BILLY WATSON'S BEEF TRUST

Letters We've Received

Received July 6 2005

Just a note to say that, according to family legend, my grandmother's brother, Charlie Marion, was the stage manager for Billy Watson's Beef Trust here in the USA at the earliest days of the 20th Century.

Any further information on Charlie Marion (also supposedly a vaude performer of some note) that you may come across would be appreciated by his grand-nephew....

Thanks again...

Warmest regards,

Michael

Received Aug 20 2005

Thank you, thank you. I have been searching for info about Billy Watson for many months. He was my grandfather. He died in 1945 when I was only 2 yrs old so I don't have a memory of him. My mom told me as  much as she knows but I've been looking for articles about him. Thanks

again, Ann

Received March 26, 2006

My great-aunt was a member of this troupe for a while How nice to see them finally show up on the web.

She was definitely in the Beef Trust, here in the states. She performed under the name of Louise Lussier. I don't know how long she was with them, but she ultimately quit the troop because after a while, she felt demeaned by the whole concept. Her mother was an accomplished seamstress, and sometimes traveled with her, making her costumes. She was born August 31, 1889, and grew up in Providence, RI

Diane in Florida

Received April 19, 2006

As I was indulging in a bag of chocolate covered nuts, it crossed my mind that I may end up like one of the ladies in the Beef Trust. I went to the computer and as the address I hopefully entered "Beef Trust" and happily I came upon your site all the way from England.

As a teenager in the 1930's, in Chicago, our family got to see the Beef Trust on stage. The ladies were entertainers and sang, danced or did recitations. Then they would line up and do a chorus line type review which was hilarious. It was awesome to me that the stage didn't collapse under the mountains of fat ladies! I remember that at the end they would come out individually and the audience would "vote" for the winner by our applause. The ladies were adorable and it was obvious they were good natured with a great sense of humor.

My oldest brother was so much fun.....he took another brother and me to see the Beef Trust 2 more times fibbing to my Mother that we were going to watch the Roller Derby. I doubt that Mom would have approved us going to watch all that jiggling of the booties again and again!

For your information, I am sending this bit of my life history to some family members. Thanks for your site and giving me the pleasure of a little nostalgia. You English

folks have such a great appreciation for and sense of humor!

Tommie

Received May 11, 2008

    MY MOM  IS IN THE PHOTO OF BILLY WATSON"S 3 LITTLE GIRLS;;THEY  WERE OUT ON THE STAGE WHEN THE SCENERY WAS CHANGED.--THEY WERE  ANNA, ISABELLE & BERTHE--MY MOM ON THE LEFT.  THEIR DAUGHTERS ARE ANN  & BETTY & I AM CLAIRE,BERT'S KID. I AM NOW A RETIRED PSYCHOLOGIST--MY DAUGHTER  TRACY LEHR IS AN ANCHOR-REPORTER ON KEYT SANTA BARBARA,CA. MY GRAND DAUGHTERS MARIE CLAIRE &  JOSILYNN,AGES 8 & 4 HAVE BEEN DANCING IN AN AWARD WINNING HULA TROOP IN VENTURA,CA ---ALL OVER SINCE JOSS  WAS 2.

   I WAS SO EXCITED TO READ ABOUT MY GRANDPA ON THE COMPUTER. I HAVE 

A POSTER FROM ONE OF HIS SHOWS and a photo of Gypsy. My GRANDMA WAS HIS THIRD WIFE & A BEEFTRUST  GAL. I ALSO HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF BILLY WATSON-HE DIED WHEN I WAS ABOUT 6 BUT HE WAS PURE FUN FOR ME.     

CLAIRE J. LEHR