COLLECTION NUMBER:
C021.
COLLECTION TITLE:
Barbara Jean Burlesque Theater Collection.
CREATOR(S):
Barbara Jean Dishong; Janne Cafara Kane.
DATES OF MATERIAL:
1940-1963, bulk 1950s.
EXTENT:
57 negatives: safety film, b&w; 4 x 5 in.
LOCAL CONTROL NUMBERS:
Copy negatives: 81:12753/0-45 and 94:19326/0-10.
REPOSITORY:
San Diego History Center
Booth Historical Photograph Archives
P.O. Box 81825
San Diego, CA 92138
1-619-232-6203
ACQUISITION INFORMATION:
Loan for copy from Barbara Jean Dishong (46 negatives), 1981, and Janne Cafara Kane (11 negatives), 1994.
RESTRICTIONS:
Open for research.
COPYRIGHT:
For permission to reproduce or publish, contact the curator of the Booth Historical Photograph Archives of the San Diego Historical Society. Reproduction or publication of any part of this collection must include the following information next to the image(s) or in a special section of credits: Barbara Jean Burlesque Theater Collection, San Diego Historical Society, Booth Historical Photograph Archives.
GENERAL NOTES:
Arrangement: by lender; (1) Barbara Jean Dishong and (2) Janne Cafara Kane. Photographic prints from copy negatives of the original photographs are available in the San Diego History Center Photograph Reference Book Collection. Related materials: typed transcripts of oral history interviews with Barbara Jean Dishong and Janne Cafara Kane in the Research Archives. Forms part of: San Diego History Center Negative Collection.
BIOGRAPHICAL OR HISTORICAL NOTE:
Barbara Jean Dishong (1931- ) performed in burlesque shows at the Hollywood Theater in San Diego from 1950 to 1963. Janne Cafara Kane (1908-1997) entered show business in 1921. She came to San Diego in 1940 and headlined at the Hollywood Theater off and on for 18 years. Her stage name was Jan “Irish” Cafara.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE:
Copy negatives of mostly 1950s photographs from Barbara Jean Dishong show burlesque, vaudeville, and striptease acts at San Diego’s old Hollywood Theater on F Street. The collection includes portraits of entertainers, views of the theater marquee, stage performances showing various set designs, and a snapshot of the theater company with owner Bob Johnston at his Sports Palace bar. Stage settings depict a Reno Depot, a carousel, a Richfield station, a jungle temple, and the SS Hollywood. Entertainers include headline acts Barbara Jean and Jan[ne] “Irish” Cafara, comics “Bozo” Lord and “Slats” Taylor, strippers “Big Bobby” and Lili St. Cyr, Barbara Jean’s mother “Kansas City Kitty,” and singer Larry Kane (Cafara’s husband, he later became technical director of the San Diego Opera Association). Sailors make up most of the audience in some photographs.
SUBJECTS INDEXED:
Hollywood Theater (San Diego, Calif.)
Burlesque shows — California — San Diego.
Entertainers — California — San Diego.
CONTENTS LIST:
| Negative | Description |
|---|---|
| 81:12753/0 | Burlesque entertainers and Hollywood Theater owner Bob Johnston at his Sport Palace, including Barbara Jean’s mother “Kansas City Kitty,” Jane “Irish” Cafra [i.e. Janne Cafara Kane], and bar manager “Spaghetti Joe” [i.e. Johnny Keys], 1956 |
| 81:12753/1 | Burlesque entertainers on stage, 1952 |
| 81:12753/2 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with aquatic set, 1950 |
| 81:12753/3 | Burlesque entertainers on stage, 1955 |
| 81:12753/4 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with “Luna Park” set, 1954 |
| 81:12753/5 | Burlesque entertainers on stage, 1955 |
| 81:12753/6 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with “Reno Depot” set, 1950 |
| 81:12753/7 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with Christmas set, 1953 |
| 81:12753/8 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with carousel set, 1953 |
| 81:12753/9 | Hollywood Theater marquee featuring Barbara Jean, “Bozo” Lord, and Harry Myers, 1954 |
| 81:12753/10 | Hollywood Theater marquee featuring Barbara Jean “the Baby Doll,” Larry Kane, and Eddie Ware, [195-] |
| 81:12753/11 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers Ginger Kay, “Kansas City Kitty,” Delores, Junie Stevens, and Miller, a Hollywood Theater musician, [195-] |
| 81:12753/12 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers Barbara Jean and Mary King, 1954 |
| 81:12753/13 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers Eddie Lyle, Barbara Jean, and “Bozo” Lord, [195-] |
| 81:12753/14 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers Jimmy Merrill, When [i.e. Win] Hitt, and Barbara Jean, 1950 |
| 81:12753/15 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers Barbara Jean and Bobbie Lee, 1951 |
| 81:12753/16 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with “Richfield” set and sailors in the audience, 1952 |
| 81:12753/17 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with “Richfield” set and sailors in the audience, 1952 |
| 81:12753/18 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with “Richfield” set, 1952 |
| 81:12753/19 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with “Richfield” set, 1953 |
| 81:12753/20 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with “Richfield” set, 1952 |
| 81:12753/21 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with jungle temple set, 1954 |
| 81:12753/22 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with jungle temple set, 1951 |
| 81:12753/23 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with gambling set, 1957 |
| 81:12753/24 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with gambling set, 1956 |
| 81:12753/25 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with gambling set, 1954 |
| 81:12753/26 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with gambling set, 1956 |
| 81:12753/27 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with gambling set, 1956 |
| 81:12753/28 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers Barbara Jean and Lee Torie [Torrie or Torre?] on stage with “Rialto movies” set, [195-] |
| 81:12753/29 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers Barbara Jean and Lee Torie [Torrie or Torre?] on stage with “Rialto movies” set, [195-] |
| 81:12753/30 | Burlesque entertainer on stage with “now appearing” set, [195-] |
| 81:12753/31 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with “now appearing” set, 1959 |
| 81:12753/32 | Burlesque entertainers on stage, 1956 |
| 81:12753/33 | Burlesque entertainer Mary Lynn on stage with “now appearing” set, 1953 |
| 81:12753/34 | Burlesque entertainer “Big Bobby” [i.e.] Bobby “Texas” Roberts on stage with “now appearing” set, 1960 |
| 81:12753/35 | Burlesque entertainer “Big Bobby” [i.e.] Bobby “Texas” Roberts on stage with “now appearing” set, 1960 |
| 81:12753/36 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer Barbara Jean, 1963 |
| 81:12753/37 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer “Slats” Taylor, 1940 |
| 81:12753/38 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer Barbara Jean, 1950 |
| 81:12753/39 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer Eddie Lyle, 1949 |
| 81:12753/40 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer Treedway [Treadway?], 1952 |
| 81:12753/41 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer “Bozo” Lord, 1948 |
| 81:12753/42 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer “Bozo” Lord, inscribed to Barbara Jean, 1948 |
| 81:12753/43 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with SS Hollywood set, 1943 |
| 81:12753/44 | Burlesque entertainers on stage, 1944 |
| 81:12753/45 | Double exposure of 81:12753/43 and 44 |
| Negative | Description |
|---|---|
| 94:19326/0 | Hollywood Theater marquee featuring Jan Cafara, “Bozo” Lord, Eddie Lyle, and Danny O’Hara, 1940 |
| 94:19326/1 | Burlesque entertainers on stage, 1940 |
| 94:19326/2 | Burlesque entertainers on stage, 1940 |
| 94:19326/3 | Burlesque entertainers on stage with automobile set, 1940 |
| 94:19326/4 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers, 1940 |
| 94:19326/5 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer, 1940 |
| 94:19326/6 | Portrait of burlesque entertainers, 1948 |
| 94:19326/7 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer Lili [St. Cyr] inscribed to “Jan Cafaro,” 1948 |
| 94:19326/8 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer Lili [St. Cyr] inscribed to “Jan Cafaro,” 1948 |
| 94:19326/9 | Portrait of burlesque entertainer Lili [St. Cyr] inscribed to “Jan Cafaro, the stripteaser,” 1948 |
| 94:19326/10 | Star of Circle Arts Theater [in Kearney Mesa] show Plain and Fancy with Margaret Whiting and Jan Cafara’s husband Larry Kane, 1961 |
