Eddie Peabody: King of the Banjo

Eddie Peabody (born today in 1902) was known as the “King of the Banjo” and the “Happiness Boy”. A Massachusetts native, he broke into vaudeville after being released from naval service at the end of World War One, and played the circuits throughout the 20s and 30s. The balance of his 50 year career was spent in nightclubs, film spots and television. He died onstage during a performance in Kentucky in 1970.

To find out more about  the history of vaudeville, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever nutty books are sold.