli: National Winter Garden program, 1921, Burlesque programs after 1900, Museum of the City of New York.
31 "You know those slides": Barber, 24. "You know those slides": Barber, 24.
32 "Yiddish Broadway": Irving Lewis Allen, 61. "Yiddish Broadway": Irving Lewis Allen, 61.
33 "Listen, Pop": Minsky and Machlin, 20. "Listen, Pop": Minsky and Machlin, 20.