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Overview
Fred Stone was one of America's most versatile and talented entertainers. It seemed as if he could do anything and everything, from tightrope walking and acrobatics to song-and-dance, musical comedies, and straight drama. This work chronicles his extraordinary life and career. He was born in a log cabin August 19, 1873, in Valmont, Colorado, to a family that was part of the covered-wagon migration into the virtually unknown West. He joined a traveling circus at age 11 and two years later, joined a different one as a self-taught tightrope walker. During his teens, Stone performed on the variety stage, and at age 22, met Dave Montgomery, with whom he performed for over twenty years, including Broadway musicals, notably The Wizard of Oz. After Montgomery's death in 1917, Stone continued to perform and shared his continued success with his closest friend Will Rogers, and Annie Oakley, Charles Dillingham, Charles Russell, Ed Borein, and Rex Beach. In 1950, he retired from show business and during the last years of his life suffered from increasing blindness and heart trouble. He died at his Los Angeles home in 1959.Author Biography: Armond Fields is also the author of Lillian Russell: A Biography of "America's Beauty" (1999, $42.50), Eddie Foy: A Biography of the Early Popular Stage Comedian (1999, $45), James J. Corbett: A Biography of the Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Popular Theater Headliner (2001, $45). He lives in Culver City, California.
Synopsis
Fred Stone, born to a pioneer family in 1873, joined the traveling circus at age 11, became a self-taught tightrope walker, and performed on the variety stage in his late teens. As an adult, he performed in vaudeville and on stage, most notably as the Scarecrow in the play The Wizard of Oz. He appeared in some 18 movies from 1918 to 1940. B&w personal and stage photos are included in this biography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)