surname "Belasco"
Replies: 6
Re: Arthur J. Belasco & Theatre...
OK NINA, now you are making me dig further in my memory than I am sure...but only reason I know this stuff is had to try and track down a lost brother's sister of a nephew and at same time "adopted" son to my grandmother (not relevant to Belasco). Here goes what I know:
My father's given names were Arthur J or G Belasco.
My dad later took my step-g-dad's name George Tucker when he was adopted as Arthur G Tucker.
My g-father's name certain was Arthur J Belasco, Sr. My dad was defensive about any ref to "Jr." Grandma told me Belasco was from Russia and emigrated to the US (I think with parents) but for certain as Belasco. Grandma also said Belasco was Jewish. Grandma was red-haired Irish and Dutch...and she claims Nez Perce Indian - though to tell you truth...she looked more Cherokee.
My g-ma's name was Gladys Irene Taylor (from Georgia and/or Florida) who married Arthur Sr on the East Coast (...have not seen a marriage certif in family records, but believed her). Belasco and her traveled the Vaudeville circuit until they ended up in Boise, Idaho or Pocatello, Idaho. During those travels, my dad was born in 1913. Grandma told us numerous times how Dad slept in the droor of the steamer trunk.
I don't recall her story, though she did tell me at one time, on how she and Belasco met. She held a lot back since Belasco reported by her to have run off with the maid or housecleaner to Oregon about 1913-15. From there, Belasco Sr. reportedly went sometime later to Los Angeles and became a producer/director. If the Sr. and David of fame are related, it would make some sense given my g-dad's theatrical history. Grandma mentioned they had come West from New York and Broadway. My dad told me Arthur Sr was a huge man, standing well over 6 feet and considerable girth. Dad said one of his legs was as big round as the trunk of a man.
Arthur Sr. had per my dad, remarried (don't know if it was the maid) and had several children in the LA area. My father confirmed this as he visted his father sometime between the years 1925 and 1939. It could have been after the war, also. I believe it's possible my dad visited him during those pre-war years because my dad was a semi-finalist for the US Olympic diving team...the trials may have been held in Calif which would lead him naturally to visit his dad. Further, since my older bro. and I were born at March AFB in Riverside in 1946 and 1947, this is the other probable time my dad connected with his dad.
While I'm not Jewish by religion, but Christian, my son, David, recently married into the Reformed Judaism faith and converted. That is all I have or can remember at moment. Since our blood-line is so all-fired independent, would not be surprised that if we are related to the famous David Belasco of Madame Butterfly literary fame, etc., my son would want to restore the blood-line name (that would cause waves in my family...though...especially since their are no known records of my dad's formal adoption by Tucker...and I just never asked the question). Grandma reported all the records in the courthouse burned at one time so can't trace it back then.
Oh...on my mom's side we all are eligible for Sons and Dau of American Revolution with a quite distinguished history well docurmented...our family is the American melting pot...lol. Hope this is helpful to Clive as well or even you since origins are Russia.
My father's given names were Arthur J or G Belasco.
My dad later took my step-g-dad's name George Tucker when he was adopted as Arthur G Tucker.
My g-father's name certain was Arthur J Belasco, Sr. My dad was defensive about any ref to "Jr." Grandma told me Belasco was from Russia and emigrated to the US (I think with parents) but for certain as Belasco. Grandma also said Belasco was Jewish. Grandma was red-haired Irish and Dutch...and she claims Nez Perce Indian - though to tell you truth...she looked more Cherokee.
My g-ma's name was Gladys Irene Taylor (from Georgia and/or Florida) who married Arthur Sr on the East Coast (...have not seen a marriage certif in family records, but believed her). Belasco and her traveled the Vaudeville circuit until they ended up in Boise, Idaho or Pocatello, Idaho. During those travels, my dad was born in 1913. Grandma told us numerous times how Dad slept in the droor of the steamer trunk.
I don't recall her story, though she did tell me at one time, on how she and Belasco met. She held a lot back since Belasco reported by her to have run off with the maid or housecleaner to Oregon about 1913-15. From there, Belasco Sr. reportedly went sometime later to Los Angeles and became a producer/director. If the Sr. and David of fame are related, it would make some sense given my g-dad's theatrical history. Grandma mentioned they had come West from New York and Broadway. My dad told me Arthur Sr was a huge man, standing well over 6 feet and considerable girth. Dad said one of his legs was as big round as the trunk of a man.
Arthur Sr. had per my dad, remarried (don't know if it was the maid) and had several children in the LA area. My father confirmed this as he visted his father sometime between the years 1925 and 1939. It could have been after the war, also. I believe it's possible my dad visited him during those pre-war years because my dad was a semi-finalist for the US Olympic diving team...the trials may have been held in Calif which would lead him naturally to visit his dad. Further, since my older bro. and I were born at March AFB in Riverside in 1946 and 1947, this is the other probable time my dad connected with his dad.
While I'm not Jewish by religion, but Christian, my son, David, recently married into the Reformed Judaism faith and converted. That is all I have or can remember at moment. Since our blood-line is so all-fired independent, would not be surprised that if we are related to the famous David Belasco of Madame Butterfly literary fame, etc., my son would want to restore the blood-line name (that would cause waves in my family...though...especially since their are no known records of my dad's formal adoption by Tucker...and I just never asked the question). Grandma reported all the records in the courthouse burned at one time so can't trace it back then.
Oh...on my mom's side we all are eligible for Sons and Dau of American Revolution with a quite distinguished history well docurmented...our family is the American melting pot...lol. Hope this is helpful to Clive as well or even you since origins are Russia.