Dewey Barto (June 10, 1896 â€" January 31, 1973) was best known as
half of the comedic and acrobatic dance act, Barto and Mann. He was
the father of actress Nancy Walker, known earlier in life as "Nan
Barto".Dewey Barto was baptized on March 28, 1897, with the name
Steward Stephen Swoyer, according to Pennsylvania's Church and Town
Records, 1708-1985, in Reading, Pennsylvania, one of the eight
children born to Elizabeth and Charles "Roxie" Swoyer, an acrobat, who
owned a horse and wagon circus. Barto later adjusted his name to
Stewart Steven Swoyer, as per his WWII draft records.Dewey came from a
family of performers. His sisters Estelle and Ida were trapeze artists
and contortionists, first as the Miaco Sisters and later as the Delno
Sisters. His brother Charles played drums with several well-known
bands. By the age of 16, Dewey was the youngest trader on the Curb
Market on Wall Street. He gained popularity as a dancer in Liberty
bond drives, and when his company collapsed during a financial
depression, Dewey joined The Three Bartos acrobatic team. He initially
used the name Dewey Swoyer, but later changed his name to Dewey Barto,
a name he used for the rest of his life.On July 4, 1919, in Manhattan,
Barto married Philadelphia-born vaudeville performer and dancer Myrtle
Flemming Lawler (born 1898 â€" died 1931), half of the Grazer and
Lawler song and dance act. Their elder daughter, Anna Myrtle Swoyer,
was born in Philadelphia on May 10, 1922. She later changed her name
to Nancy Walker, becoming an actress and comedian of stage, screen,
and television. She died in 1992, aged 69. Her younger sister, Betty
Lou Swoyer, was born in 1930, almost five months before the sudden
death of their mother. Betty Lou had a relatively brief performing
career. It is unclear if Betty Lou Barto is still alive. Some sources
cite her death in 2012, but that has not been confirmed. Not long
after his younger daughter's birth, Dewey Barto was performing in an
acrobatic act billed as Barto and Melvin. He began dancing solo in
1924 as "The Hectic Hoofer" and continued performing as a single with
Fanchon and Marco enterprises in 1925.
half of the comedic and acrobatic dance act, Barto and Mann. He was
the father of actress Nancy Walker, known earlier in life as "Nan
Barto".Dewey Barto was baptized on March 28, 1897, with the name
Steward Stephen Swoyer, according to Pennsylvania's Church and Town
Records, 1708-1985, in Reading, Pennsylvania, one of the eight
children born to Elizabeth and Charles "Roxie" Swoyer, an acrobat, who
owned a horse and wagon circus. Barto later adjusted his name to
Stewart Steven Swoyer, as per his WWII draft records.Dewey came from a
family of performers. His sisters Estelle and Ida were trapeze artists
and contortionists, first as the Miaco Sisters and later as the Delno
Sisters. His brother Charles played drums with several well-known
bands. By the age of 16, Dewey was the youngest trader on the Curb
Market on Wall Street. He gained popularity as a dancer in Liberty
bond drives, and when his company collapsed during a financial
depression, Dewey joined The Three Bartos acrobatic team. He initially
used the name Dewey Swoyer, but later changed his name to Dewey Barto,
a name he used for the rest of his life.On July 4, 1919, in Manhattan,
Barto married Philadelphia-born vaudeville performer and dancer Myrtle
Flemming Lawler (born 1898 â€" died 1931), half of the Grazer and
Lawler song and dance act. Their elder daughter, Anna Myrtle Swoyer,
was born in Philadelphia on May 10, 1922. She later changed her name
to Nancy Walker, becoming an actress and comedian of stage, screen,
and television. She died in 1992, aged 69. Her younger sister, Betty
Lou Swoyer, was born in 1930, almost five months before the sudden
death of their mother. Betty Lou had a relatively brief performing
career. It is unclear if Betty Lou Barto is still alive. Some sources
cite her death in 2012, but that has not been confirmed. Not long
after his younger daughter's birth, Dewey Barto was performing in an
acrobatic act billed as Barto and Melvin. He began dancing solo in
1924 as "The Hectic Hoofer" and continued performing as a single with
Fanchon and Marco enterprises in 1925.
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