CAWTHORN, JOSEPH

(1867-1949)

   Born in New York City, Cawthorn performed in minstrel shows as a child. As an adult performer, he specialized in German dialect comedy and musicals. According to critic Austin Latchaw (Kansas City Star, 7 May 1935), Cawthorn "could pronounce any word seventeen ways and play the concertina horizontally, vertically, upside down or in circles and never miss a note. Joe was a merry soul, a source of constant amusement." He went to Hollywood in 1926 and appeared in over 50 motion pictures.