|
The Great Vance
Alfred Peek Stevens (1839 – 26 December 1888), best known by his stage name of Alfred Vance, was a 19th-century English music hall singer. He was also known as ''The Great Vance'', and ''Alfred Grenville''. Early life Vance was born in London in 1839. He worked initially as a solicitor's clerk before appearing in music halls. Career His first solo appearance was at the South London Palace in 1864. He had earlier performed in a blackface act with his brother in 1860. His act, initially as a Cockney singer, evolved into comedy. Throughout the 1860s, Vance, along with contemporaries Arthur Lloyd and George Leybourne, was instrumental in developing a new style of music hall performer known as the ''lion comique'' or ''swells''. In this style, performers relied less on copying burlesque, and instead sought inspiration in their everyday experiences and the colourful characters of daily street life. Audiences loved to join in the chorus and " give the bird". Vance was a great ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district in central London, south of Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two international retail centres in London, alongside the West End of London, West End. Toponymy Knightsbridge is an ancient name, spelt in a variety of ways in Saxon and Old English, such as ''Cnihtebricge'' (c. 1050); ''Knichtebrig'' (1235); ''Cnichtebrugge'' (13th century); and ''Knyghtesbrugg'' (1364). The meaning is "bridge of the young men or retainers," from the Old English ''cniht'' (genitive case plural –a) and ''brycg''. ''Cniht'', in pre-Norman days, did not have the later meaning of a warrior on horseback, but simply meant a youth. The allusion may be to a place where ''cnihtas'' congregated: bridges and wells seem always to have been favourite gathering places of young people, and the original bridge was where one of the old roads to the west crossed the River Westbourne. However, there is possibly a more spec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nunhead Cemetery
Nunhead Cemetery is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries in London, England. It is perhaps the least famous and celebrated of them. The cemetery is located in Nunhead in the London Borough of Southwark and was originally known as All Saints' Cemetery. Nunhead Cemetery was consecrated in 1840 and opened by the London Cemetery Company. It is a Local Nature Reserve. Location The Main Gate (North Gate) is located on Linden Grove (near the junction with Daniel's Road) and the South Gate is located on Limesford Road. The cemetery is in the London Borough of Southwark, SE15. History and description Consecrated in 1840, with an Anglican chapel designed by Thomas Little, it is one of the Magnificent Seven Victorian cemeteries established in a ring around what were then the outskirts of London. The first burial was of Charles Abbott, a 101-year-old Ipswich grocer; the last burial was of a volunteer soldier who became a canon of Lahore Cathedral. The first grave in Nunhead was dug i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1839 Births
Events January–March * January 2 – The first photograph of the Moon is taken, by French photographer Louis Daguerre. * January 6 – Night of the Big Wind: Ireland is struck by the most damaging cyclone in 300 years. * January 9 – The French Academy of Sciences announces the daguerreotype photography process. * January 19 – British forces capture Aden. * January 20 – Battle of Yungay: Chile defeats the Peru–Bolivian Confederation, leading to the restoration of an independent Peru. * January – The first parallax measurement of the distance to Alpha Centauri is published by Thomas Henderson. * February 11 – The University of Missouri is established, becoming the first public university west of the Mississippi River. * February 24 – William Otis receives a patent for the steam shovel. * March 5 – Longwood University is founded in Farmville, Virginia. * March 7 – Baltimore City College, the third public high school in the United States, is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bessie Bellwood
Bessie Bellwood (born Catherine Mahoney; 30 March 1856 – 24 September 1896) was a popular music hall performer of the Victorian era noted for her singing of 'Coster' songs, including "What Cheer Ria". Her onstage persona was that of an abrasive but loveable character with an ability to argue down even the toughest of hecklers. Born in London, she made her music hall debut in Bermondsey, London. She became popular with cockney working-class audiences, and went on to appear on the same bill as Jenny Hill at the Canterbury Theatre of Varieties and the same bill as Vesta Tilley at Carlo Gatti's Charing Cross Music Hall. Off-stage, she became a popular figure in London for her many charitable donations to the poor. In later life Bellwood suffered from alcoholism as well as financial troubles and bankruptcy. With her health in decline, she died at her home in London, aged 40. Biography Early life Bellwood was born in London to Patrick Mahoney and his wife Catherine (née Ready) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Betty Warren
Babette Hilda Hogan (31 October 1907 – 15 December 1990), known professionally as Betty Warren, was a British actress active from the 1930s to the 1950s, best known for her comedy roles in '' Champagne Charlie'' (1944) and ''Passport to Pimlico'' (1949). Life and career Born in Fareham, Hampshire, England, she appeared in ''Goody Two Shoes'' at the Prince's Theatre in Bristol during 1930–31, and in the musical play ''Balalaika'', which opened in London at the Adelphi Theatre on 22 December 1936 and which ran for 569 performances. In 1945, she appeared in the 'musical extravaganza' ''Magic Carpet'' at the Princes Theatre in London. In 1933 she married the composer Lawrence Wright who published under the name Horatio Nicholls. In 1947 she remarried the trumpet virtuoso, Lloyd Shakespeare. Warren's first film appearance was in '' Magyar Melody'' in 1939. This was followed by ''The Farmer's Wife'' (1941), ''Secret Mission'' (1942), ''Variety Jubilee'' (1943), ''They Met in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tommy Trinder
Thomas Edward Trinder CBE (24 March 1909 – 10 July 1989) was an English stage, screen and radio comedian whose catchphrase was "You lucky people!". Described by cultural historian Matthew Sweet as "a cocky, front-of-cloth variety turn", he was one of the United Kingdom's foremost entertainers during the Second World War. Known for his confident and direct style of comedy, Trinder first found recognition with his music hall revues in the late 1930s. During the war, he worked for ENSA and maintained a successful film career, starring in a string of Ealing Studios films including ''Sailors Three'' (1940), '' Champagne Charlie'' (1944) and '' Bitter Springs'' (1950). During the 1950s, Trinder became a television star, notably as the original host for ''Sunday Night at the London Palladium'' (1955-1958). In 1959, he was elected chairman of Fulham Football Club, a position he maintained until 1976. He continued to perform into the 1980s. Biography Early life (1909–1937) Tommy Tri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Champagne Charlie (1944 Film)
''Champagne Charlie'' is a 1944 British musical film directed by Alberto Cavalcanti and loosely based on the rivalry between the popular music hall performers George Leybourne (born Joe Saunders), who was called "Champagne Charlie" because he was the first artist to perform the song of that title, and Alfred Vance, who was known as "The Great Vance". Leybourne and Vance, portrayed by Tommy Trinder and Stanley Holloway, were London's big music hall stars of the 1860s and 1870s, of the kind called '' lions comiques''. In the film, they are "top of the bill" at their respective music halls. The film's female leads are a music hall owner and her daughter, portrayed by Betty Warren and Jean Kent. ''Champagne Charlie'' opens with a sing-along in a pub, and follows the rise of Leybourne as a music hall singer. The highlight of the film is a singing competition between the two protagonists. Leybourne sings "Ale Old Ale" and Vance replies with "Gin, Gin, Gin"; the competition continues ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ealing Comedy
The Ealing comedies is an informal name for a series of comedy films produced by the London-based Ealing Studios during a ten-year period from 1947 to 1957. Often considered to reflect Britain's post-war spirit, the most celebrated films in the sequence include ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949), '' Whisky Galore!'' (1949), ''The Lavender Hill Mob'' (1951), ''The Man in the White Suit'' (1951) and '' The Ladykillers'' (1955). ''Hue and Cry'' (1947) is generally considered to be the earliest of the cycle, and '' Barnacle Bill'' (1957) the last, although some sources list ''Davy'' (1958) as the final Ealing comedy. History Relatively few comedy films were made at Ealing Studios until several years after World War II. The 1939 film ''Cheer Boys Cheer'', featuring the rivalry between two brewing companies, one big and modernist, the other small and traditional, has been characterised as a prototype of later films. One of the few other films that can be seen as a direct precursor t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stanley Holloway
Stanley Augustus Holloway (1 October 1890 – 30 January 1982) was an English actor, comedian, singer and monologist. He was famous for his comic and character roles Stanley Holloway on stage and screen, on stage and screen, especially that of Alfred P. Doolittle in ''My Fair Lady''. He was also renowned for his Songs and monologues of Stanley Holloway, comic monologues and songs, which he performed and recorded throughout most of his 70-year career. Born in London, Holloway pursued a career as a clerk in his teen years. He made early stage appearances before infantry service in the First World War, after which he had his first major theatre success starring in ''Kissing Time'' when the musical transferred to the West End theatre, West End from Broadway theatre, Broadway. In 1921, he joined a Concert party (entertainment), concert party, ''The Co-Optimists'', and his career began to flourish. At first, he was employed chiefly as a singer, but his skills as an actor and re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cameo Appearance
A cameo role, also called a cameo appearance and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief appearance of a well-known person in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking ones, and are commonly either appearances in a work in which they hold some special significance (such as actors from an original movie appearing in its remake) or renowned people making uncredited appearances. Short appearances by celebrities, film directors, politicians, athletes or musicians are common. A crew member of the movie or show playing a minor role can be referred to as a cameo role as well, such as Alfred Hitchcock's frequent cameos. Concept Originally, in the 1920s, a "cameo role" meant "a small character part that stands out from the other minor parts". The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' connects this with the meaning "a short literary sketch or portrait", which is based on the literal meaning of " cameo", a miniature carving on a gemstone. More re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Liskeard
Liskeard ( ; kw, Lyskerrys) is a small ancient stannary and market town in south-east Cornwall, South West England. It is situated approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Plymouth, west of the Devon border, and 12 miles (20 km) east of Bodmin. The Bodmin Moor lies to the north-west of the town. The total population of the town at the 2011 census was 11,366 History The Cornish place name element ''Lis'', along with ancient privileges accorded the town, indicates that the settlement was once a high status 'court'. King Dungarth whose cross is a few miles north near St Cleer is thought to be a descendant of the early 8th century king Gerren of Dumnonia and is said to have held his court in Liskeard (''Lis-Cerruyt''). Liskeard (Liscarret) was at the time of the Domesday Survey an important manor with a mill rendering 12d. yearly and a market rendering 4s. William the Conqueror gave it to Robert, Count of Mortain by whom it was held in demesne. Ever since that time ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Redruth
Redruth ( , kw, Resrudh) is a town and civil parishes in Cornwall, civil parish in Cornwall, England. The population of Redruth was 14,018 at the 2011 census. In the same year the population of the Camborne-Redruth urban area, which also includes Carn Brea, Redruth, Carn Brea, Illogan and several satellite villages, stood at 55,400 making it the largest conurbation in Cornwall. Redruth lies approximately at the junction of the Great Britain road numbering scheme, A393 and A3047 roads, on the route of the old London to Land's End trunk road (now the A30 road, A30), and is approximately west of Truro, east of St Ives, Cornwall, St Ives, north east of Penzance, Cornwall, Penzance and north west of Falmouth, Cornwall, Falmouth. Camborne and Redruth together form the largest urban area in Cornwall and before local government reorganisation were an Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland), urban district. Toponymy The name Redruth derives from its older Cornish name, ''Rhy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
