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Bubbles, John W.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1902 - 1986

Biographical History

John W. Bubbles (1902-1986) was an American vaudeville singer, performer, entertainer and dancer.

John W. Bubbles was born John William Sublett in Louisville, Kentucky on February 19, 1902. As a youth, he met and formed a partnership with Ford L. "Buck" Washington in Indianapolis and performed as "Buck and Bubbles." They had many important appearances such as being the first black artists to appear in the Radio City Music Hall and it may be said that they were the first black artists performing live on television.

Bubbles is known as the father of "rhythm tap", which is a style of tap dance that works with the improvisatory style of jazz because it allowed for more rhythmic freedom. In 1935 Bubbles was chosen the play the role of Sportin' Life in the opera Porgy and Bess, but he only occasionally played the role. Some later life appearances Bubbles had included touring the war zone during the Vietnam War and being a part of a few Hollywood films and on television. Bubbles died on May 18, 1986 in New York City.

Citation:
Wikipedia.org, "John W. Bubbles." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bubbles, visited 17 Dec 2012. (all above information)

Ancestry.com, "John W. Bubbles," (b. 1902, d. 1986). Boards. http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.obits/109361/mb.ashx. Visited December 17, 2012. (all above information).

Chadbourne, Eugene. Billboard.com, "John W. Bubbles: Biography," (b. 1902, d. 1986). http://www.billboard.com/artist/john-w-sublett/bio/500727#/artist/john-w-sublett/bio/500727. Visited December 17, 2012. (born 1902; d. 1986; performed in "Cabin in the Sky," Sportin' Life in "Porgy and Bess," started working with Buck as a child in Indianapolis; father of rhythm tap; did television performances; did USO tour with Bob Hope.)

Wikipedia, August 18, 2015 (John W. Bubbles; born John William Sublett; b. Feb. 19, 1902 in Louisville, Kentucky; d. May 18, 1986 in New York City; formed partnership with Ford L. "Buck" Washington in Indianapolis and performed as "Buck and Bubbles"; first black artists to appear in the Radio City Music; may be said that they were first black artists to perform live on television; father of "rhythm tap"; "rhythm tap" allows for more rhythmic freedom and works with the improvisatory style of jazz; chosen in 1935 to play role of Sportin' Life in the opera Porgy and Bess and occasionally played role; toured Vietnam war zone; appeared in a few Hollywood films; appeared on television)

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

John W. Bubbles papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 8026
Scope and Contents Contains the professional and personal papers of Bubbles. Includes correspondence between him and family members and associates, many photographs of himself performing as well as others with whom he performed, artifacts from his life, audio and visual media of his own performances and other performers, and sheet music collected by him and used in his performances. Also contains address books and materials related to his health, marriages, and other topics. Materials date from approximately...
Dates: approximately 1894-2000
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John W. Bubbles papers

John W. Bubbles correspondence, approximately 1935-1984

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8026 Series 2 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence of Bubbles. Includes several letters and telegrams from his associates in business, including William Redd Knight and the Gershwin brothers. Also includes holiday cards from admirers, friends, and family members. Also includes some correspondence from family members only, including Bubbles' sister, Carrie, his wives, and his nephew. Materials date from approximately 1935 to 1984.

Dates: approximately 1935-1984
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8026, John W. Bubbles papers / John W. Bubbles professional papers

John W. Bubbles performance contracts, approximately 1942-1980

 Sub-Series — Box 14: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233631230], Folder: 1-3
Identifier: MSS 8026 Series 2 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains contract agreements for Bubbles as a performer. Includes information about pay and number of performances for corporations like CBS, the American Guild of Variety Artists, Nat Nazarro, and others. Includes letters, telegrams, and contracts. Materials date from approximately 1942 to 1980.

Dates: approximately 1942-1980
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8026, John W. Bubbles papers / John W. Bubbles professional papers

John W. Bubbles personal papers, approximately 1920-2000

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8026 Series 3
Scope and Contents Contains the personal papers of Bubbles. Includes account ledgers and expense books, correspondence between him and family members and friends, a chronology of his life, the transcript from an oral history interview conducted with Bubbles, and other materials. Also includes some advertisements he collected for various shows, papers on entertainment corporations such as the TransAmerican Entertainment Corporation, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and others, as well as letters...
Dates: approximately 1920-2000
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8026, John W. Bubbles papers

John W. Bubbles photograph albums, approximately 1936-1984

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8026 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains several scrapbooks documenting important times and people in the life of Bubbles. Includes a scrapbook about his performances in "Porgy and Bess," his USO tours, and other miscellaneous moments in his life as an entertainer. The scrapbooks contain not only photographs, but letters, including from celebrities like Jack Haley and Bing Crosby, and articles and advertisements for his or his friends' performances. Materials date from approximately 1936 to 1984.

Dates: approximately 1936-1984
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8026, John W. Bubbles papers / John W. Bubbles photographs

John W. Bubbles professional papers, approximately 1930-1986

 Series
Identifier: MSS 8026 Series 2
Scope and Contents Contains files related to the professional career of Bubbles. Includes address books of people he knew, business cards of people and businesses with whom he associated, correspondence between himself and his employers, publishers, and associates. Also contains a few letters from family members related to his career. Also contains files Bubbles kept on his own performances, including his photographs of performances given with other people such as Bob Hope and Judy Garland, as well as others....
Dates: approximately 1930-1986
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8026, John W. Bubbles papers

Filtered By

  • Subject: Entertainers -- United States X
  • Subject: Letters X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 5
Collection 1
 
Subject
Contracts 2
Photographs 2
Telegrams 2
Address books 1
African Americans 1
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Artifacts 1
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 1
Business cards 1
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) 1
Fliers (Ephemera) 1
Gershwin, George, 1898-1937. Porgy and Bess 1
Media and Communication 1
Notated music 1
Oral histories 1
Performing Arts 1
Programs 1
Scrapbooks 1
Social Life and Customs 1
Sound recordings 1
Video recordings 1
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