Edward V. Darling (1891-1951) was one of the most powerful men in big time vaudeville. He began working for Edward Albee as secretary in 1905; within four years he was chief booker for the entire Keith-Albee circuit. When the circuit’s flagship the Palace opened in 1913, Darling naturally oversaw the booking there as well, where he was known for his calm diplomacy in smoothing the ruffled feathers of tempermental big time stars. He held the post until shortly after Albee’s death in 1930. Darling is also notable for his relationship with Eva Tanguay, filling the role of on again/ off again lover, manager and fiance between 1905 and 1909 (and friendly advisor thereafter).
To find out more about the variety arts past and present, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever nutty books are sold. And don’t miss Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube, to be released by Bear Manor Media in 2013.
(Travalanche) 