Earl Mossman dies at age of 82
Portland's "Mayor of Broadway," Earl Mossman, is dead at 82.
The spritely man who danced across stages and into hearts died Saturday in a Portland nursing home where he had lived since suffering a stroke this summer.
Mr. Mossman, who began dancing when he was 7, was known for years as the greeter of a spectrum of celebrities visiting Portland. He also was known for the bevy of beautiful girls that always seemed to be at his elbow.
Born in Portland, Mr. Mossman as a child would run away from home to tap dance in the back rooms of saloons, where people would throw him money.
He worked for Pacific Power & Light Co. as an office boy, quitting in 1913 to devote his life to entertainment. He spent many years traveling the country's vaudeville circuit, first dancing and later with all-girl chorus lines.
Mr. Mossman, who married five times, once was called the "Beau Brummell of Broadway" by Walter Winchell. He was known as a clothes horse and was invariably dapper and chic, usually with a carnation in his buttonhole,
During World War II, he worked in the shipyards of Portland, where he said he was '"the fastest time checker on 11 ways".
During his heyday as an entertainer, New York agents had Mr. Mossman on bills with Al Jolson, Jack Benny and Eddie Cantor.
In 1931, he took his first all-girl revue to Las Vegas. He also worked as a master of ceremonies and song and dance man in Peoria, Ill., and for 4 and a half years produced girl shows in Chicago.
When he settled down in Portland, Mr. Mossman participated in many civic activities, Rose Festivals, parades and beauty contests.
In 1972, he served as King of Fun in the Merrykhana Parade, and on March 18, 1974, he was honored with a big party on the River Queen for his "75 years of Vaudeville."
Mr. Mossman is survived by two sons, Clifford of Temple City, Calif., and Jack Mann of Las Vegas; one daughter, May Alice Mossman of New York City; one stepdaughter, Beverly Love of Portland; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the J.P. Finley & Son Mortuary, with funeral at 1 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Private burial will be in Sunset Hills Memorial Park.
The Oregonian newspaper, Sunday, Sept. 26, 1976, section B- Metro section NW, page B-1, column 1-3.
(The obit says that Earl was being buried in Sunset Hills Memorial Park. He obviously was not buried there and this was either a mistake in the paper or there was a change in plans after the paper was told of where he would be buried? )
Source: Nathan Haines
Portland's "Mayor of Broadway," Earl Mossman, is dead at 82.
The spritely man who danced across stages and into hearts died Saturday in a Portland nursing home where he had lived since suffering a stroke this summer.
Mr. Mossman, who began dancing when he was 7, was known for years as the greeter of a spectrum of celebrities visiting Portland. He also was known for the bevy of beautiful girls that always seemed to be at his elbow.
Born in Portland, Mr. Mossman as a child would run away from home to tap dance in the back rooms of saloons, where people would throw him money.
He worked for Pacific Power & Light Co. as an office boy, quitting in 1913 to devote his life to entertainment. He spent many years traveling the country's vaudeville circuit, first dancing and later with all-girl chorus lines.
Mr. Mossman, who married five times, once was called the "Beau Brummell of Broadway" by Walter Winchell. He was known as a clothes horse and was invariably dapper and chic, usually with a carnation in his buttonhole,
During World War II, he worked in the shipyards of Portland, where he said he was '"the fastest time checker on 11 ways".
During his heyday as an entertainer, New York agents had Mr. Mossman on bills with Al Jolson, Jack Benny and Eddie Cantor.
In 1931, he took his first all-girl revue to Las Vegas. He also worked as a master of ceremonies and song and dance man in Peoria, Ill., and for 4 and a half years produced girl shows in Chicago.
When he settled down in Portland, Mr. Mossman participated in many civic activities, Rose Festivals, parades and beauty contests.
In 1972, he served as King of Fun in the Merrykhana Parade, and on March 18, 1974, he was honored with a big party on the River Queen for his "75 years of Vaudeville."
Mr. Mossman is survived by two sons, Clifford of Temple City, Calif., and Jack Mann of Las Vegas; one daughter, May Alice Mossman of New York City; one stepdaughter, Beverly Love of Portland; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the J.P. Finley & Son Mortuary, with funeral at 1 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Private burial will be in Sunset Hills Memorial Park.
The Oregonian newspaper, Sunday, Sept. 26, 1976, section B- Metro section NW, page B-1, column 1-3.
(The obit says that Earl was being buried in Sunset Hills Memorial Park. He obviously was not buried there and this was either a mistake in the paper or there was a change in plans after the paper was told of where he would be buried? )
Source: Nathan Haines
Earl Mossman dies at age of 82
Portland's "Mayor of Broadway," Earl Mossman, is dead at 82.
The spritely man who danced across stages and into hearts died Saturday in a Portland nursing home where he had lived since suffering a stroke this summer.
Mr. Mossman, who began dancing when he was 7, was known for years as the greeter of a spectrum of celebrities visiting Portland. He also was known for the bevy of beautiful girls that always seemed to be at his elbow.
Born in Portland, Mr. Mossman as a child would run away from home to tap dance in the back rooms of saloons, where people would throw him money.
He worked for Pacific Power & Light Co. as an office boy, quitting in 1913 to devote his life to entertainment. He spent many years traveling the country's vaudeville circuit, first dancing and later with all-girl chorus lines.
Mr. Mossman, who married five times, once was called the "Beau Brummell of Broadway" by Walter Winchell. He was known as a clothes horse and was invariably dapper and chic, usually with a carnation in his buttonhole,
During World War II, he worked in the shipyards of Portland, where he said he was '"the fastest time checker on 11 ways".
During his heyday as an entertainer, New York agents had Mr. Mossman on bills with Al Jolson, Jack Benny and Eddie Cantor.
In 1931, he took his first all-girl revue to Las Vegas. He also worked as a master of ceremonies and song and dance man in Peoria, Ill., and for 4 and a half years produced girl shows in Chicago.
When he settled down in Portland, Mr. Mossman participated in many civic activities, Rose Festivals, parades and beauty contests.
In 1972, he served as King of Fun in the Merrykhana Parade, and on March 18, 1974, he was honored with a big party on the River Queen for his "75 years of Vaudeville."
Mr. Mossman is survived by two sons, Clifford of Temple City, Calif., and Jack Mann of Las Vegas; one daughter, May Alice Mossman of New York City; one stepdaughter, Beverly Love of Portland; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the J.P. Finley & Son Mortuary, with funeral at 1 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Private burial will be in Sunset Hills Memorial Park.
The Oregonian newspaper, Sunday, Sept. 26, 1976, section B- Metro section NW, page B-1, column 1-3.
(The obit says that Earl was being buried in Sunset Hills Memorial Park. He obviously was not buried there and this was either a mistake in the paper or there was a change in plans after the paper was told of where he would be buried? )
Source: Nathan Haines
Portland's "Mayor of Broadway," Earl Mossman, is dead at 82.
The spritely man who danced across stages and into hearts died Saturday in a Portland nursing home where he had lived since suffering a stroke this summer.
Mr. Mossman, who began dancing when he was 7, was known for years as the greeter of a spectrum of celebrities visiting Portland. He also was known for the bevy of beautiful girls that always seemed to be at his elbow.
Born in Portland, Mr. Mossman as a child would run away from home to tap dance in the back rooms of saloons, where people would throw him money.
He worked for Pacific Power & Light Co. as an office boy, quitting in 1913 to devote his life to entertainment. He spent many years traveling the country's vaudeville circuit, first dancing and later with all-girl chorus lines.
Mr. Mossman, who married five times, once was called the "Beau Brummell of Broadway" by Walter Winchell. He was known as a clothes horse and was invariably dapper and chic, usually with a carnation in his buttonhole,
During World War II, he worked in the shipyards of Portland, where he said he was '"the fastest time checker on 11 ways".
During his heyday as an entertainer, New York agents had Mr. Mossman on bills with Al Jolson, Jack Benny and Eddie Cantor.
In 1931, he took his first all-girl revue to Las Vegas. He also worked as a master of ceremonies and song and dance man in Peoria, Ill., and for 4 and a half years produced girl shows in Chicago.
When he settled down in Portland, Mr. Mossman participated in many civic activities, Rose Festivals, parades and beauty contests.
In 1972, he served as King of Fun in the Merrykhana Parade, and on March 18, 1974, he was honored with a big party on the River Queen for his "75 years of Vaudeville."
Mr. Mossman is survived by two sons, Clifford of Temple City, Calif., and Jack Mann of Las Vegas; one daughter, May Alice Mossman of New York City; one stepdaughter, Beverly Love of Portland; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the J.P. Finley & Son Mortuary, with funeral at 1 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Private burial will be in Sunset Hills Memorial Park.
The Oregonian newspaper, Sunday, Sept. 26, 1976, section B- Metro section NW, page B-1, column 1-3.
(The obit says that Earl was being buried in Sunset Hills Memorial Park. He obviously was not buried there and this was either a mistake in the paper or there was a change in plans after the paper was told of where he would be buried? )
Source: Nathan Haines
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