Harlen Talbert was an actor and stage manager from 1907 to 1941 in "vaudeville," which was a major entertainment from from 1885 to 1933. It consisted of unrelated song, dance, comedy, acting, and film. Talbert spent part of his youth in Albany and attended Madison School. After his vaudeville career, he ran the Day-N-Nite grocery store in Albany. At one time, he was the Progressive Party nominee for the Senate.