James Barton

James Barton was an American entertainer in vaudeville, theater, film, and television. Born into a theatrical family in Gloucester City, New Jersey, he performed in minstrel shows and burlesque houses from 1898 and became one of America's first jazz dancers through work with African American performers. After years with repertory companies in the southern and midwestern United States, he made his Broadway debut in The Passing Show of 1919, taking a part originally meant for Ed Wynn. A critic for the New York Daily News noted that his eccentric dances could rescue otherwise weak material. His Broadway credits included The Iceman Cometh and Paint Your Wagon, and he headlined the Palace Theater eight times from 1928 to 1932. He entered silent films in 1923 and made several Paramount short subjects in 1929. Later television appearances included Studio One, Playhouse 90, and The Rifleman. Bing Crosby named him among his ten favorite performers, and Sammy Cahn called him the greatest entertainer.