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KAY HAMILTON was born in Camden on September 25, 1909, the daughter of minstrel show and vaudeville performer Joseph P. Hamilton and his wife, the former Laura Cowls. Her grandfather, Garrett Cowls organized and pitched for the first baseball team in the city, and managed it for many years as well. At the time of the April 1910 Census, the family lived at 326 Cooper Street in Camden, renting an apartment from prominent Camden physician Dr. Daniel Strock. The family would include at least four older children, Francis, Laura, Joseph P. Jr; and Elmer Hamilton. Born Kathryn Hamilton, she would become the third generation of Hamiltons to make a career in show business. As a child Kay "play theater", and would make money by singing in front of music shops to sell sheet music. With show business in her blood, she made her debut in 1919. She attended St. Mary's Catholic School, but her real schooling came on stage. A stage veteran by 1927, Kay Hamilton was working that year on Broadway, with Eddie Dowling in the musical Sidewalks of New York. She also appeared in vaudeville, and in nightclubs and theaters. By 1930 The Hamilton family was living at 501 Haddon Avenue, the corner of Haddon and Newton Avenues, directly across the street from what was then Junior High School No. 1. By October of 1931 Kay Hamilton was making her residence at 1317 Park Boulevard in the Parkside section of Camden. In 1934 Kay Hamilton was a featured performer in the mid 1930s with George Jessel's road show. She later went to Hollywood, where she married actor Peter Trado. By 1956 they had moved to Oaklyn NJ. Peter Trado passed away in 1969. Remaining a resident of Oaklyn, Kay Hamilton Trado passed away on Mach 18, 1998. |
If anyone has any further information about Kathryn "Kay" Hamilton, or her father, vaudeville and minstrel show performer Joseph Hamilton, or Vaudeville in Camden NJ, PLEASE e-mail me! Phil Cohen phil552@comcast.net |
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326 Cooper Street February 7, 2004 Dr.
Daniel Strock April 2004- Click on Images to Enlarge |
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December 9, 1930 Roseland
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Camden Courier-Post - October 29, 1931 |
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Camden Courier Post - October 30, 1931 |
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Camden Courier-Post - October 31, 1931 |
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Camden Courier-Post - June 20, 1933 |
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