List of British music hall performers explained

This list of British music hall performers includes a related list of British Variety entertainers.

Music Hall and Variety

Music Hall, Britain's first form of commercial mass entertainment, emerged, broadly speaking, in the mid-19th century, and ended (arguably) after the First World War, when the halls rebranded their entertainment as Variety.^[1] Perceptions of a distinction in Britain between bold and scandalous Victorian Music Hall and subsequent, more respectable Variety may differ (in the US, Burlesque and Vaudeville have analogous connotations).^[2]

British Music Hall entertainers

• Annie Adams (1843–1905)^[3]
• Fred Albert (1844–1886)^[4]
• Charles Austin (1878–1944)^[5]
• Wilkie Bard (1874–1944)^[6]
• Fred Barnes (1885–1938)^[7]
• Ida Barr (1882–1967)^[8]
• T. W. Barrett (1851–1935)^[9]
• George Beauchamp (1862–1900)^[10]
• Harry Bedford (1873-1939)^[11]
• Bessie Bellwood (1856–1896)^[12]
• Ada Blanche (1862–1953)^[13]
• Bessie Bonehill (1855–1902)^[14]
• Herbert Campbell (1844–1904)^[15]
• Kate Carney (1869–1950)^[16]
• Mrs Caulfield (1817–1870)^[6]
• Harry Champion (1865–1942)^[17]
• Charles Chaplin Sr. (1863–1901)^[18]
• Hannah Chaplin (1865–1928)^[18]
• Albert Chevalier (1861–1923)^[19]
• G. H. Chirgwin (1854–1922)^[20]
• Tom Clare (1876–1946)^[21]
• Harry Clifton (1832–1872)^[22]
• Charles Coborn (1852–1945)^[23]
• Lottie Collins (1865–1910)^[24]
• Sam Collins (1825–1865)^[25]
• Kitty Colyer (1881–1972)^[26]
• Margaret Cooper (1877–1922)^[27]
• Sam Cowell (1820–1864)^[28]
• Whit Cunliffe (1875–1966)^[29]
• Marie Dainton (1881–1938; half-Russian)^[30]
• Daisy Dormer (1883–1947)^[31]
• Leo Dryden (1863–1939)^[32]
• T. E. Dunville (1867–1924)^[33]
• Gus Elen (1862–1940)^[34]
• G. H. Elliott (1882–1962)^[35]
• Kate Everleigh (1864–1926)^[36]
• James Fawn (1850–1923)^[37]
• George Formby Sr (1875–1921)^[38]
• Tom Foy (1879–1917)^[39]
• Harry Fragson (1869–1913)^[40]
• Will Fyffe (1885–1947)^[41]
• Barclay Gammon (1866–1915)^[42]
• Gertie Gitana (1887–1957)^[43]
• Robert Glindon (c. 1799–1866)^[6]
• Charles Godfrey (1854–1900)^[6]
• Ernest Hastings (1879–1940)^[44]
• Dick Henderson (1891–1958)^[45]
• May Henderson (1884–1937)^[46]
• Jenny Hill (1848–1896)^[47]
• Thomas Hudson (1791–1844)^[6]
• Alec Hurley (1871–1913)^[48]
• Jack Judge (1872–1938)^[49]
• Marie Kendall (1873–1964)^[50]
• Hetty King (1883–1972)^[51]
• John Labern (c. 1815–1881)^[6]
• Walter Laburnum (1847–1902)^[52]
• George Lashwood (1863–1942)^[53]
• Harry Lauder (1870–1950)^[54]
• John Lawson (1865–1920)^[55]
• Dan Leno (1860–1904)^[56]
• Fannie Leslie (1856–1935)^[57]
• George Leybourne (1842–1884)^[58]
• George Leyton (1864–1948)^[59]
• Letty Lind (1861–1923)^[53]
• Millie Lindon (1869–1940)^[60]
• Victor Liston (1838–1913)^[61]
• Alice Lloyd (1873–1949)^[62]
• Arthur Lloyd (1839–1904)^[63]
• Marie Lloyd (1870–1922)^[64]
• Tommy Lorne (1890–1935)^[65]
• G. H. MacDermott (1845–1901)^[6]
• E. W. Mackney (1825–1909)^[66]
• Clarice Mayne (1886–1966)^[67]
• Ernie Mayne (1871–1937)^[68]
• Jack Mayne (1887–1963) Comedian (name George Albert Caley)
• Sam Mayo (1881–1938)^[6]
• Billy Merson (1879–1947)^[69]
• Victoria Monks (1884–1927)^[70]
• Lily Morris (1882–1952)^[71]
• Jolly John Nash (1828–1901)^[72]
• Harry Nicholls (1852–1926)^[73]
• Talbot O'Farrell (1878–1952)^[74]
• Joe O'Gorman (1863–1937)^[75]
• Denise Orme (1885–1960)^[76]
• Charles Penrose (1873–1952)^[77]
• Mrs F. R. Phillips (c. 1829–1899)^[6]
• Jack Pleasants (1875–1924)^[78]
• Nelly Power (1854–1887)^[79]
• Arthur Prince (1881–1946)^[6]
• Harry Randall (1857–1932)^[80]
• Ada Reeve (1874–1966)^[81]
• Ella Retford (1885–1962)^[82]
• J. W. Rickaby (1870–1929)^[83]
• Arthur Roberts (1852–1933)^[84]
• George Robey (1869–1954)^[85]
• Frederick Robson (1821–1864)^[6]
• Austin Rudd (1868–1929)^[86]
• Maidie Scott (1881–1966)^[87]
• Malcolm Scott (1872–1929)^[88]
• Jack Selbini (1854 - 1932)^[89]
• Mark Sheridan (1864–1918)^[90]
• Ella Shields (1879–1952)^[91]
• J. H. Stead (c. 1827–1866)^[92]
• Eugene Stratton (1861–1918)^[93]
• Marie Studholme (1872–1930)^[94]
• Randolph Sutton (1888–1969)^[95]
• Harry Sydney (c. 1825–1870)^[6]
• Harry Tate (1872–1940)^[96]
• Little Tich (1867–1928)^[97]
• Vesta Tilley (1864–1952)^[98]
• Sam Torr (1849–1923)^[99]
• Alfred Vance (1839–1888)^[100]
• Harriet Vernon (1852–1923)^[101]
• Vesta Victoria (1873–1951)^[102]
• Harry Weldon (1881–1930)^[103]
• Bessie Wentworth (1873–1901)^[104]
• Mabel Whittaker (1888–1963) (Dancer) The Rainbow Girl
• Charles Whittle (1874–1947)^[105]
• Daisy Wood (1877–1961)^[106]
• Wee Georgie Wood (1894–1979)^[107]
• Tom Woottwell (1864–1941)^[108]

British Music Hall entertainers: gallery

British Variety entertainers

• Arthur Askey (1900–1982)^[109]
• Billy Bennett (1887–1942)^[110]
• Issy Bonn (1903–1977)^[111]
• Max Bygraves (1922–2012)^[112]
• Charlie Chester (1914–1997)^[113]
• Ken Dodd (1927–2018)^[114]
• Clive Dunn (1920–2012)^[115]
• Sid Field (1904–1950)^[116]
• Gracie Fields (1898–1979)^[117]
• Flanagan and Allen (respectively: 1896–1968; 1894–1982)^[118]
• Flanders and Swann (respectively: 1922–1975; 1923–1994)^[119]
• George Formby (1904–1961)^[120]
• Bruce Forsyth (1928–2017)^[121]
• Dickie Henderson (1922–1985)^[122]
• Joan Hinde (1933–2015)^[123]
• Hinge and Bracket: George Logan (1944–2023) and Patrick Fyffe (1942–2002)^[124]
• Stanley Holloway (1890–1982)^[125]
• Roy Hudd (1936–2020)^[126]
• Jack Hylton (1892–1965)^[127]
• Jewel and Warriss (respectively: 1909–1995; 1909–1993)^{[128] [129]}
• Davy Kaye (1916–1998)^[130]
• Danny La Rue (1927–2009)^[131]
• Kenneth McKellar (1927–2010)^[132]
• Max Miller (1894–1963)^[133]
• Ivor Novello (1893–1951)^[134]
• Joe O'Gorman (1890–1974)^[135]
• Tessie O'Shea (1913–1995)^[136]
• Bob and Alf Pearson (respectively: 1907–1985; 1910–2012)^{[137] [138]}
• Frank Randle (1901–1957)^[139]
• Ted Ray (1905–1977)^[140]
• Leslie Sarony (1897–1985)^[141]
• Andy Stewart (1933–1993)^[142]
• Tommy Trinder (1909–1989)^[143]
• Max Wall (1908–1990)^[144]
• Jimmy Wheeler (1910–1973)^[145]
• Robb Wilton (1881–1957)^[146]

British Variety entertainers: gallery

See also

• Music hall
• Music of the United Kingdom
• Theatre of the United Kingdom

Notes and References

1. Variety Acts and Turns of the Early 1930s . 2014 . . 11 January 2018.
2. Book: Women in the Arts in the Belle Epoque: Essays on Influential Artists, Writers and Performers . Carol A. Morley . Paul Fryer . The Most Artistic Lady Artist on Earth: Vesta Victoria . 2011 . . Jefferson, North Carolina, USA . 9780786460755. 206 . https://books.google.com/books?id=TMVEDUQ3-JMC&pg=PA206.
3. Richard Anthony Baker, British Music Hall: an illustrated history, Pen & Sword, 2014,, pp.86–87
4. Web site: Fred Albert (1844–1886), Music hall singer and songwriter . 2018 . . 16 July 2018.
5. Book: Kindly Leave the Stage – a History of Variety, 1919–1960 . Roger Wilmut . 0-413-48960-4. 1985. 41–42 .
6. Book: British Music Hall: An Illustrated History . Richard Anthony Baker . 2014 . . Barnsley . 978-1783831180 . 279–92 .
7. Web site: Fred Barnes, Birmingham born music hall star, dies . 2008 . Gay Birmingham Remembered . 2 April 2018.
8. Book: Baker, Richard Anthony . 2014 . British Music Hall: An Illustrated History . . 255 . 978-1783831180.
9. Book: Busby, Roy . 1976 . British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day . London . Paul Elek . 22. 0 236 40053 3.
10. Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson, British Music Hall: A story in pictures, Studio Vista, 1965, p.101
11. Web site: Caricature . 2018 . . 16 July 2018.
12. Web site: Bessie Bellwood (1856–1896), Victorian music hall entertainer . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
13. Web site: Advertisement for 'Dick Whittington' at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane reverse . 2009 . . 16 July 2018.
14. Web site: Bessie Bonehill . 2018 . Into the Limelight . 2 April 2018.
15. Web site: Herbert Campbell . 2010 . . 2 April 2018.
16. Web site: Kate Carney visits Canvey . 2009 . Canvey Island website . 2 April 2018.
17. Web site: Harry Champion – Music Hall Star . 2018 . Tottenham-Summerhill Road website . 2 April 2018.
18. Web site: Great dynasties of the world: The Chaplins . 2011 . . 2 April 2018.
19. Encyclopedia: Albert Chevalier: British actor . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
20. Web site: G. H. Chirgwin . 2018 . Footlight Notes . 2 April 2018.
21. Web site: Tom Clare . 2010 . . 2 April 2018.
22. Web site: Music Hall Man of Broxbourne . 2018 . Broxbourne website . 2 April 2018.
23. Web site: Charles Coborn . 2018 . rfwilmut.clara.net . 2 April 2018.
24. Web site: Lottie Collins . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
25. Web site: Collins' Music Hall, 10/11 Islington Green, London . 2018 . Arthur Lloyd website . 2 April 2018.
26. News: Kitty Colyer . The Times . 15 March 1972.
27. http://kilburnandwillesdenhistory.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-lady-in-long-silk-gloves.html Dick Weindling, "The Lady in the Long Silk Gloves", Kilburn and Willesden History, 25 September 2014
28. Web site: The Story of Music Hall . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
29. Web site: Whit Cunliffe (1876–1966) . 2018 . Fred Godfrey website . 2 April 2018.
30. Web site: Marie Dainton (1881–1938), Actress and singer . 2018 . . 26 April 2018.
31. Web site: Daisy Dormer (1883–1947) . 2018 . Fred Godfrey website . 2 April 2018.
32. Web site: Leo Dryden: The Kipling of the Halls, Correspondent in Chaplin Break-Up . 2017 . Travalanche . 26 April 2018.
33. Web site: Music-Hall Star Mr T. E. Dunville . 2018 . dumville.org . 2 April 2009.
34. Web site: Gus Elen . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
35. Web site: Music Hall Issue 7 . 2011 . Music Hall Studies . 2 April 2018.
36. Web site: Kate Everleigh . 2015 . Pure History website . 2 April 2018.
37. Web site: Jack the Ripper Tour . 2018 . Jack the Ripper Tour website . 16 July 2018.
38. Web site: George Formby, Senior . 2018 . rfwilmut.clara.net . 2 April 2018.
39. Web site: Tom Foy, Manchester-born music hall comedian . . . . 2018 . . 16 July 2018.
40. Web site: Dernière Chanson: Harry Fragson Et La Belle Époque . 2014 . A Sketch of the Past . 2 April 2018.
41. Web site: Will Fyffe: Biography . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
42. 2010. Potted Biographies: Barclay Gammon. Music Hall Studies . 5 . Supplement .
43. News: Gertie Gitana . 2014 . . 2 April 2018.
44. https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Hastings,_Ernest Ernest Hastings, Petrucci Music Library
45. Web site: Music Hall Issue 12 . 2014 . Music Hall Studies . 2 April 2018.
46. 2010. Potted Biographies: May Henderson. Music Hall Studies . 5 . Supplement .
47. Web site: The Vital Spark & the Harsh Master . 2017 . Bradford Unconsidered Trifles . 2 April 2018.
48. Web site: Alec Hurley – Mr Marie Lloyd . 2011 . East London History website . 2 April 2018.
49. Web site: Jack Judge: His Life and Music . 2008 . . 26 April 2018.
50. Web site: Marie Kendall . 2010 . . 2 April 2018.
51. Web site: Heritage: Music Hall singing star Hetty King lived in Wimbledon . 2012 . . 2 April 2018.
52. https://spitalfieldslife.com/2019/06/10/music-hall-artistes-in-abney-park-cemetery/ "Music Hall Artistes In Abney Park Cemetery", Spitalfields Life, 10 June 2019
53. Web site: Revealed: The 8 Midlands music hall stars who were bigger than Ozzy Osbourne . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
54. Encyclopedia: Sir Harry Lauder: Scottish entertainer . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
55. Book: MacQueen-Pope, W. J. . 1950 . The Melodies Linger On: The Story of Music Hall . London . W. H. Allen . 354.
56. Web site: Dan Leno . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
57. Web site: Fannie Leslie, 'The Little Pirate of the Nore' . 2013 . Footlight Notes website . 16 July 2018.
58. Web site: George Leybourne . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
59. Web site: Caricature . 2016 . . 2 May 2018.
60. Web site: Music hall of fame – Millie Lindon . 2005 . . 2 April 2018.
61. Book: Busby, Roy . 1976 . British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day . London . Paul Elek . 108. 0 236 40053 3.
62. Web site: Alice Lloyd (née Wood) (1873–1949), Music hall entertainer; sister of Marie Lloyd . 2018 . . 16 July 2018.
63. Web site: A Biography of Arthur Lloyd 1839–1904 . 2018 . Arthur Lloyd website . 2 April 2018.
64. Web site: Marie Lloyd . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
65. Book: Busby, Roy . 1976 . British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day . London . Paul Elek . 115. 0 236 40053 3.
66. A. P. Sharpe, "Banjo Pioneer", Banjo Mandolin Guitar, February 1965, pp.164–165
67. Web site: Clarice Mayne (1886–1966), Actress and singer . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
68. Web site: Caricatures . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
69. Web site: Caricatures . 2016 . Malt Cross website . 2 April 2018.
70. Web site: Victoria Monks (1883–1927), Actress and singer . 2018 . . 26 April 2018.
71. Web site: Lily Morris . 2014 . Footlight Notes . 2 April 2018.
72. Peter Gammond, The Oxford Companion to Popular Music, Oxford University Press, 1991, p.279
73. Web site: Harry Nicholls . 2010 . . 2 April 2018.
74. Web site: From The Archives – Talbot O'Farrell . 2012 . British Music Hall Society website . 2 April 2018.
75. http://www.themusichallguild.com/artist.php?id=293 "Joe O'Gorman", Music Hall Guild
76. Web site: Beautiful stage actress Denise orme . 2016 . Cabinet card gallery . 2 April 2018.
77. News: Memorial to Leicestershire Police's 'laughing policeman' . 2017 . . 2 April 2018.
78. Web site: Jack Pleasants . 2018 . Monologues website . 2 April 2018.
79. Web site: Nelly Power (1855–1887), Actor and singer . 2018 . . 26 April 2018.
80. Web site: Harry Randall (1860–1932), Music hall entertainer . 2018 . . 16 July 2018.
81. Web site: That special something . 2018 . Into the Limelight . 2 April 2018.
82. Web site: Ella Retford (1886–1962) . 2018 . Fred Godfrey website . 2 April 2018.
83. Book: Busby, Roy . 1976 . British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day . London . Paul Elek . 147. 0 236 40053 3.
84. Web site: Arthur Roberts (1852–1933), Comedy actor . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
85. Encyclopedia: Sir George Robey: British entertainer . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
86. Web site: Austin Rudd, Popular Singer and Comedian . 2018 . . 16 July 2018.
87. Web site: Madie Scott . 2013 . Footlights Notes . 2 April 2018.
88. Web site: Malcolm Scott (1872–1929), Music hall entertainer and female impersonator . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
89. Book: Busby, Roy . 1976 . British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day . London . Paul Elek . 159-160. 0 236 40053 3.
90. Web site: Mark Sheridan (1867–1918) . 2018 . Fred Godfrey website . 3 April 2018.
91. Web site: Ella Shields (1879–1952), Music hall entertainer . 2018 . . 2 April 2018.
92. Web site: J. H. Stead: 'The Perfect Cure' . 2018 . Studied Monuments . 2 April 2018.
93. Web site: A Closer Look at Eugene Stratton (1861–1918) . 2009 . . 2 April 2018.
94. Web site: Marie Studholme (Marion Lupton) (1875–1930), Actress . 2018 . . 16 July 2018.
95. Web site: Randolph Sutton (1888–1969) . 2018 . Fred Godfrey website . 2 April 2018.
96. Web site: About Harry Tate . 2018 . Arthur Lloyd website . 2 April 2018.
97. Web site: Little Tich (Harry Relph) . 2018 . Who's Who in Victorian Cinema . 2 April 2018.
98. Web site: Vesta Tilley . 2016 . . 2 April 2018.
99. Web site: The Hippodrome, Wharf Street and Gladstone Street, Leicester . 2018 . Arthur Lloyd website . 26 April 2018.
100. Web site: Why You Should Care About the Great Alfred Vance . 2014 . . 2 April 2018.
101. Web site: Harriett Vernon . 2014 . Footlights Notes . 2 April 2018.
102. Web site: Vesta Victoria (1873–1951) . 2018 . Fred Godfrey website . 2 April 2018.
103. Web site: Harry Weldon, music hall comedian . 2012 . West Hampstead Life . 2 April 2018.
104. Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson, British Music Hall: A story in pictures, Studio Vista, 1965, p.91
105. Web site: Charles R. Whittle (1874–1947) . 2018 . Fred Godfrey website . 2 April 2018.
106. Web site: Daisy Wood (1877–1961), Music hall entertainer; sister of Marie Lloyd . 2018 . . 26 April 2018.
107. Web site: Georgie Wood's wee way to success . 2008 . . 2 April 2018.
108. Michael Kilgarriff, Grace, Beauty and Banjos: Peculiar Lives and Strange Times of Music Hall and Variety Artistes, Oberon Books, 1998,, p.277
109. Web site: Born on this day: Liverpool comedian Arthur Askey . 2015 . . 2 April 2018.
110. Web site: Almost a Gentleman – Songs and Recitations . 1997 . mustrad.org.uk . 2 April 2018.
111. Web site: Almost a Gentleman – Songs and Recitations . 2018 . AllMusic. 2 April 2018.
112. Web site: Max Bygraves . 2012 . . 3 April 2018.
113. Web site: Obituary: Charlie Chester . 1997 . . 30 July 2018.
114. Web site: Sir Ken Dodd dies at 90: Comedy world pays tribute to 'one of all-time greats' . 2018 . . 3 April 2018.
115. Web site: Clive Dunn . 2012 . . 3 April 2018.
116. Web site: Comedy genius who hit showbiz heights despite becoming an alcoholic aged 13 . 2017 . . 3 April 2018.
117. Encyclopedia: Dame Gracie Fields: British comedienne . 2018 . . 3 April 2018.
118. Web site: Flanagan & Allen . 2018 . AllMusic. 3 April 2018.
119. Web site: Flanders & Swann . 2018 . AllMusic. 3 April 2018.
120. Web site: George Formby is a refreshing counterblast to our puritanical age . 2016 . . 3 April 2018.
121. Web site: Sir Bruce Forsyth dies aged 89: Remembering a TV icon . 2017 . . 3 April 2018.
122. Web site: Dickie Henderson: Biography . 2018 . . 3 April 2018.
123. Web site: Joan Hinde, trumpeter – obituary . 2015 . . 3 April 2018.
124. Web site: Patrick Fyffe: As the eccentric Dame Hilda Bracket, he recalled a gentler England . 2002 . . 3 April 2018.
125. Encyclopedia: Stanley Holloway: British actor . 2018 . . 3 April 2018.
126. Web site: Roy Hudd: Survivor from a happier time . 2008 . . 3 April 2018.
127. Web site: Review: The Band that Jack Built, Great Hall, Lancaster University . 2015 . . 3 April 2018.
128. Web site: Obituary: Jimmy Jewel . 1995 . . 30 July 2018.
129. Web site: Obituary: Ben Warriss . 1995 . . 30 July 2018.
130. Web site: Obituary: Davy Kaye . 1998 . . 30 July 2018.
131. Web site: Danny La Rue . 2009 . . 3 April 2018.
132. Web site: Kenneth McKellar . 2010 . . 3 April 2018.
133. Web site: Max Miller: remembering the Cheeky Chappie . 2016 . . 3 April 2018.
134. Web site: Ivor Novello biography . 2010 . . 3 April 2018.
135. Web site: Joe O'Gorman (I) (1890–1974) . 2018 . . 16 July 2018.
136. Web site: Obituary: Tessie O'Shea . 1995 . . 3 April 2018.
137. Web site: Alf Pearson: Singer who moved successfully from music hall and variety to radio and television . 2012 . . 30 July 2018.
138. Web site: Sunderland singer takes his final curtain at 102 . 2012 . . 30 July 2018.
139. Web site: Perfectly Frank: Frank Randle eschewed the stereotyped comedy of his Wigan peers, but became the forgotten star of the Forties . 1994 . . 30 July 2018.
140. Web site: Barbara Windsor, Kenneth Williams, and the cast of Carry On: what happened next? . 2013 . . 30 July 2018.
141. Web site: Leslie Sarony . 2013 . Voices of Variety website . 3 April 2018.
142. Web site: Obituary: Andy Stewart . 1993 . . 3 April 2018.
143. Web site: You lucky people: remembering Tommy Trinder . 2009 . . 30 July 2018.
144. Web site: Max Wall . 2013 . Voices of Variety website . 3 April 2018.
145. Web site: Jimmy Wheeler: Biography . 2018 . . 3 April 2018.
146. Web site: Duggie Chapman discusses the life and career of comedian Rob Wilton . 2015 . Northern Life magazine . 30 July 2018.