Leo G. Morrell

Leo Gregory Morrell was the son of Greek immigrants who fled Macedonia as children after witnessing the beheading of their parents at the hands of Ottoman Turks. They lived on the poor side of Pottsville where the immigrants lived. His parents spoke Greek and Turkish. Leo was their interpreter. As a boy Leo endeavored to learn languages from other immigrants in the neighbor hood including German, French and Castilian Spanish. His first stage appearance with May West at the age of six caused quite a stir. May and her sister were staying at the boarding house next door. The hotel in town did not cater to vaudevillians. Leo went to the Hippodrome with May and didn't tell his father, who had chores he wanted done. He found Leo on stage with May West and was furious, speaking in Greek and dragged Leo off the stage. With out missing a beat, May said, "Oh those Greeks, they're so passionate. Everybody laughed. It was 1927.