Mr. Moser’s Neighborhood: The Intersection of Cleveland and Vaudeville

More than a pub. More than a photo wall. A hidden chapter of Cleveland’s showbiz past.

Otto Moser’s saloon on East 4th Street wasn’t just a watering hole—it was the unofficial clubhouse for an astonishing number of traveling vaudevillians: actors, singers, dancers, magicians, athletes, and comedians who lit up Cleveland’s downtown theaters during vaudeville’s heyday (1885–1930).

At one time, over 60 theaters operated in or near downtown Cleveland. And during their stays, more than 650 performers left behind a signed (sometimes dated) photo, turning Otto’s into a living museum of America’s entertainment golden age.

Now, for the first time, those images—and the stories behind them—are brought together in Mr. Moser’s Neighborhood: The Intersection of Cleveland and Vaudeville.

Inside the book: 

• 125+ rare performer portraits, many unseen for decades

• Light, non-fiction storytelling that brings vaudeville’s characters to life

• A photographic walk through Cleveland’s rich theater scene

• Integrated QR codes linking to period audio and video 

Testimonials:

“Who were all these people? Anyone who patronized Otto Moser’s bar on East 4th Street surely would have noticed the hundreds of celebrity photos prominently on exhibit. Most of those visitors, however, wouldn’t realize that they’d entered an 'Archive of the History of Vaudeville in Cleveland'—a story that, until now, has remained largely untold. Chris Roy’s new book, Mr. Moser’s Neighborhood: The Intersection of Cleveland and Vaudeville, has used those photos to structure a detailed history of what was once the primary source of popular entertainment in Cleveland. Bottom line: the many faces of Otto Moser’s have been brought back to life—and that’s quite an act!” — John J. Grabowski, Ph.D.: Editor, Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, and Chief Historian, Western Reserve Historical Society

"Otto Moser’s tavern on East 4th Street was the hub of Cleveland’s live-theater district in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. And standing in testimony, more than 600 photos of the era’s greatest entertainers lined the pub’s walls and stuffed its display cases. Christopher Roy’s book, Mr. Moser’s Neighborhood: The Intersection of Cleveland and Vaudeville, paints a vibrant picture of that period, with portraits of visiting celebrities, a history of vaudeville, and profiles of the city’s theaters, hotels, eateries, and social/cultural life.” — Greg Deegan: Author, Historian, and Executive Director of Teaching Cleveland