This is a rare program (playbill) from the week of May 10th, 1915 for the vaudeville bill at the historic B. F. Keith's Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts ..... On the current bill were the vaudeville comedy team EDDIE CANTOR and AL LEE in their first Boston engagement ..... Biographical background: EDDIE CANTOR (born Isidore Itzkowitz: January 31st, 1892 – October 10th, 1964) was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author. By his early teens, Cantor began winning talent contests at local theaters and started appearing on stage. One of his earliest paying jobs was doubling as a waiter and performer, singing for tips at Carey Walsh's Coney Island saloon, where a young Jimmy Durante accompanied him on piano. He made his first public appearance in Vaudeville in 1907 at New York's Clinton Music Hall. In 1912, he was the only performer over the age of 20 to appear in Gus Edward's Kid Kabaret, where he created his first blackface character "Jefferson". He later toured with Al Lee as the team Cantor and Lee. Critical praise from that show got the attention of Broadway's top producer Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., who gave Cantor a spot in the Ziegfeld rooftop post-show, Midnight Frolic (1917). A year later, Cantor made his Broadway debut in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1917. He continued in the Follies until 1927, a period considered the best years of the long-running revue. For several years, Cantor co-starred in an act with pioneer comedian Bert Williams, both appearing in blackface; Cantor played Williams's fresh-talking son. Other co-stars with Cantor during his time in the Follies included Will Rogers, Marilyn Miller, Fanny Brice and W. C. Fields. He moved on to stardom in book musicals, starting with Kid Boots (1923), Whoopee! (1928) and Banjo Eyes (1941). On tour with Banjo Eyes, he romanced the unknown Jacqueline Susann, who had a small part in the show and who became the best-selling author of Valley of the Dolls. Banjo Eyes successful Broadway run was cut short when Cantor suffered a major heart attack, the first of several that would plague his later years. Familiar to Broadway, radio, movie, and early television audiences, this "Apostle of Pep" was regarded almost as a family member by millions because his top-rated radio shows revealed intimate stories and amusing anecdotes about his wife, Ida, and five daughters. His charity and humanitarian work was extensive. He helped to develop the March of Dimes and is credited with coining its name. Cantor was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1956 for distinguished service to the film industry. (Wikipedia) ..... Others on the bill included DONALD KERR and EFFIE WESTON in Eccentric Dances; WILL H. MORRISSEY and DOLLY HACKETT in Songs and Satires; The Greatest of Quartettes, AVON COMEDY FOUR (Charles Dale, I. Kaufman, Harry Goodwin and Joe Smith) in their Farce, "The New Teacher"; EVA CONDON, JACK DEVEREAUX and Company present "The Same Old Thing" by Roy Cooper Megrue; The Initial American Re-appearance of NORA BAYES "The Greatest Single Woman Singing Comedienne in the World"; CHARLES (CHICK) SALE presenting "A Country School Entertainment" and AMETA, THE FIRE DANCER "Parisian Mirror and Classic Dancer" (Direct from the Berlin Winter Garden) ..... DETAILS: The 24 page program measures 5 1/4" X 7 3/4" inches and includes production credits, list of entertainers, scenes and wonderful vintage advertising, but no photos or bios ..... CONDITION: (Please Note!) There is heavy creasing to the front cover, rust marks at the staples, a small stain at the bottom edge, soiling to several pages, a fold across the middle and moderate edge wear. Despite these flaws, this rare playbill will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.