Vaudeville Veteran

Will hit the vaudeville stages in the mid- 1900s; at first, it was a silent act with rope tricks. When he missed a trick, Will's occasional comments would cause audiences to laugh and he was encouraged to begin speaking during his act.

Will's act typically consisted of his and a partner; his partner would ride Will's horse Teddy onstage and Will would rope both rider and horse. Jim Minnick and Buck McKee both took part in Will's act.

Will perfected his act for years on a series of vaudeville circuits, in theaters across the globe.

He performed alongside other famous vaudevillians like Eddie Cantor, Blanche Ring, and Ernest Hogan.

The skills he learned on the vaudeville stage prepared him for the Ziegfeld Frolic and Follies.