Bowery in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Vaudeville Hook Is Born!

Miner’s Bowery Theatre

— 165-7 Bowery —

Vaudeville Hook Is Born! Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016

1. Vaudeville Hook Is Born! Marker

Inscription. Your standing at the former site of Miner’s Bowery Theatre, a legendary vaudeville house that once saw appearances by Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Bert Williams, Pat Rooney, Weber and Fields, A.O. Duncan (vaudeville’s first ventriloquist), singer Lottie Gilson, exotic dancer Saharet, W.C. Fields (then a juggler), and the Houdini Brothers.

Harry Clay Miner (1842-1900) was a former New York City policeman, U.S. Congressman, printer and founder of one of the world’s first theatre chains. The most famous of his houses was Miner’s Bowery Theatre (est. 1878). It was here that his son Tom instituted the famous amateur night and its famous innovation “the hook”, a large shepherd’s crook used for yanking unpopular acts off the stage—often at the audience’s urging: “Get the hook!” The device was widely emulated throughout the country, and has even become an idiom in the English language. The innovation lives on in popular memory, even if Miner’s Theatre does not.

-Trav S.D., No Applause, Just Throw Money – the Book that Made Vaudeville Famous

Erected 2016 by Bowery Alliance of Neighbors.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment.

Location. 40° 43.192′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

73° 59.642′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Bowery. Marker is on Bowery near Delancy Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 165-167 Bowery, New York NY 10002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Brown's Body On The Bowery (a few steps from this marker); Hi-Tech (a few steps from this marker); Faerman’s Cash Registers (within shouting distance of this marker); NYC's Oldest Operating Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Italian Theatre & Triple-Jointed Wonders (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Home Of Photographer Robert Frank (about 300 feet away); Anti-Slavery Work In Federal Era Houses (about 400 feet away); Christians, Cops, Elks & Anarchism (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

More about this marker. One of more than sixty entries in the “Windows on the Bowery” series.

Vaudeville Hook Is Born! marker site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016

2. Vaudeville Hook Is Born! marker site

165-167 Bowery, 2016

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016

3. Inset

Harry Miner and his vaudeville house

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016

4. Inset

Getting the hook

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016

5. Inset

"Amateur night at Miners", drawing by Glen H. Coleman, from Alvin Harlow's Old Bowery Days

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016

6. Inset

Performers Al Jolson, Harry Houdini, Eddie Cantor

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 695 times since then and 108 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 1, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.