ENTERTAINER

[‘the greatest theatrical comic of his age’: Ken Dodd, Liverpool comedian and singer.] Typed Letter Signed with biographical details, and signed publicity postcard with photographic portrait.

Author: 
Ken Dodd [Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd] (1927-2018), Liverpool comedian and singer, ‘the greatest theatrical comic of his age’
Ken Dodd
Publication details: 
Letter dated ‘C/o B.B.C. Manchester. / October 9th 1957.’
£100.00
Ken Dodd

Dodd’s entry in the Oxford DNB by Michael Billington concludes with the assessment that he was ‘the greatest theatrical comic of his age and the last link with the hallowed days of music hall’. The two items are in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: TLS, 9 October 1957. 1p, 4to. Good large signature ‘Ken Dodd’. The male recipient is not named. He apologises for the late reply to the recipient’s letter. ‘May I also thank you for the compliments paid to my performance on Television. / I am a Liverpudlian, residing in Knotty Ash Liverpool.

[George Grossmith, member of Gilbert & Sullivan’s D’Oyly Carte company, and co-author with his brother Weedon Grossmith of ‘The Diary of a Nobody’.] Signed Autograph Inscription with bar of music to words ‘Gee Gee’, to illustrated postcard.

Author: 
George Grossmith (1847-1912), leading member of Gilbert and Sullivan’s D’Oyly Carte company, and co-author with his brother Weedon Grossmith (1854-1919) of ‘The Diary of a Nobody’
Grossmith
Publication details: 
No place or date [1890s?] Postcard 'Printed in England'.
£80.00
Grossmith

See his entry, and that of his brother, in the Oxford DNB. On one side of a 14 x 9 cm printed postcard. No stamp or address, the side that should carry them being blank. The other side carries an illustration of a British soldier in khaki firging a cannon behind a wall, as another soldier stands to attention beside a nearby flagpole, from which a large Union Jack flies, pited in red and blue. At the head of the saide is a snatch of musical notation, to the words ‘Under the British Flag well fight our way to glory’.

[Ivor Novello, popular Welsh composer, actor, playwright and movie star.] Autograph Signature for autograph hunter.

Author: 
Ivor Novello [born David Ivor Davies] (1893-1951), Welsh composer, actor, playwright and movie star, one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the twentieth century
Publication details: 
Without place or date (circa 1943?).
£25.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On 17.5 x 11 cm leaf of pink paper, extracted from an autograph album. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. In a large sprawling hand: ‘All good wishes / Ivor Novello’. On the reverse: ‘The “Cock-lodger” July 1943 / Don. Dobson / (Dobbie)’.

[Will Fyffe, Scottish comedian and music hall entertainer.] Two drafts of Typed Obituary of Fyffe [by theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope].

Author: 
[Will Fyffe (1885-1947), Scottish comedian and music hall entertainer] W. Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian
Publication details: 
No date or place. [1947. London.]
£90.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. MP is not named as the author, but there is no doubt that he is. Item one has corrections in his hand. Both versions are simply titled ‘Will Fyffe’. The two versions exhibit a number of differences from one another. It is not clear where the obituary was published, but it was probably the London magazine ‘Everybody’s’, for which MP contributed a weekly column. ONE: 4pp, 4to, double-spaced, on four leaves.

[Clarkson Rose, pantomime dame.] Typed Letter Signed to theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope, asking for his ‘opinion’ of his autobiography, for publicity purposes.

Author: 
Clarkson Rose [Arthur Clarkson Rose] (1890-1968), popular entertainer, a notable pantomime dame, e.g. ‘Widow Twankey’ in ‘Aladdin’ [W. Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian]
Publication details: 
17 January 1952; The Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon, London SW19, on letterhead of ‘Clarkson Rose Productions Ltd. / Twinkle’.
£56.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and folded for postage. Addressed to ‘My dear Popie’ and signed ‘Yours / Clarke’ [sic]. In the previous year CR had published his autobiography ‘With a Twinkle in my Eye’, and he is now looking for an ‘opinion’ from MP that he can use for publicity purposes.

[Fred Lewis, ‘The Well-known Character Impressionist and Entertainer’.] Autograph Letter Signed to theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope, on striking illustrated letterhead, with copy of his publicity leaflet, with photographic portrait.

Author: 
Fred Lewis, ‘The Well-known Character Impressionist and Entertainer’ [W. Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian]
Publication details: 
Letter: 30 June 1957; 44 Montagu Street, Kettering, Northants. Leaflet without date or place.
£56.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. (See his entry in the Oxford DNB.) Letter: 1p, 4to. On cream paper. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice for postage. The letterhead, headed ‘”The Meaning of Versatility” / Fred Lewis / Creating a good impression.’, has an illustration of a series of footprints up the left margin, some with faces in them, and such slogans as ‘Mirthful Medleys’ and ‘Brilliant Burlesque’. The feet creating these ‘impressions’ are disappearing at the head of the page.

[Finlay Dunn, one of the first of the ‘stand-up comedians’.] Autograph Original Rhymed Poem about himself [sent to theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope], with reproduction of photographic portrait of him affixed.

Author: 
Finlay Dunn (fl. 1917), British entertainer, manager and stage director, one of the first ‘stand-up comedians’ [Walter James Macqueen-Pope, theatre historian]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£100.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers, and evidently received by him. (See his entry in the Oxford DNB.) Of Dunn an online source states: ‘On the 10th of November 1917, the Stage Gossip feature in the Yorkshire Evening Post recounted the career of Finlay Dunn, a stage actor. According to the report, Dunn performed as what he refers to as a stand-up comedian.

[‘The Darling of the Halls’: George Robey [Sir George Edward Wade], comedian, singer and music-hall performer.] Autograph Inscription, with Signature, to an Autograph Portrait Cartoon, as a red-nosed clown. With Autograph Signature of Lily Morris.

Author: 
George Robey [Sir George Edward Wade] (1869-1954), ‘The Darling of the Halls’, comedian, singer and music hall performer [Lily Morris [Lilles Mary Crosby] (1882-1952), music hall artiste]
Robey
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£32.00
Robey

A very nice piece of musichall ephemera: a signed self-caricature by one of its leading lights. See Robey’s entry in the Oxford DNB. On a 7 x 8.75 cm piece of card, cut from a plain printed postcard. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of the four paper label mounts on reverse. On the front, which is entirely plain apart from Robey’s writing, is his Autograph Inscription, in a close hand with stylized signature: ‘Good luck. Geo Robey.’ This is at the foot of the page, beneath a well-executed self-caricature in blue and red ink.

[‘Before your very eyes!’ Arthur Askey, comedian and entertainer.] Signed Autograph inscription: ‘Yours Big-Heartedly. / Arthur Askey.’

Author: 
Arthur Askey [Arthur Bowden Askey] (1900-1982), comedian and entertainer
Askey
Publication details: 
1938. No place.
£45.00
Askey

Dating from what his entry in the Oxford DNB describes as Askey’s ‘prime professional days’: ‘In 1938 Askey joined Powis Pinder's Sunshine concert party at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, where he performed successfully for the next eight years. In 1938 the BBC also engaged him for a new radio show called Band Waggon, in which his partner was Richard Murdoch. The show, first broadcast in January 1938, was an enormous success and its innovative style was perhaps Askey's greatest contribution to the entertainment business.’ On one side of a 12.5 x 8.5 cm piece of light-green card.

['Pam Chelsea', 1920s London entertainer.] Autograph Magazine Article, signed ('(MR) Pam Chelsea'), titled '"On Tour" | A Magic Phrase - & what It means to The Small Theatrical Artiste' (on those working in small revues, concert parties, road shows).

Author: 
'Pam Chelsea', 1920s 'Small Theatrical Artiste' from London [revues, concert parties, road shows, music hall, variety]
Publication details: 
No date, but 1920s. Author: '(MR) Pam Chelsea | 9 Redburn Street | Chelsea SW3' [London].
£180.00

No information regarding 'Pam Chelsea' (female impersonator?) has been discovered, but the appearance of the document, and its presence in a batch of material relating to 1920s entertainment and broadcasting, date it to that period. 5pp, folio. 'No. of words. 1,063.' Written in a bold hand. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. The article was clearly accepted for publication, as '£1 11. 6 paid' is written at the top of the first page, and '5 line drop cap' at the start of the article.

[ 'Brock', 'equilibrist', juggler and sword swallower ('Juggling Swords . Balancing & Spinning Knives . Illuminated Clubs).. ] Four publicity photographs, two inscribed to Mr and Mrs James, with Typed Letter Signed to them, and publicity pamphlet.

Author: 
'Brock', Derbyshire 'equilibrist', juggler and sword swallower
Publication details: 
Letter on his letterhead, Shaws Yard, Kilburn, Derbyshire. 9 March 1969.
£90.00

The six items in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The four photographs are all in black and white, and all around 12.5 x 9 cm. They show Brock swallowing and spinning swords, and balancing a microphone stand on his chin. The letter is dated 9 March 1969, and on his red and black letterhead ('New! Novel! Sensational! | Juggling Swords Balancing & Spinning Knives Illuminated Clubs'). It concerns the purchase of 'some old pro Photoes [sic] in JIMMY LYNTONS fit up article'. The pamphlet is a thin 12mo bifolium, with a drawing of Brock doing his act.

[ Maurice Chevalier, French entertainer. ] Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Maurice Chevalier [ Maurice Auguste Chevalier ] (1888-1972), French actor, singer and entertainer
Publication details: 
Place and date not given.
£20.00

On 5 x 12.5 cm slip of good-quality laid paper. In good condition, lightly aged. In blue ink, and simply consisting of the christian name above the underlined surname: 'Maurice Chevalier'.

[ 'Brock', 'equilibrist', juggler and sword swallower ('Juggling Swords . Balancing & Spinning Knives . Illuminated Clubs).. ] Publicity material (five photographs and two pamphlets), with three Typed Letters Signed to Barry Duncan and others.

Author: 
'Brock', Derbyshire 'equilibrist', juggler and sword swallower
Publication details: 
Brock's letters on his letterhead, Shaws Yard, Kilburn, Derbyshire. All from 1969. The pamphlets by Hawkins, Printers, Kilburn, Derby.
£150.00

The collection is in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Two of Brock's three Typed Letters Signed are addressed to theatre bookseller Barry Duncan. In one of them, written on 18 March 1969, he writes: 'I have been knocking around for 60 years i think i have played every theatre of note and played with some of the best | but i am getting tired with this club stuff you play a diffrent club every night some time you double them in a night un [sic] packing and packing up. | so i am waiting for GALAS one show a day will do me'. The third letter is to 'Jimmy', i.e.

[ Harry Lauder and Jimmy Logan ] Autograph Signatures of both, on recto and verso, of detached album leaf, one with caricature of himself (Lauder), the other an inscription referring to Logan's "Lauder..

Author: 
Harry Lauder( 1870–1950), Scottish music hall and vaudeville theatre singer and comedian AND Jimmy Logan, Scottish performer, producer, impresario and director.
Publication details: 
Lauder undated; Logan, Stonehaven 1987.
£120.00

Page detached from an autograph album, 17.5 x 11cm, good condition. On the recto the autograph signature of Harry Lauder with the trademark sketch of himself with bonnet and pipe. On the verso, the following by Logan "To | Archie | Many Happy memories | of Lauder and | Jimmy Logan [his signature] | Stonehaven | 1987." Note: [Logan] "His one-man musical based on the life of Scottish entertainer Sir Harry Lauder, was called Lauder (1976).[5] Logan collected Lauder memorabilia, which is now housed in the Scottish Theatre Archive at the University of Glasgow.".

[Jack Buchanan, Scottish actor and theatre manager.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jack Buchanan'), thanking an unnamed recipient for his 'expression of appreciation', and noting the 'wonderful reception' of his musical 'Sunny' in Manchester.

Author: 
Jack Buchanan [Walter John Buchanan] (1891-1957), Scottish stage and screen actor and theatre manager
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Midland Hotel, Manchester. 27 September 1926.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for his 'letter and expression of appreciation - judging by the wonderful reception of "Sunny" in Manchester I am hopeful of its success in London.' He is enclosing 'the two photos asked for' (not present).

Syndicate content