- Collection:
- Cutler Collection
- Title:
- Hazel Beamer Cutler diary, 1923 May 30-1923 November 21
- Creator:
- Cutler, Hazel Beamer, 1901-1980
- Date of Original:
- 1923-05-30/1923-11-21
- Subject:
- Cutler, Hazel Beamer, 1901-1980--Diaries
Cutler, Hazel Beamer, 1901-1980--Friends and associates
Haggin, Ben Ali, 1882-1951
Arthur, Julia, 1869-1950
Wood, Peggy, 1892-1978
Actors--New York (State)--New York
Rybner, Dagmar de Corval, 1890-1965
Women pianists--New York (State)--New York
Atlantic City (N.J.)--Description and travel
New York (N.Y.)--Description and travel
Greene County (N.Y.)--Description and travel
Wheeler, Candace, 1827-1923
Wheeler, Candace, 1827-1923--Death and burial
Keith, Boudinot, 1859-1925
Keith, Dora Wheeler, 1856-1940
Pavlova, Anna, 1881-1931
Dancers--New York (State)--New York
Dance teachers--New York (State)--New York
Artists--New York (State)--New York
New York (N.Y.)--History
Man-woman relationships--New York (State)--New York - Location:
- United States, New Jersey, Atlantic County, Atlantic City, 39.36415, -74.42306
United States, New York, Greene County, 42.27652, -74.12271
United States, New York, New York County, New York, 40.7142691, -74.0059729 - Medium:
- diaries
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Diary of Hazel Beamer Cutler (1901-1980), dated May 30, 1923, to November 21, 1923. The diary describes Hazel Beamer's life in New York City where she attended college and performed as a dancer before she married and took the surname of Cutler. Beamer laments the closing of the production “Du Barry,” which she starred in as a touring production as well as on Broadway, and spending time with “Uncle Boudi,” probably Boudinot Keith (1859-1925), New York lawyer and reformer, and husband of illustrator, portrait artist, and muralist Dora Wheeler Keith (1856-1940), referred to as “Dearie.” The Keiths were Beamer's hosts and guardians in New York. She describes falling in love with “George” (George Schleich) and being conflicted about her feelings for several other men: "Paul" (Paul Searcy, a boy back in Thomasville, Georgia), "Fred," and "Bob." She expresses regret about her first love, "Bill" (Bill Jerger). She describes being selected to perform at the Strand Theatre for a two-week performance, frequently writes about her relationship with portrait painter and stage designer Ben Ali Haggin, III (1882-1951), about which she is ambivalent. There are numerous entries about dance rehearsals, tennis matches, time spent between performances, eating at restaurants in New York City, and taking canoe trips with George. On July 10, 1923, she traveled to Atlantic City, New Jersey to spend time with a family friend “Dick” (probably Caroline L. Dick). She describes a rivalry between dance instructors to steal classes of dancers away from one another. She describes several trips up to “Onteora,” and “Pennyroyal,” Dora Wheeler Keith's family summer cabin located in a Catskills artist colony in Greene County, New York (established by Keith's mother, Candace Wheeler (1827-1923), the founder of the American decorative arts movement). She also spent time at the homes of Ben Ali Haggin and his mother in the same artist's colony, where they discussed her appearance in a vaudeville act Haggin was developing. On August 5, 1923, she notes that Candace Wheeler (“Mrs. Wheeler”) died. Wheeler's funeral took place on August 7, 1923. Beamer describes performing in a group with Shakespearean actress Julia Arthur, meeting actress Peggy Wood, interacting with composer and pianist Dagmar Rybner after a moving performance, and acting in a locally-produced musical of Ben Ali Haggin's called “In A Convent Garden.” She expresses frustration with Haggin's excessive drinking, and anger that he is paying her less than other showgirls. She receives several offers to perform in vaudeville shows, but her dance instructor (“Tarasoff”) tells her to refuse the roles, as they are not good enough for her. Shortly after, Tarasoff asks her if she wants to audition to dance with Anna Pavlova for two weeks. She wins a spot to work with Pavlova. Beamer describes learning “toe work” from Pavlova herself, as well as practicing with her for two weeks. She recalls an incident where Pavlova pricked her finger on a thorn at the end of a performance and created a scene. She took the opportunity to tell Pavlova how much she admired her and noted that Pavlova seemed to appreciate that. On the last night of Pavlova's performances, Pavlova asked for her address and gave her an autographed photo. Beamer notes that she was required to perform in a skimpy costume, and was embarrassed about it. Ben Ali Haggin secures a job for her at the Hippodrome that will pay her for an entire season. She expresses disgust for her “Uncle Boudi” for not being more helpful.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:tchs_cutcol_tchs6129-08-03
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:tchs_cutcol_tchs6129-08-03
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/tchs_cutcol_tchs6129-08-03/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Holding Institution:
- Thomasville History Center
- Rights:
-
