From the archives, 1921: Army veterans of an Irving Berlin soldier show bring 'A Day in Camp' to the Orpheum

CHAMPAIGN - A vaudeville troupe built around two Army veterans of a World War soldier show staged by Sgt. Irving Berlin was booked at the Orpheum for the last half of the week, the Twin City Review reported on page 4 of its Oct. 21, 1921, issue.

The labor weekly said John Rothang and his partner drew vaudeville offers but could not accept them until their Army service ended, then built a military comedy act called A Day in Camp and took a 10-person company, the Yip Yip Yaphankers, on the Orpheum circuit. The Champaign stop promised about 15 minutes of drills, tumbling, acrobatics, singing and soft-shoe dancing.

The paper's Orpheum advertisement listed the troupe for Thursday through Saturday on a bill with the Three Romanos Sisters, Wilbert Embs and Helen Alton, and Hill & Crest. Daily 3 p.m. matinees cost 25 cents, and night shows at 7:30 and 9:10 cost 25 to 50 cents. Pianist Don Alfonse Zelaya was to be featured beginning the following Monday.

Source: Twin City Review (Champaign-Urbana), Oct. 21, 1921, page 4, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn96071000/1921-10-21/ed-1/?sp=4