12/20/2018
Transcript:
EX-WILMINGTON COUPLE WINS FAME IN HAND BALANCING ACT
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William Phillips, Who began learning Profession at 10, tired of Other partners and Taught Wife, Ruth, Difficult Routines.
A former Wilmington couple, who have won fame throughout the theatre circuit for their hand balancing act, are spending Christmas with their parents here before beginning another lon tour on the road.
William Phillips, Senior partner of "Phillips and Evelyn", the hand balancing act, began his unusual profession in Wilmington when a boy of 10. His wife Ruth, a comparative newcomer to the art learned the intricate and difficult routines because her husband "got tired" of working with other partners.
Phillips is the son of mr. and Mrs. Erwin Phillips of 219 W. Twenty-ninth St., while Ruth is the daughter of mr. and Mrs. Ollie McClure of 2813 Tatnall Street.
IN SCHOOL TOGETHER:
Their marriage and professional partnership are the outgrowth of a friendship which started when both were students at the Warner Junior High School, and continued when they attended P. S. duPont High School together.
An Instructor at the YMCA first got William interested in hand balancing and spent hours with him in the gymnasium practicing routines. William, in turn, interested his sister Shirley, in the art and for seven years did adagio work with her in and around Wilmington.
He also formed a three man act at the YMCA with Stanley Karmanski and James McGee and filled local engagements until he entered the service in 1943.
TEAMS WITH WIFE
As a chief specialist in athletics with the Navy, William instructed servicemen at Pennsylvania State College and later in Honolulu. He also did show work in the Navy and became serious about going on the road with his act.
Leaving the Navy in Jan. 1946, he tol Ruth, whom he had married five years previously of his decision. he was tired of working with different partners, he told her, and asked her to team up with him. Ruth consented and a little at a time, william taught her the intricacies of the act. When she had become expert, they spent six months polishing up on routines and then left Wilmington.
HOME ON THE WEST COAST.
Their first jump was a long one --- to Long Beach, California, where they bought a home. Then working for one of the leading agencies in the country, they began their life on travel.
In the past two and a half years they have toured 36 states and parts of Canada playing in the leading nightclubs and theatres.
On Dec. 29, after their first Christmas in Wilmington in four years, "Phillips and Evelyn" will begin a 14 week theatre tour through Ohio. Then they plan an extensive tour throughout the east.
William gives much of the credit for the act's success to Ruth. it is amazing, he points out, for a person to have learned so much in such a short time.
RELATIONSHIP: William Everett Phillips (1920 - 2008)
2nd cousin 1x removed
Harriett Ardela "Hattie" Stapleton (1900 - 1989)
Mother of William Everett Phillips;
William Henry Stapleton (1876 - 1955)
Father of Harriett Ardela "Hattie" Stapleton;
Martin B. Stapleton (1845 - 1909)
Father of William Henry Stapleton;
Joseph Albert Stapleton Sr. (1889 - 1933)
Son of Martin B. Stapleton;
Harry Nicholas "Pop" Stapleton (1913 - 1975)
Son of Joseph Albert Stapleton Sr.;
Carol (1942 - )
Daughter of Harry Nicholas "Pop" Stapleton;
Katherine daughter of Carol
