La Belle Marie (c. 1882–1935)

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La Belle Marie (c. 1882–1935)

American vaudeville dancer. Name variations: Marie Gilliam; Marie Hart. Born c. 1882, in Ashtabula, Ohio; died Aug 21, 1935, in Clementon, NJ; dau. of trapeze artists.

Toured with parents in numerous circuses as a child (until 1908); performed range of specialty numbers including on horseback on point and on parents' trapeze setups; joined Philadelphia-based troupe, The Crackerjacks, as specialty dancer, where her acts included a popular Salome solo and duet with comedian Billy Hart; appeared with Hart as Marie and Billy Hart (1910–17); continued to perform as specialty dancer after Hart's retirement (1917), but soon moved into music, choir and band performances.

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