Walter Lambert (Lydia Dreams)

This gender bending performer is one we are presenting in a series to celebrate NYC Pride Week.

Walter H. Lambert (1869-1949) was a British female impersonator and ventriloquist whose most famous act was called “Lydia Dreams”. His usual turf was the music hall in his home country, but he did come for a tour of U.S. vaudeville in 1906.

He was also a talented painter, and got quite a lot of publicity in 1903 for a large painting he did of himself and 225 other music hall performers. You can actually see that painting (in puzzle form) right here: http://www.wentworthpuzzles.com/browse-themes/contemporaryart/562908.htm

To find out 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.

And check out my new book: Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube, just released by Bear Manor Media, also available from amazon.com etc etc etc