Weber and Fields

Joe Weber and Lew Fields, two successful vaudeville performers, may have served as the factual basis for the 1972 play and the 1975 movie, The Sunshine Boys. Weber and Fields had great success with their “Dutch” act before deciding in 1896 to open their own theater in New York, called the Weber and Fields Music Hall.  In burlesques, such as Pousse Café/The Worst Born (1897.48), Hurly-Burly (1898.50), Whirl-I-Gig (1899.30), Fiddle-Dee-Dee (1900.38), Hoity-Toity (1901.17), Twirly-Whirly (1902.29), Whoop-Dee-Doo (1903.28) and Roly Poly (1912.44), Weber and Fields produced the show for their Music Hall and performed in the show.  At the very least, they would collect their pay as performers.

They also produced musical comedies for other venues, such as the production of An English Daisy (1904.04) for the Casino Theatre.

No partnership on Broadway lasts forever; and around 1904, the two men parted ways.  However, neither man stopped working.  They continued to perform and to produce shows, alone or with others.