That's What Friends Are For!

Do you have a friend who really “gets you?” You know, you start to talk about what you’ve been doing lately, and instead of a glazed look in their eyes, they look and sound really interested in furthering a lively conversation?

 Meet my friend Maxxine Arctander.

I’ve been teaching Vaudeville since 1993. Why? Simple. It’s my passion. I continue to discover new historic facts about Vaudevillians, famous or infamous. I still love teaching my Vaudeville students about this era of American history.

When my family first founded Dickinson’s Little Vaudeville, my mom, dad, sister, kids, and husband were all involved. Either they were performers in our little benefit shows or worked behind the scenes sewing costumes, building scenery and props or writing and editing programs, flyers, and routines.

In time, other people discovered our little Vaudeville troupe “The Palace Revue” and joined our amateur group. One special teenager who joined in our performances was Claire Arctander, who dated our son, Lou, in high school. She became our beautiful “billboard girl,” as Lou played our Harpo Marx. So began our friendship with Claire’s mom, Maxxine.

When Claire and Lou parted ways to different colleges, then careers as adults, we all fell a bit out of touch. Until the day I began a part-time job at the Arlington Library. There was Maxx, already a library employee of several years. Voila! Our friendship resumed as if no time had passed. My friend was schooled as an artist, and has great knowledge, fondness for vintage objects, paper ephemera, and clothing styles. Especially articles from the Victorian and Vaudeville eras.

One of the adult classes I teach at Vaudeville is “Late Bloomers,” an exercise class for those of us past a certain age who don’t want to join a gym or hire a trainer, but still keep our figures. We want to work up a tiny sweat to stay trim and healthy, not go for a workout blast. In “Late Bloomers” we sing and dance Vaudeville routines, which I’ve choreographed for various age performers. We laugh; we perform (only for ourselves in the dance mirror, never on a stage) and generally have a jolly good time, while “working” at keeping fit. Maxx joined “Late Bloomers,” with several other fun-loving ladies. More time for she and I to talk about the things we love, like…Vaudeville.

About a month ago I was telling Maxx about the cumbersomeness of bringing all my teaching supplies, props, music, billboards, paperwork, etc., on my next long-distance Vaudeville lesson. I was driving out to Bartlett to help a Girl Scout Troupe earn a “Vaudeville Fun Badge.” Maxx volunteered to come along and give me a hand, lugging my Vaudeville necessities. We didn’t plan it, but she became my teaching assistant that day. What fun! And the Scouts had a good time earning their badge too!

So now, I invite you to join Maxxine and me at our “Open House” celebration for the new “Dickinson’s Little Vaudeville” school we’ve opened at 230 N. Hicks Place, in Palatine. The Vaudeville kids will be performing a “Free Continuous Vaudeville Show.” Stop in any time between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. this Sunday, July 21st. Maybe you’ll even win a Door Prize!

Our Vaudevillians, ages 4-15, will be singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, and telling jokes. Kids in the audience will be invited to participate. It’ll be old-fashioned FAMILY FUN! I’ve had a BOFFO (Vaudeville slang for GREAT) time helping the kids prepare their acts, and my new Vaudeville partner, Maxxine, has done a splendid job decorating our new studio.

If you have any questions regarding this show, or our lesson programs, call me, Donna Dickinson, at Vaudeville (847) 632-0890. Or check us out at LittleVaudeville.com and “Like” us on Facebook.