Peter F. Dailey
Encyclopedia
Peter F. Dailey was an American burlesque comedian and singer who became popular over the era remembered as the Gay Nineties
Dailey was the youngest of two sons and a daughter born to New York natives, Owen and Mary Dailey. In later years friends of his father, who was a fishmonger
and active in city politics, would say of his son Peter, that the apple did not fall far from the tree. By time of the 1880 census Dailey and his siblings were being raised by their widowed mother. She supported her family working as a dressmaker, while William, her sixteen year-old son helped out as a salesmen. Dailey had a much younger brother, Robert L. Dailey (1885-1934), who became a vaudeville player active in the early years of the twentieth century. As a young boy Dailey enjoyed hanging about the docks and piers that populated the banks of the East River at that time, often bantering with the odd assortment of stevedores, sailors and steamship passengers that would cross his path.
Later he joined Whitney’s Circus as an acrobat and clown before finding success with a vaudeville troupe called "The American Four," with James F. Hoey, Pete Gale and Joe Pettingill. After the troupe disbanded Dailey performed for three years at the Howard Athenaeum
in Boston where for a season he played Le Blanc in Evangeline His break out role came in New York in 1892 playing Jack Potsand Poole in A Straight Tip, with James T. Powers.
Over the following seasons Bailey would find success in such farce comedies as A Country Sport by John J. McNally at the Hollis Street Theatre
and The Night Clerk with Jennie Yeaman and Raymond Hitchcock. After these engagements Dailey became a regular performer with Weber and Fields
in New York. In 1900 he starred with Christie MacDonald
in the musical comedy Hodge, Podge and Co, based on Im Himmelhof, a German farce adapted by George V. Hobert and in 1902 with Ada Lewis in Augustus Thomas’
Champaign Charley.
Dailey would remain demand performing in a number of productions over the remainder of the first decade of the new century. His last performance came in 1908 in The Merry Widow Burlesque with May Irwin
.
. At the time he was starring in The Merry Widow Burlesque, that had just completed its five month run in New York. Dailey was barely able to finish his opening night performance at Chicago's Colonial Theater and died just a few days later.
He had planned to marry singer Kate Condon
, who several years earlier had appeared with him in The Press Agent, at Lew M. Weber’s theatre. Condon’s husband had disappeared in 1903 and she needed permission from the church to remarry. That spring she traveled to Rome to seek a Papal dispensation
to marry Dailey. Her cable informing him that she had been successful arrived just hours after he died.
“Pete Daily was a genial warmhearted man who made friends where ever he went. He was an actor of much originality and really made his own parts as he paid little attention to the lines of the playwright. Introducing his own, and his “gagging” of his parts was as amusing to his stage associates as those in the audience. He was natural comedian as full of life and fun off the stage as on.” The Hartford Courant, May 25, 1908.
Gay Nineties
Gay Nineties is an American nostalgic term that refers to the decade of the 1890s. It is known in the UK as the Naughty Nineties, and refers there to the decade of supposedly decadent art by Aubrey Beardsley, the witty plays and trial of Oscar Wilde, society scandals and the beginning of the...
Early Life
Peter Francis Dailey was born at New York City and was raised in Brooklyn along the banks of the East River.Dailey was the youngest of two sons and a daughter born to New York natives, Owen and Mary Dailey. In later years friends of his father, who was a fishmonger
Fishmonger
A fishmonger is someone who sells fish and seafood...
and active in city politics, would say of his son Peter, that the apple did not fall far from the tree. By time of the 1880 census Dailey and his siblings were being raised by their widowed mother. She supported her family working as a dressmaker, while William, her sixteen year-old son helped out as a salesmen. Dailey had a much younger brother, Robert L. Dailey (1885-1934), who became a vaudeville player active in the early years of the twentieth century. As a young boy Dailey enjoyed hanging about the docks and piers that populated the banks of the East River at that time, often bantering with the odd assortment of stevedores, sailors and steamship passengers that would cross his path.
Career
Peter Dailey took to the stage at the age eight at the Globe Theatre on Broadway where became popular performing the Barn Door Reel, a popular dance of the day.Later he joined Whitney’s Circus as an acrobat and clown before finding success with a vaudeville troupe called "The American Four," with James F. Hoey, Pete Gale and Joe Pettingill. After the troupe disbanded Dailey performed for three years at the Howard Athenaeum
Howard Athenaeum
The Howard Athenæum in Boston, Massachusetts, was one of the most famous theaters in Boston history. Founded in 1845, it remained an institution of culture and learning for most of its years, finally closing in 1953.- History :...
in Boston where for a season he played Le Blanc in Evangeline His break out role came in New York in 1892 playing Jack Potsand Poole in A Straight Tip, with James T. Powers.
Over the following seasons Bailey would find success in such farce comedies as A Country Sport by John J. McNally at the Hollis Street Theatre
Hollis Street Theatre
The Hollis Street Theatre was a theatre in Boston, Massachusetts that presented dramatic plays, opera, musical concerts, and other entertainments.-Brief history:John R...
and The Night Clerk with Jennie Yeaman and Raymond Hitchcock. After these engagements Dailey became a regular performer with Weber and Fields
Weber and Fields
Weber and Fields refers to the vaudeville team of:* Joe Weberand:* Lew Fields....
in New York. In 1900 he starred with Christie MacDonald
Christie MacDonald
Christie MacDonald was a Canadian-American actress and opera singer. She was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia...
in the musical comedy Hodge, Podge and Co, based on Im Himmelhof, a German farce adapted by George V. Hobert and in 1902 with Ada Lewis in Augustus Thomas’
Augustus Thomas
Augustus Thomas was an American playwright, born in St. Louis, Missouri. The son of a doctor, he worked a number of jobs including a page in the 41st Congress, studying law and gaining some practical railway work experience before he turned to journalism and became editor of the Kansas City Mirror...
Champaign Charley.
Dailey would remain demand performing in a number of productions over the remainder of the first decade of the new century. His last performance came in 1908 in The Merry Widow Burlesque with May Irwin
May Irwin
May Irwin , was a Canadian actress, singer and star of vaudeville.-Early life and career:Born at Whitby, Ontario 1862 as Georgina May Campbell, her father, Robert E. Campbell of Whitby, Ontario, died when she was 13 years old and her stage-minded mother, Jane Draper, in need of money, encouraged...
.
Death
Peter Dailey died in Chicago on May 23, 1908 after a brief struggle with pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. At the time he was starring in The Merry Widow Burlesque, that had just completed its five month run in New York. Dailey was barely able to finish his opening night performance at Chicago's Colonial Theater and died just a few days later.
He had planned to marry singer Kate Condon
Kate Condon
Kate Condon was an American contralto who sang in light and grand operas over the early decades of the twentieth century.-Early Life:...
, who several years earlier had appeared with him in The Press Agent, at Lew M. Weber’s theatre. Condon’s husband had disappeared in 1903 and she needed permission from the church to remarry. That spring she traveled to Rome to seek a Papal dispensation
Papal dispensation
Papal dispensation is a reserved right of the Pope that allows for individuals to be exempted from a specific Canon Law. Dispensations are divided into two categories: general, and matrimonial. Matrimonial dispensations can be either to allow a marriage in the first place, or to dissolve one...
to marry Dailey. Her cable informing him that she had been successful arrived just hours after he died.
“Pete Daily was a genial warmhearted man who made friends where ever he went. He was an actor of much originality and really made his own parts as he paid little attention to the lines of the playwright. Introducing his own, and his “gagging” of his parts was as amusing to his stage associates as those in the audience. He was natural comedian as full of life and fun off the stage as on.” The Hartford Courant, May 25, 1908.