This exhibit features the life and career of “Barbette”. Born in 1899 as Vander Clyde Broadway, Barbette was a gay trapeze and tightrope artist from Round Rock, Texas, who performed in drag on world-famous stages like Moulin Rouge in the 1920s and ’30s.

The Williamson Museum is very proud to present the incredible life and career of Vander Clyde Broadway, better known as “Barbette.” This gay trapeze and tightrope artist was raised in Round Rock, Texas. Fascinated with the circus as a little boy, he began his circus career as an aerialist after graduating from Round Rock Institute at the age of 14. He created a solo act for vaudeville and took on the name Barbette. He performed in drag on world-famous stages like the Moulin Rouge in the 1920s and 30s before becoming an aerial director for the premiere circus shows of the 40s , 50s , and 60s . Today, Barbette is an iconic figure within the Drag  community and among historians of vaudeville and the circus , but has been largely forgotten in public memory. We are excited to shine the spotlight back on this local legend with a new exhibit, simply titled “Barbette.”