Joseph Wagstaff was an American

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

, musician, singer and dancer.

Early life and career

His father, Spencer George Wagstaff came from

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a 2021 Canadian census, population of 569,353 (2021), and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which encompasses ...

, Canada. He went to

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

to work as an agent for the Grand Trunk Canadian National Railway. His father died in 1925 and his obituary lists him as leaving a widow and three sons, Earl, Sumner and Joseph. The obituary lists Joseph as a musical comedy actor. In the 1930 U.S. Census Joseph Wagstaff was listed as a silent and sound film actor.

Broadway

*''The Passing Show of 1923'' – The play ran from until at the Winter Garden Theater in New York. *'' Billie'' – The play ran in New York from until . It was written, directed and produced by

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. Wagstaff played the part of Jackson Jones. *''Black Diamond'' – The play opened in New York on . *'' Fine and Dandy'' – The musical opened on at Erlanger's Theatre in New York. Wagstaff played the part of George Ellis.

Movies

''Song of Kentucky'' – 1929 Joe played the part of Jerry Reavis and performed the songs "A Night Of Happiness","Sitting By The Window","Rhapsody" and "Don't Blame Me". Other actors in this film were Hedda Hopper, Dorothy Burgess, Herman Bing and Bert Woodruff. There was a sound track (record) available for this film. '' Let's Go Places'' (1930), the working title of this was "Hollywood Nights", the name was changed along the way. This is said to be a lost film and I do not know if any copies are still in existence. ''The New York Times'' newspaper described this as being a singing talking film. Other actors in this film were

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, Frank Richardson and

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Musical performances

Wagstaff performed with the following orchestras and performers: * Meyer Davis Orchestra *

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Orchestra * J.W. Sutton Club Orchestra *

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* Medrano and Donna * There is a reference to Joe Wagstaff and Film Land but the sources are unclear.''New York Times'' newspaper. , pg.17 advertisement. , pg.131 "The Microphone will present." , pg. 20 "New Supper Club to open."

Later life

Joe was performing in the Detroit and Harbor Springs areas of Michigan until well into the 1990s in the summer months.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wagstaff, Joe Musicians from Detroit Year of birth missing Year of death missing 20th-century American musicians