Editing Mervyn LeRoy (section)

== Juvenile acts in vaudeville: 1914–1923 ==

Selling newspapers near the [[Alcazar Theatre (1976)|Alcazar Theatre]], LeRoy was spotted by stage star [[Theodore Roberts]]. A personable and attractive youth at age fourteen, LeRoy was engaged for a bit part in a 1914 stage production of [[Barbara Frietchie]]. Gratified by "that lovely feeling—audience approval", he performed in productions with the [[Liberty Theater]] in Oakland, playing the lead juvenile roles in ''[[Tom Sawyer]]'' and ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy]]''.<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 p. 25-26: Liberty Theater juvenile roles</ref><ref>Canham, 1976 p. 134: "...Roberts found a role for him in the play "The Deep Purpl"...and [LeRoy] also appeared in [[Little Lord Fauntleroy]]. And: "He did some extra word for [[Bronco Billy Anderson]] at [[Essanay Studios]] in [[Niles, California]], but it was in vaudeville that he made his bid for fame"<br />Whiteley, 2020: "To make money, from the age of twelve Mervyn began to sell newspapers on the street."<br />Weil, 1987: "His post was outside the Alcazar theater, and almost inevitably, he was discovered by a power in the theatrical world and hired in 1912 to play the part of a newsboy in a movie."<br />Canham, 1976 p. 133: "...little chance" that LeRoy could be provided with a "formal education" after his setbacks. And p. 134: LeRoy "attracted the attention of stage star Theodore Roberts" who found him parts in stage productions. And p. 134 and p. 166: "No titles can be traced or remembered" from these early films at Essanay. And: In Little Lord Fauntleroy he played a "bootblack".<br />LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 p. 10: "I was always outgoing, I guess I had an appealing look..." And p. 26: for juvenile roles on stage. And: p. 18: "I inherited a love of show business from my mother, and an outgoing personality from my father."</ref>

=== Chaplin impersonator ===

As a 14-year-old, LeRoy carefully observed emerging screen star [[Charlie Chaplin]] at a number of film sets in the greater San Francisco area. From these studies, LeRoy devised a burlesque of the comedian, and perfected his imitation on the local amateur circuit. In 1915, he won a competition that hosted almost a thousand Chaplin imitators at the [[Orpheum Theatre (San Francisco)|Pantages Theater]]. His outstanding performance earned him a slot as "The Singing Newsboy" in [[Sid Grauman]]'s vaudeville show at the [[Panama–Pacific International Exposition]] titled "Chinatown by Night".<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 p. 24: LeRoy: "I began looking for [Chaplin], and would watch him at work...I acquired the props – the pants, the cane, the derby hat..." And p. 29: "...close to a thousand" competitors at the Pantages.</ref>

In 1916, his father died, leaving the 15-year-old LeRoy responsible for providing his own financial support.<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 p. 25: On the death of Harry LeRoy when his son LeRoy was 15. .</ref><ref>Whiteley, 2020: "His father died in 1916, leaving Mervyn to fend for himself" LeRoy 15, going on 16 years-of-age.<br />Flint, 1987: "his father lost his spirit and had trouble supporting his family; he died in 1916...The youth had to sell newspapers at the age of 12 and then, at 14, sold papers by day and acted evenings in a stock company, where he perfected a Charlie Chaplin imitation. "<br />Whiteley, 2020: "He discovered an aptitude and liking for musical theater and in his early teens, he began to enter, and win, talent shows as a singer and Charlie Chaplin impersonator. And: LeRoy's success as a Chaplin impersonator "led to an early career in vaudeville and he toured for nine years around the national circuit first as a solo entertainer called ''The Singing Newsboy,'' and then for three years with a pianist, Clyde Cooper, as 'LeRoy and Cooper'."</ref><ref>Flint, 1987: "The youth had to sell newspapers at the age of 12 and then, at 14, sold papers by day and acted evenings in a stock company, where he perfected a Charlie Chaplin imitation.</ref>

=== LeRoy and Cooper: "Two Kids and a Piano": 1916–1919 ===

Now a show-business professional, LeRoy left his newsboy job. Pairing with the 16-year-old actor-pianist Clyde Cooper, they formed a vaudeville routine "LeRoy and Cooper: Two Kids and a Piano." The duo struggled to find engagements, and LeRoy recalled "we would have played toilets if they had offered us some money." Soon they were discovered by the premier vaudeville circuits – [[Pantages]], Gus Sun and [[Orpheum Circuit|Orpheum]] – and provided with regular bookings on national tours.<ref>Canham, 1976 p. 134: The act with Cooper billed as "LeRoy and Cooper, Two Kids and a Piano."<br />LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 p. The duo performed "for more than three years [1916 to 1919]</ref> LeRoy relished the lifestyle of a vaudevillian, occasionally appearing in shows that featured iconic performers of the era, among them [[Sarah Bernhardt]], [[Harry Houdini]] and [[Jack Benny]]. After three years, and now "a fairly well-established act" in theater listings, the duo amicably disbanded after an unexpected death in Cooper's family.<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 p. 28: "At the time my ambition was a modest one. I wasn't looking beyond vaudeville." And pp.31-32 And p. 33: "...exciting existence for a teenager. Every day was an adventure, every night an experience." And pp. 34-35 and p. 37: "Crisscrossing the country, we got to play with most of the vaudeville acts of that era." And p. 39 on the end of the LeRoy/Cooper collaboration. And p. 40 "...well-established act..."</ref>

LeRoy joined George Choos's mostly female troupe in musical comedies, and [[Gus Edwards (vaudeville)|Gus Edwards]] act billed "The Nine Country Kids" in 1922. LeRoy's enthusiasm for the stage gradually waned and he left the troupe in 1923.<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 pp. 40-42: "...&nbsp;I quit [vaudeville] in 1922 or 1923...[after lingering] around the vaudeville scene...[with Choos and Edwards]...[after I quit their troupes] I was broke...scrounging to keep body and soul together...I'd hang around with the other out-of-work performers."</ref>