Cliff Gordon

Elder brother of legendary Broadway producer (and former vaudevillian) Max Gordon, Cliff Gordon (1880-1913) was best known in vaudeville for delivering stump speeches as “The German Senator” (written by Aaron Hoffman). Born Morris Saltpeter, it was he who changed his name to Gordon first, younger brother Max followed suit to simplify things. Born to immigrant Jewish parents on the Lower East Side, he hid his occupation from his folks until he was making over three times their salary, after which he moved them all to the UWS. He thrived in small time and burlesque before touring with his own music comedy The Merry Whirl during the 1909-1910 season. He died in his bathtub at the Sherman Hotel in Chicago, at the age of 32 after performing on a bill with Sarah Bernhardt at the Majestic Theatre. He had been feeling ill and his act bombed that night.