Submitted by James Pannozzi
photo of James Russo(1880-195?) and his wife Mabel (maiden name unknown), taken around 1912.
James Russo's birth name was Salvatore Russo and he is listed in the 1900 census as living in Providence, Rhode Island, profession is listed as actor. His brother was Leo Russo(1892-1957) a vaudeville pupeteer.
James Russo's parents were Salvatore Russo(1857-1929) and Carmella Corso Russo(1851-1940) of Termini-Imerese, Sicily.
They were both vaudeville dancers calling their act "Russell and O'Neill". James was said to have known Bob Hope in his early days and James was a frequent performer on the tour and also at Fay's theater in Providence, and at the Crescent Park amusement park in East Providence, Rhode Island.
The last information I have is a letter from James to his brother Leo Russo, the pupetteer, in 1948 which was sent from a hotel in Indianpolis. The only information I have on Mabel is that she may have returned to England at the start of World War II. Several of her sisters were also performers.
I have, as yet, been unable to locate the time and place of death of James or his wife but I hope eventually to find an obituary and to learn if he had any more family or if they had any children.
I have a photo of a Jean Russo who was born about 1918 and who may have been related to them. She was said to have gone to Hollywood in the 1940's and we have also lost track of her.
This is another photo of James Russo, taken in the early 1920's and inscribed to his wife Mabel. Both of these pictures were given to me by Aunt, Anna Lamantia(1903-1968) who was the neice of James Russo.
Family Pictures
Providenza Russo's Notebook
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