Grace O'Connor Deagon ("Dickinson and Deagon With Shubert Vaudeville at Apollo". Atlantic City Press. February 20, 1922. p. 15.), known professionally as Gracie Deagon, was an American vaudevillian, stage and radio actress and writer, known for her exceptionally unaffected child impersonations,Staples, Shirley (1984). Male-Female Comedy Teams in American Vaudeville, 1865-1932. Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Research Press. pp. 176, 179. ."How Gracie Deagon Made a Hit in Vaudeville". The Boston Globe. June 29, 1924. p. 53.Mason, Arthur (June 1937). "Radio Ramblings: Concerning celebrities of the air, and their comings and goings in broadcastland". Radio Stars. p. 16.Edmiston, Martha (March 11, 1957). "Veteran Of Vaudeville Visiting Son, Friends ". The Dayton Journal Herald. p. 3.

Early life and career Raised in Springfield, Ohio,Muir, James (May 8, 1926). "Offerings in All Theaters". The Dayton Daily News. p. 11. Deagon was a daughter of the then popular vaudeville team Kitty (née Andres"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24HL-2WN : Fri Jul 25 15:35:15 UTC 2025), Entry for Edwin Deagon and Katie Andres, 30 August 1891.) and Edwin H. Deagon"The Plays and Players: Notes". The Cincinnati Post. August 8, 1892. p. 2. (who also headed their own theatre company"Amusements". South Bend Tribune. October 20, 1905. p. 4.); her uncle was Broadway actor Arthur Deagan."Gracie Deagon Went on Stage When Six". The Los Angeles Record. November 16, 1925. p. 7.

In 1924, Deagon provided the lyrics to Belle Baker's "Pretending", the first song composed by the already famous singer.Slide, Anthony (1994). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press. p. 19. .Library of Congress (1952). Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. Washington DC: Copyright Office, Library of Congress. p. 157.

During her vaudeville career, Deagon had three straight men. The first, from 1912 to 1922, was her then husband Homer Dickinson; then came Wilbur—a.k.a. Jack—Mack.Herbst, A. (October 14, 1922). "B.F. Keith's Riverside Theatre". New York Star. p. 13. Deagan's third and final partner, from 1926 until at least February 1932, was Charlie Cannefax.B.B. (October 1, 1926). "Vaudeville Personalities". The Vaudeville News and New York Star. p. 18."Two Big Shows in One". The Hazleton Plain Speaker. February 25, 1932. p. 4.

In the summer of 1934, Deagon and fellow vaudevillian Jack Usher co-starred in the radio sitcom Babs and Don, scripted by Deagon and airing on the "Nation's Station", WLW in Cincinnati."Stage Comics Join WLW Staff". Radio News-Guide. July 21, 1934. p. 6."The World’s Most Powerful Broadcasting Station presents JACK USHER and GRACIE DEAGON". Variety. July 17, 1934. p. 37."Morning Programs". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. September 21, 1934. p. 3C.

Personal life Thrice married and thrice divorced, Deagon was the wife of fellow vaudevillian Homer Cissero Dickinson from 1911 to 1918,"DICKINSON AND DEAGON DIVORCED". The New York Clipper. June 12, 1918. p. 7."Divorced Socially Only". Variety. June 28, 1918. p. 5. 1918 to 1921,"Vaudeville Artists Decide to Re-marry". Vancouver Daily World. August 31, 1918. p. 8."Tried It Twice". The Washington Times. December 4, 1921. p. D7. "Dickinson Alimony". Variety. November 10, 1922. p. 4. and 1921 to 1922.Baer, Leone Cass (September 22, 1922). "Stars and Starmakers". The Oregonian. They had one child, a son, Homer J. Dickinson."Comedienne, Formerly of City, May Get Role in Video Production of 'Harvey'". Springfield Daily News. March 15, 1958. p. 6.

Predeceased by her son, Deagon was residing in Costa Mesa, California as of April 1967"Deaths and Funerals: Homer Dickinson". Springfield News-Sun. April 12, 1967. p. 9.

Theatre credits East Lynne The Moonshiner's Daughter Lena Rivers Way Down East Cinderella on Broadway (June 24, 1920 – September 25, 1920) – Performer (as Grace Deagon)Benjamin, Ruth (2006). Who Sang What on Broadway, 1866-1996. Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Company. p. 196. . Hello, Alexander (April 1921) – Kitty"Noted Team Seen Again; McIntyre and Heath at Poli's in 'Hello, Alexander.'". The Washington Herald. April 18, 1921. p. 8. The G Man (February 10, 12, 15 and 17, 1936) – Performer"WPA Players". Variety. February 19, 1936. p. 69. The Old Soak (April 13, 1936) – Nellie, the hired girlSturm, Virginia D. (April 10, 1936). "Children's Theater Bows Out; Major Souders Screens at 'Y'; Shirley Temple at Keith's". Dayton Daily News. p. 40. Dulcy (May 20–21, 1936) – Dulcy Parker Smith"Players Group to Give Comedy Again". The Dayton Herald. May 21, 1936. p. 13. Chalk Dust (November 9–15, 22–28, 1936) – Third TeacherBernfeld, Herman G. (November 10, 1936). "Chalk Dust". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 18."Directs School". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 22, 1936. p. 7."'Chalk Dust' Closes". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 28, 1936. p. 11. Babes in Toyland (December 28, 1936 – January 9, 1937) – JaneYeiser, Frederick (December 13, 1936). "Babes in Toyland". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 13."New Play Rehearsed". The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 5, 1937. p. 8. It Can't Happen Here (January 28 – February 5, 1937) – Switchboard Operator"Federal Theater Prepares Drama". The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 17, 1937. p. 48.Bernfeld, Herbert J. (February 18, 1937). "It Can't Happen Here". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 13. No More Peace (April 23 – May 1, 1937) – The Angel"Saint Preaches to Angel". The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 23, 1937. p. 7. Green Grow the Lilacs (October 4–9, 1937) – Cowboy singerCronin, Jack (October 5, 1937). "Green Grow the Lilacs". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 9.

References

Further reading Deagon, Gracie (September 5, 1919). "Small-Timer's Lament". Variety. p. 33. "Talking About Comedians". Variety. January 7, 1942. p. 175. Lewis, Joe L. (April 12, 1944). "Lefty's Notebook". Variety. p. 6.

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