The mere hint that she was coming to town, in her elegant decollete gowns, was enough to set men and boys dreaming of flashing eyes, swaying hips, and hot jazz belted out by the top quality talent found in the 'Ruby Darby Show".One of her favorite touring stops was in Drumright (Creek County) and part of the Cushing Oil Field boom. Workers from all over were drawn to her shows and she filled up whatever venue she used. In Spring of 1918 she made her last appearance there prior to "going to War" by entertaining the troops in France. She was described as a " beautiful actress who runs a very popular musical comedy" who, "when she comes out on the stage in one of her decollete evening gowns and starts to sing "Sweet Daddy"[see note below]...well, the writer enthused, "those boys, back from hell in the trenches, will wild, simply wild..." (Drumright Evening Derrick, May 10, 1918, pg. 1). A later addition suggested releasing her on the Huns as she was "135 pounds of pep." (DED, May 18m 1918,pg.2).
Labeled 'free as an Oklahoma breeze' she was also a a confident and talented woman of Show Biz, who found a niche and maximized her own legend to good effect. She traveled, after her early career days in Dallas and Memphis, through Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Missouri with her own troupe in the Ruby Darby Show. As the oil field work boomed, theaters, and entertainments were much sought after by the mostly young men working the fields. The bold, energetic music of Jazz and the blues, the teasing semi stripping saucy element to her show and her dancers would have attracted attention. What took her shows over the top was her own canny sense of marketing and self-promotion coupled with real stage presence and talent.
Tales of dancing naked atop oil field sheds, zooming into town in a fine auto in nothing but a long, slinky fur coat, dancing on tabletops, and riding "nekked" into Kiefer (one of Oklahoma's wildest oil towns) could be contrasted with publicity photos of an elegant, dramatic and confident performer. She was a WW1 and Jazz Era version of "Madonna" or "Lady Gaga".
Her signature song was the W.C Handy 'Southern Rag" classic "Memphis
Blues" published in 1912. She had the looks, the talent, and the
confidence to rise from her hometown of Alva, Oklahoma to the Candy Land
in Dallas Texas (at 15) and be recognized as a potential star.
Ruby Darby (1895-1936) was a bright burning star that exploded across the Oklahoma skies before it flickered our, far too soon. She left behind many fond memories and, for some, a sigh of relief that "finally' sons and husbands were safe from her siren call.
Ruby Darby (1895-1936) was a bright burning star that exploded across the Oklahoma skies before it flickered our, far too soon. She left behind many fond memories and, for some, a sigh of relief that "finally' sons and husbands were safe from her siren call.
To learn more about this fascinating Oklahoma woman, her career and influence:
Glenda Carlisle, Ruby Darby Oklahoma
Magazine of the Oklahoma Heritage Association, April 2011 pg. https://issuu.com/okheritage/docs/april_2011Ruby in the Rough (Tulsa World, 2007) https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/ruby-in-the-rough/article_ace0f2b7-0ca4-5962-96f7-a49c341096ff.html
Alleged Ruby Darby number (dance number https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghWCS10WvM8
in blackface).
"Sweet Daddy" - may be a ribald song lost in time but its more likely it was a popular and sentimental song of the later teen years called "Goodbye, Sweet Daddy Papa." Given the times the patriotism and the sentimentality of the number would have made it a show stopper.tated Music The Library of Congress has this song Goodbye, sweet daddy papa By Edmond W. Gray. (Statement Of Responsibility). For voice and piano. Staff notation. (Language). ).
Contributor: Delmar Music Co. - Gray, Edmond W. Date: 1918
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