Urbana in Champaign County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Billy “Single” Clifford / Clifford Theater

Billy Single Clifford Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, November 9, 2015

1. Billy Single Clifford Marker

close up, showing text Side A

Inscription.
Billy “Single” Clifford
Wm. C. Shyrigh, better known as Billy Clifford, was born in this house on January 24, 1869, to Levi and Sarah Shyrigh. Coming from a musical family, he developed an early interest in music and practiced with the family in the barn behind the house. At the age of ten, Clifford joined the circus when it was in town and played the snare drum, sold tickets, and eventually performed a song and dance routine. A leading vaudevillian of his time, Clifford once performed with Buster Keaton and went on to act with the best troupes in New York City, Baltimore, Norfolk, Richmond, and Europe. Eventually, he created his own company of performers, including an all-girl orchestra. Clifford died in this house on November 20, 1930, and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Urbana.

Clifford Theater
In 1905, Billy Clifford built the Clifford Theater, now the Urbana Cinema, on the spot where his family's barn stood on South Main Street. That was the same year motion pictures were first shown in Urbana. Built at a cost of $75,000, the theater was the first building in Urbana constructed

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solely for theatrical purposes. The ground level was large with an eighty-foot stage; the theater held an audience of 700. The building had three floors each with separate exit doors. While visiting Columbus and Dayton, Clifford and his troupe traveled to Urbana using Clifford's private railcar. A separate railcar transported the scenery and baggage. In addition to Clifford and his troupe, the theater hosted performances by such noted entertainers as John Philip Sousa and his band. Fire destroyed the Clifford Theater years later, taking with it most of Clifford's personal belongings.

Erected 2009 by Charles Mott Family and Friends, Champaign County Bicentennial Historical Marker Committee, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 29-11.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list.

Location. 40° 6.359′ N, 83° 45.197′ W. Marker is in Urbana, Ohio, in Champaign County. Marker is at the

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, November 9, 2015

2. Billy Single Clifford Marker

close up, showing text Side B

intersection of Water Street and Main Street (U.S. 68), on the right when traveling west on Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 W Water St, Urbana OH 43078, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dayton, Springfield, and Urbana Electric Railway (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Adam Mosgrove House (about 800 feet away); Champaign County Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); This tablet mark's the Site of Doolittle's Tavern (approx. 0.2 miles away); Simon Kenton (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Samuel McCord House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Champaign County World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Champaign County Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Urbana.

Also see . . . Billy “Single” Clifford Photographs and Memorabilia. (Submitted on February 21, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

Additional commentary.
1. Clifford Theatre Playbill for Saturday, April 27, 1912
Transcription of playbill shown in Photo No. 8.

Mr. Billy (Single) Clifford

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, November 9, 2015

3. Billy Single Clifford Marker

full view of Side A, with house in back ground

Offers “Himself,” His Superb Company and “His Clever Girlie Beauty Chorus” in The Merry Musical Feast (Served in Two Courses.) The Girl, The Man and The Game. The scenes are presumed to take place in Long Branch, N. J. The time is supposed to be the present, and the place is at the home of Charlie’s friend, Dr. Harry Merry.

In presenting this offering, Mr. Clifford desires it taken into consideration that no attempt is made to be serious, as his play is made for laughing purposes only and to provide an evening’s entertainment of a light character, asking his audiences to pardon any short-comings and inconsistencies that may seemingly present themselves in “The Girl, the Man and the Game.”

The players responsible in order of appearance upon the scene are:

Fi-fi, a French maid in the employ of Dr. and Mrs. Harry Merry, is modestly assumed by . . . . . . Miss Lol Marlowe
Mrs. Elsie Merry, wife of Dr. Merry, who, to help Charlie out of his trouble, agrees to become his wife for a few hours, is ably depicted by . . . . . . Mis Ida May
Dr. Harry Merry, the somewhat “henpecked” husband, kind and obliging friend of Charlie,
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, November 9, 2015

4. Billy Single Clifford Marker
full view, Side B, intersection of Main Street in back ground
and one who is always ready to do anyone a favor, is carefully portrayed by . . . . . . Mr. Bub Braman
Charlie Porter, alias Pointer, a Jolly Good Fellow, who to obtain money from his old uncle, prevaricates regarding his marriage and is compelled to borrow a wife and family to keep up the deception on the uncle, is offered for your approval by . . . . . . Billy “Single” Clifford

Girl friends visiting Dorothy while on their vacation are:

Ruth Vanderbilt . . . . . . Miss Mae Sanford
Essie Carnegie . . . . . . Miss Nadine Jeno
May Rockafeller . . . . . . Miss Lol Marlowe
Amy Gould . . . . . . Miss Mary Manard
Effie Morgan . . . . . . Miss Patsy Woods
Helen Van Nester . . . . . . Miss Vic Hoglen
Glo De Peyster . . . . . . Miss Bettina Lloyd
Myrtle Astoria . . . . . . Miss Julia Sullivan
Bertha Roosevelt . . . . . . Miss Billy Wamsley
Rosamond Taft . . . . . . Miss Daisy Vaughn
Georgia Longworth . . . . . . Miss Maude Charlotte
Evelyn Amsterdam . . . . . . Miss Edna Donnelly
Peggy Stuyvesant . . . . . . Miss Henrietta Merriman
Marcel Waver
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, November 9, 2015

5. Billy Single Clifford Marker
Side A from a distance
. . . . . . Miss Hazel Russell
Dorothy Merry, sister of Harry, a charming little witch who is as deeply in love with Charlie as Charlie is with her, but who delights in keeping him “guessing” is cleverly interpreted by . . . . . . Miss Mae Collins
Uncle Rudolph Cattermole, a somewhat passe, old, grouchy, wealthy globetrotter, whose one desire is to see his nephew (Charlie) married to the right girl, is played by . . . . . . Jack Trainer
George Livingstone, Charlie’s bosom pal, the college baritone, who is presented for your pleasure by . . . . . . Edward C. Clifford

Synopsis

First Course—Served in the living room of Dr. Merry’s home. (Morning.)
Second Course—Served on the lawn of Dr. Merry’s home. (Next Afternoon.)

FIRST COURSE

”On the First Dark Night Next Week” . . . . . . Charlie Pointer and the Girlies
“Home-Run Bill” . . . . . .Dorothy Merry and the Girlies
“Sing me an Irish Come All Ye” . . . . . . Elsie Merry and the Girlies
“Hands Up” . . . . . . Dorothy Merry and the Girlies
A FEW SECONDS OF MUSICAL NONSENSE . . . . . . BILLY
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, November 9, 2015

6. Billy Single Clifford Marker
Side B, from a distance
S. CLIFFORD
“Mine” . . . . . . George Livingstone
“I want a Girl, Just like the Girl, that Married Dear Old Dad” . . . . . . Livingstone and Pointer
Finale Ensemble . . . . . . Entire Company and Girlies

SECOND COURSE

“Rose Marie” . . . . . . George Livingstone and the Girlies
“Beautiful Love”(duet), introducing the Poem of Dreamy Motion, “The Girl, the Man and the Game Waltz” . . . . . . Dorothy Merry and Charlie Pointer
“Winnie from Winnipeg” . . . . . .Fi-fi and the Girlies
“Mammy’s Sufflin Dance” . . . . . . Eslie Merry
“The Famous Billy Song” . . . . . . Charlie Pointer and the Girlies
A FEW MINUTES WITH BILLY “SINGLE” CLIFFORD AND HIS HAT
“Texas Tommy’s Dance” . . . . . . Charlie Pointer and the Girlies
“Billy Uses an Underwood, Do You?” . . . . . . Charlie Pointer and the Girlies
Finale Ensemble . . . . . . Entire Company

Wendler’s Furniture Used in this Production.

EXECUTIVE STAFF
- Billy S. Clifford . . . . . . Sole Proprietor
- Bob Le Roy . . . . . . Publicity Promoter
- Edward
  Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, November 9, 2015
  
  7. Billy “Single” Clifford House
  Single's house at 114 West Water Street, Urbana, Ohio
  C. Clifford . . . . . . General Manager
- Harry Ferguson . . . . . . Musical Director
- Frank Madden . . . . . . Drummer
- Jack Trainor . . . . . . Stage Manager
- Al Blumenstock . . . . . .Master Mechanic
- Matt Bradley . . . . . . Master Properties
- Texas Smith . . . . . . Master Electrician
- Mme. Billings . . . . . . Wardrobe Mistress
  
  Coming--Al. G. Field’s Minstrels, Friday, May 3rd
  — Submitted February 5, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
  
  From the Januska Collection, with Permission, 1912
  
  8. Playbill for the Clifford Theatre, Saturday, April 27, 1912
  See Commentary No. 1 for a transcription of this playbill, or click on the image to zoom in to examine it.
  Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, November 9, 2015
  
  9. Billy Single Clifford
  archived portrait of Single Clifford
  
  Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 710 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 11, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 8. submitted on February 5, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 9. submitted on November 11, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.