Ten Eyck and Weily

(Melissa Ten Eyck and Max Weily)

"America's Original Character Dancers" / 1910s-1930s


Wrestler Max Wiley Holding His Dance Partner Overhead: February 11, 1922

"Max Wiley, former welterweight wrestling champion of the world is making a success on the stage.
He is seen here with his dancing partner Melissa Ten Eyck.

Wiley was discovered by Lorado Taft, the well known sculptor who said that Wiley was a perfect
specimen of manhood, and was the model for some of the sculptor's most renowned figures. He is
the holder of several medals won in the ring, but takes particular pride in one bestowed by the
Humane Society of England for saving the life of a little girl in the Thames.

His inspiration in dancing was and is Mordkin, the famous Russian who shared the triumph with
Pavlowa at the Palace theater, London. Both Mordin and Pavlowa gave him great encouragement
and he willingly admits that he owes much to their splendid assistance. Among his former
successes was the 1915 Zeigfeld Follies."

May 4, 1918 (The Billboard): B.F.Keith's Palace Theatre

  • "Trixie Friganza in her second week, assisted by Melissa TenEyck and Max Weily, entertained with her conversation, poking fun at her own avoirdupois. Miss Friganza then takes her act from the ridiculous
    to the sublime into full stage. where a beautiful classical dance is presented by Miss Ten Eyck and Weily, which is subsequently burlesqued by Miss Friganza. Twenty-two minutes of joy; encore and many bows."

    • Melissa Ten Eyck: Broadway Musicals:

  • Listed as: Melissa Ten Eyck: Classical Dancer / Max Weily: Classical Dancer
    January 02, 1922 - March 18, 1922 / Up in the Clouds [Musical, Comedy, Original]
    Lyric Theatre, (1/02/1922 - circa. 1/1922) / 44th Street Theatre, New York City / Total Performances: 89

  • Listed as: Melissa Ten Eyck: Dance Specialty / Max Weily: Dance Specialty
    January 02, 1922 - March 18, 1922 / Canary Cottage [Musical, Farce, Original]
    Morosco Theatre / 217 West 45th Street / New York City / Total Performances: 112
    - This may look like a misprint - to have a team performing in 2 shows at the same time - but if the theatres are only a block apart (as these were),
    and one number was in the first and the other in the second acts, it was quite easy to do and was a common thing for specialty performers.

  • Listed as: Melissa Ten Eyck [Dance Specialty]
    February 5, 1917 - May 12, 1917 / Winter Garden Theatre
    Casino Theatre, (4/23/1912 - 6/03/1912) and Lyric Theatre, (6/03/1912 - 6/15/1912)
    Two Little Brides [Musical, Comedy, Original] Total Performances: 63

  • Listed as: Melissa Ten Eyck [Lucille]
    March 5, 1912 - June 29, 1912 / A Night with the Pierrots / Sesostra / The Whirl of Society
    (Melissa listed in "A Night with the Pierrots" only. Al Jolson and George White also listed.)
    [Musical, Vaudeville, Original] / Total Performances: 136

  • Listed as: Performer: Melissa Ten Eyck [Fan Tan] / Casino Theatre / July 18, 1910 - September 17, 1910
    (Eddie Foy in cast. Irving Berlin listed in cast as "Entertainer at the Cafe d'Lobster") Total Performances: 72

  • Melissa Ten Eyck

  • Melissa Ten Eyck (Born: July 18, 1889 in New Jersey / Died: January 14, 1977 (age 87) in Van Nuys, CA)
    went on to perform in films, including:
    Happy Days (1929), Desirable (1934), Magnificent Obsession (1935), and Girl Crazy (1943)

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