Male Impersonator - 1909

1909 – Claire Romaine

        “Did Her Stunt : Dressed As a Boy, Claire Romaine Fooled a Number of Persons”

          Hamilton Herald  February 18, 1909

          “The interesting little stunt that was pulled off by Miss Claire Romaine, the actress at Bennett’s, who was compelled to travel from Chicago to Hamilton without changing her stage attire as a young man, has had a just as interesting sequel. This morning Miss Romaine learned that a number insinuated that she had done no such thing. To Manager Appleton she exhibited symptoms of considerable indignation about being disbelieved. Mr. Appleton, for the fun of the thing, jollied the actress himself and she that she had done anything of the sort.

          “I’ll prove to you,” said Miss Romaine, “that I can do it again.”

          “I’ll bet you a box of gloves against anything you like,” said the manager, “that you won’t do anything like it again.”

          “You’re on,” exclaimed Miss Romaine.

          It was accordingly argued that the actress should don her stage attire, walk down to the theatre and back to the Royal Hotel where she was to play a game of pool. She fulfilled her part of the contract and Manager Appleton had to hand out an order for the gloves.

          The headline attraction at Bennett’s Vaudeville Theatre for a week in February, 1909 was Miss Claire Romaine.

          An immensely popular singer and comedienne of the English music hall variety, Claire’s “gimmick” was her stage attire. She dressed as a man.

          Her previous engagement prior to coming to Hamilton was in Chicago.

          The show had run awfully late so Claire had to rush to make her connection, not even stopping to change out of her stage attire.

          The railroad trip was made without anyone guessing that Claire was really a woman, not a man.

          A few days later, Claire was chatting with Mr. Appleton, manager of the Bennett’s Theatre in the lobby of the Royal Hotel. The conversation turned to the subject of her trip from Chicago in male attire. Appleton teasingly stated that he doubted that such a thing had actually taken place.

          Claire, visibly angered by Appleton’s insinuation, said to him, “I’ll prove to you that I can do it again.”

          “I’ll bet you a box of gloves against anything you like,” challenged the theatre manager, “that you won’t do anything like it again.”

          “You’re on” chirped back Ms. Romaine.

          After returning to her room to put on her stage clothing and make up, Claire met Appleton in the hotel lobby, and together they proceeded to walk walk from the corner of Merrick street and James street north to the theatre located behind the Terminal Station at King and Catherine streets.

          A Spectator reporter watching the procession described Claire as being dressed “in a suit that would do justice to the ordinary sport.” The reporter wrote that “the many eager eyes that gazed at ‘the young man’ along the streets were many, but the little music hall artist in her latest fashioned suit continued on her way.”

          The journey was completed without incident.

          Back at the Royal Hotel, Claire, delighted with her victory, then offered to show Jack Appleton what kind of pool she could shoot. The pair then adjourned to the billiard room but Jack requested that the result of the game be withheld.