Renault, Francis, 1893-1955

Francis Renault (1893-1955), born Anthony Auriemma in Naples (Italy), was raised in Providence, Rhode Island. He worked in vaudeville as Francis Renault, building his reputation by impersonating the famous actress Lillian Russell and, like her, wearing expensive gowns. In 1924, after a European tour, he opened his own club in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He would wear his female costumes in the street in towns where he was touring, thereby creating publicity for the show but also being arrested several times. (source: Harvard Theatre Collection Photograph Collection (HTC 2): Guide. Houghton Library, Harvard University.)