Stanley Holloway on stage and screen explained

The English comic singer, monologist and actor Stanley Holloway (1890–1982), started his performing career in 1910. He starred in English seaside towns such as Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze, primarily in concert party and variety shows. The first of these, The White Coons Show, was soon followed by the more prestigious Nicely, Thanks! in 1913. From here, he went on to co-star in The Co-Optimists, a variety show which brought him to wider audience attention. After the First World War, he returned to London and found success in the West End musicals at the Winter Garden Theatre, including Kissing Time (1919), followed in 1920 by A Night Out. The Co-Optimists continued until 1927, and he then appeared in Hit the Deck, a comic musical which appeared both in London and on Broadway. Reporting for The Manchester Guardian, the theatre critic Ivor Brown praised Holloway for a singing style "which coaxes the ear rather than clubbing the head."

In between his stage roles, Holloway had a successful film career. He made his silent film debut in 1921 in The Rotters and went on to star in over 60 motion pictures, with his last being in 1976. His credits covered many genres including drama, romance and comedy and he shared successful collaborations with a number of studios, including Gaumont-British Picture Corporation, Gainsborough Studios and, most notably, Ealing Studios. He started his association with Ealing in 1934, appearing in the fifth Gracie Fields picture, Sing As We Go. After a ten-year absence from the studios, Holloway returned to star in Champagne Charlie in 1944 alongside Tommy Trinder and went on to star in Nicholas Nickleby (1947) and Another Shore (1948). However, it was the next three Ealing Comedies, Passport to Pimlico (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) and The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953), which confirmed Holloway as a mainstay of British cinema. His final film with the studio was Meet Mr. Lucifer (1953).

In 1956, Holloway revived his flagging career, creating the role of Alfred P. Doolittle in the extraordinarily successful original Broadway production of My Fair Lady, which was made into a hit film in 1964 with Holloway in the same role. Owing to the film's success, he was able to get good roles in more films, including Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter alongside Herman's Hermits. His films in the early 1970s included The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Flight of the Doves and Up the Front. His final film was Journey into Fear, released in 1976.

Stage shows

Stage appearances of Stanley Holloway
ProductionDateRoleTheatreNotes
The White Coons Show1910VariousSix week show in Walton-on-the-Naze
Nicely, Thanks1913VariousConcert party in which Holloway first worked with Leslie Henson
Kissing Time – 1 February 1919New Amsterdam Theatre, New YorkWritten by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse
Kissing Time – 3 July 1920Winter Garden Theatre, LondonWritten by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse
The Disorderly Room1919VariousVictoria Palace TheatreWritten by Eric Blore, Holloway starred alongside Leslie Henson, Tom Walls and Jack Buchanan. The sketch later became popularly associated with Tommy Handley, who frequently played it on stage and on radio.
A Night Out – 18 June 1921RenéWinter Garden TheatreRan for 309 performances
The Co-OptimistsVariousRoyalty TheatreDevised by Davy Burnaby
The Co-Optimists – 4 August 1927VariousPalace TheatreDevised by Davy Burnaby. The show ran for 500 performances.
Hit the DeckBelasco Theatre, New York The musical was written by R.P. Weston, Bert Lee and Vincent Youmans with lyrics by Clifford Grey and Leo Robin.
Hit the DeckHippodrome, LondonRan for 277 performances. The musical was written by R.P. Weston, Bert Lee and Vincent Youmans with lyrics by Clifford Grey and Leo Robin.
Song of the Sea1928His Majesty's Theatre, LondonAn adaption of a German operetta "Lady Hamilton" (1926). Written by Arthur Wimperis with music composed by Eduard Künneke.
Coo-ee1929VariousVaudeville Theatre, LondonRevue with Billy Bennett, Dorothy Dickson and Claude Hulbert
The Co-Optimists1929–1931VariousRevival of the popular show which toured the provencies, including the Princes Theatre, Bristol on 11 May 1931.
The Savoy Follies1931PCSavoy Theatre, LondonWritten by Riginald Arkell and Wolseley Charles. Co-starring H. M. Walker, Hal David, Douglas Byng and Florence Desmond and where Holloway first introduced the monologue The Lion and Albert.
Here We Are AgainLyceum Theatre, London
Three SistersThe production featured Victoria Hopper, Adele Dixon, Esmond Knight and Charlotte Greenwood. Written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II.
Aladdin1934AbanazarFirst appearance in pantomime, co-starring Sir Henry Lytton, as the Emperor,[1] playing it in successive years in Leeds, London, Edinburgh and Manchester.
London Rhapsody1938VariousLondon PalladiumPerformed alongside The Crazy Gang. Holloway and comedian Jimmy Britton replaced Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen after they pulled out for contractual reasons.
Up and DoingVariousSaville Theatre, London A revue written by Firth Shephard; co-starring Leslie Henson, Cyril Ritchard and Binnie Hale.
Fine and Dandy1942Saville Theatre, LondonCo-starring Leslie Henson, Douglas Byng, Dorothy Dickson and Graham Payn, the show had a run of three hundred and forty-six performances.
Mother GooseLondon Casino, London The show was Holloway's first and only London Christmas pantomime. He first performed the monologue "Sam's Christmas Pudding" after writing it especially for the production.
Hamlet1951First GravediggerNew Theatre, LondonDirected by Alec Guinness, who also played the title role. Holloway was offered the role of the First Gravedigger by Guinness who was impressed with his performance in the film version a few years earlier.
Mr Lord Says No1951By Michael Clayton Hutton. It was adapted for the screen the following year and was retitled The Happy Family. Holloway played the same role in the film.
A Midsummer Night's Dream1954Holloway joined the Old Vic Company which toured America, performing at the Met. It opened in October 1954, having made a successful début at the Edinburgh Festival the same year.
My Fair LadyAlfred P. DoolittleHolloway performed two songs; With a Little Bit of Luck and Get Me to the Church on Time. He was nominated for a Tony Award.
My Fair Lady – 3 October 1959Alfred P. DoolittleTheatre Royal, Drury LaneHolloway was replaced in the role by James Hayter
Laughs and Other Events – 17 October 1960HimselfEthel Barrymore Theatre, New YorkProduced by Martin Tahse, Directed by Tony Charmoli, Piano: Richmond Gale and Arthur Siegel; Banjo: Jerry Silverman; Concertina: Allan Atlas
Cool Off – 4 April 1964, Irving, policeman and Lester LenzForrest Theatre, PhiladelphiaBased on the legend of Faust
Candida1970BurgessShown at the Shaw Festival, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Siege1972Cambridge Theatre, LondonThe show had a three-month run with Alastair Sim, David Ambrose and Michael Bryant.
You Can Never Tell1973William

Film

FilmYearRoleNotes
1921
1929Various
Sleeping Car
Mongicourt
Love at Second SightPC
D'Ye Ken John Peel?
Lily of Killarney
Road HouseDonovan
Sing As We GoPoliceman
In Town Tonight
Play Up the Band
Squibs
Sam Small at Westminster
Sam Small Leaves Town
Song of the ForgeJoe; Sir William Barrett
Cotton QueenRe-issued in 1940 as Crying Out Loud
Our Island Nation
Sam Goes ShoppingSam; NarratorDocumentary
Major Barbara1941Policeman
Salute John Citizen1942Oskey
This Happy Breed
Champagne Charlie
Brief Encounter
Caesar and CleopatraBelzanor
Wanted for Murder
Carnival
Meet Me at Dawn
Nicholas Nickleby
Snowbound
One Night with YouTramp
HamletGravedigger
Comedian
Noose
Another Shore
Passport to Pimlico
Ramshead
Midnight Episode1950
One Wild Oat
Broker's Man
Lady Godiva Rides Again
Meet Me Tonight: Fumed Oak
Mr Valentine
Meet Mr. Lucifer
Fast and Loose1954
1955
Jumping for Joy1956
Alive and KickingMacDonagh
No Trees in the StreetKipper
No Love for Johnnie
On the FiddleCooksley
British Transport Films – "The Third Sam"1962Narrator; monologistDocumentary
My Fair Lady1964
In Harm's Way
Ten Little Indians
1966Park Gardener
Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter1968
How to Make it1969
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes1970Gravedigger
Flight of the Doves1971
Up the Front1972
Journey into Fear1975

Television

Known television appearances of Stanley Holloway
ProgrammeDateChannel
(UK, unless stated)
RoleNotes
NBC (USA)
DuPont Show of the Month

"Crescendo"

CBS (USA)
NBC (USA)Pooh-Bah
ITVIbrahim
Our Man Higgins  – 11 September 1963ABC (USA)Higgins34 episodes
Kraft Music HallNBC (USA)
CBS (USA)Eggcup Tycoon
NBC (USA)Himself
Show of the Week, "'Ere's 'Olloway"BBC2
Blandings Castle – 31 March 1967BBC1Six episodes: "Lord Emsworth and Company for Gertrude", "Blandings Castle Pig Hoo-Oo-Ey!", "Lord Emsworth Acts For The Best", "Lord Emsworth and the Crime Wave at Blandings", "The Great Pumpkin Crisis" and "Lord Emsworth and the Girl Friend"
CBS (USA)
Armchair Theatre, "The Ballad of the Artificial Mash"ITV
Thingumybob –ITV
 – 28 March 1972ITVDocumentary series about the First and Second World Wars; Holloway narrated five episodes
BBC
Run a Crooked MileUniversal Television (USA)Caretaker
If It Moves It's Rude: The Story of the Windmill TheatreBBC1On-screen participant
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeNBC (USA)Poole
Fifty Bighearted Years; The Variety Club of Great Britain's Tribute to Arthur AskeyITV
Looks FamiliarITV
Royal Variety PerformanceBBC1

See also

References

Bibliography

. Wiv a Little Bit o' Luck: The Life Story of Stanley Holloway. Holloway. Stanley. Stanley Holloway. Richards. Dick. 1967. Frewin. London. 3647363.

Notes and References

  1. "Stanley Holloway in Pantomime", The Manchester Guardian, 1 January 1935, p. 10