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Weber and Fields
Weber and Fields, American comedy duo consisting of Joseph Weber (1867–1942) and Lew Fields (1867–1941), the sons of poor Jewish immigrants, who began acting as children in dime museums and beer gardens in and around New York and later appeared in ‘burnt-cork’ minstrelsy. They soon discarded this for a ‘knockabout’ act which combined slapstick clowning with the immigrant's difficulties with the English language, Fields, tall, thin, and tricky, appearing as Myer, and Weber, short, squat, and guileless, playing his stooge Mike. In 1885 they established their own company, writing burlesques of the serious dramas of the day, and 10 years later opened the former Broadway Music-Hall under their own names, remaining there until 1904, when their careers diverged, though they were seen together again in Hokey-Pokey (1912). Weber ceased to act in 1918, but continued to direct plays for another 10 years, while Fields directed and appeared in a number of musical comedies, remaining on the stage until 1929. He was the father of the dramatist Joseph Fields.
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PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Weber and Fields." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Weber and Fields." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-WeberandFields.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Weber and Fields." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-WeberandFields.html |
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Weber and Fields
Weber and Fields , American comedy team. The partners were Joe Weber (Joseph Maurice Weber), 1867–1942, and Lew Fields (Lewis Maurice Schanfield), 1867–1941, both born in New York City. At the age of eight they were performing together on the Bowery, and shortly afterward they began their professional career. Appearing in beards, loud checked clothes, and low-crown derbies, they were beloved by millions and became the prototypes of future comedy teams. Fields was tall and aggressive, while Weber was short and the brunt of the jokes. They were noted for their slapstick antics, their dialect jokes, and their burlesques of popular plays. They opened and managed Weber and Fields Music Hall on Broadway (1896–1904), where they presented many of the leading stars of the time. A quarrel separated them in 1904, but they resumed their partnership in 1912. Both went into semiretirement after 1930. |
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"Weber and Fields." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Weber and Fields." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-WeberNFi.html "Weber and Fields." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-WeberNFi.html |
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Joe Weber
Joe Weber see Weber and Fields . |
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Cite this article
"Joe Weber." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Joe Weber." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Weber-Jo.html "Joe Weber." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Weber-Jo.html |
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Weber, Joe
Weber, Joe. See Fields, Lew.
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Cite this article
Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Weber, Joe." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Weber, Joe." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-WeberJoe.html Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Weber, Joe." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-WeberJoe.html |
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