Bobby Howes (4 August 1895 – 27 April 1972) was a British entertainer who was a leading musical comedy performer in London's West End theatres in the 1930s and 1940s.

Biography

Born in

Battersea Battersea is a large district in south London, part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross and extends along the south bank of the River Thames. It includes the Battersea Park. History Batter ...

, Surrey, his parents were Robert William Howes and Rose Marie Butler. He started his career in revues, but his career was interrupted for the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

where he soldiered on the Western Front. He suffered a German

mustard gas Mustard gas or sulfur mustard is a chemical compound belonging to a family of cytotoxic and blister agents known as mustard agents. The name ''mustard gas'' is technically incorrect: the substance, when dispersed, is often not actually a gas, b ...

attack but recovered and returned to the stage. He gained a career break-through with the role-reversal comedy ''

Mr. Cinders ''Mr Cinders'' is a 1928 musical with music by Vivian Ellis and Richard Myers and a libretto by Clifford Grey and Greatrex Newman. The story is an inversion of the Cinderella fairy tale with the gender roles reversed. The Prince Charming char ...

'', based on the ''

Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...

'' pantomime, also featuring

Binnie Hale Beatrice "Binnie" Mary Hale-Monro (22 May 1899 – 10 January 1984) was an English actress, singer and dancer. She was one of the most successful musical theatre stars in London in the 1920s and 1930s, able to sing leading roles in operetta a ...

, with whom he appeared on many occasions subsequently. He reprised his title role in Mr. Cinders in several different productions. In the 1930s, he was with Van Phillips' Four Bright Sparks whose vocalists included

Billy Milton Billy Milton (8 December 190522 November 1989) was a British stage, film and television actor. Born in Paddington, Middlesex, (now in London), as William Thomas Milton, he was the son of Harry Harman Milton (1880-1942), a commission agent, and h ...

. Four Bright Sparks recorded at least 60 sides. He was a leading musical comedy performer on the West End in the 1930s and 1940s. He continued onstage, including

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

, and in films until he retired in the late 1960s. One of his most acclaimed roles was as the eponymous lead in ''

Finian's Rainbow ''Finian's Rainbow'' is a musical with a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane, produced by Lee Sabinson. The original 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances, while a film version was re ...

'' when it was revived on Broadway in 1960. He was the father of actress/singer

Sally Ann Howes Sally Ann Howes (20 July 1930 – 19 December 2021) was an English actress and singer. Her career on screen, stage and television spanned six decades. She is best known for the role of Truly Scrumptious in the 1968 musical film ''Chitty Chitty ...

and of Peter Howes, by his marriage to Patricia Malone. He died on 27 April 1972, aged 76, in London, England.

Filmography

* ''Elixir do Diabo, O'' (1964) * '' Watch it, Sailor!'' (1961) – as a Drunk (guest appearance) * ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established him as a national figure. It won ...

'' (1957) – as Jimmy Nunn * ''

Happy Go Lovely ''Happy Go Lovely'' is a 1951 British musical comedy film in Technicolor, directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Vera-Ellen, David Niven, and Cesar Romero. The film was made and first released in the UK, and distributed in the US by R ...

'' (1951) – as Charlie * ''Murder in the Footlights'' (1951) * ''

The Trojan Brothers ''The Trojan Brothers'' is a 1946 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Patricia Burke, David Farrar and Bobby Howes.Murphy p.522 It is an adaptation of the 1944 novel of the same title by Pamela Hansford Johnson. Synopsi ...

'' (1946) – as Benny Castelli * ''

Bob's Your Uncle "Bob's your uncle" is a phrase commonly used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries that means "and there it is" or "and there you have it" or "it's done". Typically, someone says it to conclude a set of simple instructions or when a ...

'' (1942) * ''Men With Whips'' (1939) * ''

Yes, Madam? ''Yes, Madam?'' is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by Norman Lee and starring Bobby Howes, Diana Churchill and Wylie Watson. Background The film was adapted from a play by K.R.G. Browne, itself based on a novel by the same author.Ex ...

'' (1939) – as Bill Quinton * '' Sweet Devil'' (1938) – as Tony Brent * '' Please Teacher'' (1937) – as Tommy Deacon * ''

Over the Garden Wall ''Over the Garden Wall'' is an American animated television miniseries created by Patrick McHale for Cartoon Network. The series centers on two half-brothers who travel across a mysterious forest to find their way home, encountering a variet ...

'' (1934) – as Bunny * '' 42nd Street'' singing 'Shuffle off to Buffalo' with Ruby Keeler * '' For the Love of Mike'' (1932) – as Bobby Seymour * ''

Lord Babs ''Lord Babs'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Bobby Howes, Jean Colin and Pat Paterson. It was based on the 1925 play of the same title by Keble Howard. It was once believed to be a lost film, but was redis ...

'' (1932) – as Lord Basil 'Babs' Drayford * '' Third Time Lucky'' (1931) – as Rev. Arthur Fear * ''

The Guns of Loos ''The Guns of Loos'' is a 1928 British silent war film directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Henry Victor, Madeleine Carroll, and Bobby Howes. Plot A blind veteran of the First World War returns home to run his family's industrial empire. C ...

'' (1928) – as Danny * ''On with the Dance'' (1927)

Television

* ''

Douglas Fairbanks Presents ''Douglas Fairbanks Presents'' is a 1953-1956 syndicated half-hour dramatic anthology series. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was the host, and he sometimes starred in episodes. It was also known as ''Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents''. A total of 117 episo ...

'': "Point of View" – US airdate 14 May 1956 – episode 4.14 31– Filmed at the British National Studios, Elstree, England * ''Curtains For Harry'' (1955) – as Harry Bates – single episode show * ''Out of This World'' (1950) – Proposed series that had only one episode, 15 November 1950, Wed 8.30 pm * ''Such Is Life'' (1950) – played 'the little man struggling with his conscience' in this themed sketch series. 5 episodes, 30 mins each, 24 Apr-19 June 1950 – fortnightly Mon around 9 pm * ''

Paging You Paging You was a BBC comedy series which debuted on 3 November 1946 and was subsequently cancelled in 1948. Cast *Bill Fraser (1948) *Richard Hearne (1947–1948) *Bobby Howes (1948) *Claude Hulbert (1948) * Humphrey Lestocq (1947) *Brian Re ...

'' (1946) – episode No. 4

Theatre

* '' Do Re Me'' (1961) – Prince of Wales Theatre, London – Opened 12 October 1961 * ''Finian's Rainbow'' (1961) –

Blackpool Opera House The Opera House Theatre is a theatre in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It is located within the Winter Gardens, a large entertainment complex in the town centre and originally opened in 1889, although it has been rebuilt twice, in 1910 and ...

, UK – March/April 1961 * ''

'' (1960) –

– (revival performance) 23 May 1960 – 1 June 1960 * ''The Geese Are Getting Fat'' (1960) – Phoenix Theatre – 1960 * ''Finian's Rainbow'' (1958) – New Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool – with

Shani Wallis Shani Wallis (born 14 April 1933) is a British actress and singer, who has worked in theatre, film, and television in both her native United Kingdom and in the United States. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she is perhaps best ...

* ''Hide and Seek'' (1958) –

London Hippodrome The Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, London. The name was used for many different theatres and music halls, of which the London Hippodrome is one of only a few survi ...

– with Cicely Courtneidge * ''The Entertainer'' (1958) – Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House – July 1958 * ''Start From Scratch'' (1957) –

Q Theatre The Q Theatre was a British theatre located near Kew Bridge in Brentford, west London, which operated between 1924 and 1958. It was built on the site of the former Kew Bridge Studios. The theatre, seating 490 in 25 rows with a central aisle, wa ...

Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is a ...

(1956–1957 season) – with Glyn Dearman, Helen Christie; dir:Robert Henderson * ''Paint Your Wagon'' (1953) – at

Her Majesty's Theatre Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Haymarket, London, Haymarket in the City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, ...

The Haymarket Haymarket is a street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster, London. It runs from Piccadilly Circus in the north to Pall Mall at the southern end. Located on the street are the Theatre Royal, Her Majesty's Theatre, New Zealand H ...

– with daughter

– production ran for 18 months * ''

Harvey Harvey, Harveys or Harvey's may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Harvey'' (play), a 1944 play by Mary Chase about a man befriended by an invisible anthropomorphic rabbit * Harvey Awards ("Harveys"), one of the most important awards ...

'' (1950's?) – Streatham Hill Theatre – 1950's? * ''The Yellow Mask'' (1953) – His Majesty's Theatre * ''Roundabout'' (1949) – three weeks, with Pat Kirkwood * ''Four, Five, Six'' (1948) – with

* ''The Man in the Street'' (1947) – St. James Theatre, October 1947 * ''Here Come The Boys'' (1946) –

Saville Theatre ODEON Covent Garden is a four-screen cinema in the heart of London's West End. Formerly known as The Saville Theatre, a former West End theatre at 135 Shaftesbury Avenue in the London Borough of Camden. The theatre opened in 1931, and became a ...

Shaftesbury Avenue Shaftesbury Avenue is a major road in the West End of London, named after The 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. It runs north-easterly from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford Street, crossing Charing Cross Road at Cambridge Circus. From Piccadilly Cir ...

– with

Jack Hulbert John Norman Hulbert (24 April 189225 March 1978) was a British actor, director, screenwriter and singer, specializing primarily in comedy productions, and often working alongside his wife (Dame) Cicely Courtneidge. Biography Born in Ely, Ca ...

* ''Cinderella'' (1944) (pantomime) – Winter Garden * ''

By Jupiter ''By Jupiter'' is a musical theatre, musical with a book by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, music by Rodgers, and lyrics by Hart. The musical is based on the play ''The Warrior's Husband'' by Julian F. Thompson, set in the land of the Amazons. '' ...

'' (1944) –

Palace Theatre Palace Theatre, or Palace Theater, is the name of many theatres in different countries, including: Australia *Palace Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria *Palace Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales Canada *Palace Theatre, housed in the Robillard Block, Mo ...

, Manchester – show opened 25 July, closed quickly * ''

Let's Face It! ''Let's Face It!'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields is based on the 1925 play ''The Cradle Snatchers'' by Russell Medcraft and Norma Mitchell. The 1941 Broadway and 1942 West End produ ...

'' (Jerry Walker) – (1942) (musical) – London Hippodrome – show opened 19 November – 348 performances * ''Shepherd's Pie'' (1941) (musical) – Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House – April 1941, with

Arthur Riscoe Arthur Riscoe MC (1896–1954) was a British stage and film actor. Early life He was born Arthur Charles Boorman on 19 November 1896 in Sherburn-in-Elmet near Leeds, but at the age of 15 moved to Tasmania as a farm worker. When 18, he joined ...

Richard Hearne Richard Lewis Hearne (30 January 1908 – 23 August 1979) was an English actor, comedian, producer and writer. He is best remembered for his stage and television character Mr Pastry. Career Hearne was born in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1908, the son ...

Vera Pearce Annie Vera Pearce (27 May 1895 – 18 January 1966) was an Australian stage and film actress. Her lengthy career was carried out in both her home country and in England. Biography Born in Broken Hill (New South Wales), Pearce spent much of h ...

and Raymond Newell * ''Halfway To Heaven'' (1940s) –

Shaftesbury Theatre The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. Opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, it was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. History The theatre was d ...

– A New Play by

Harry Segall Harry Segall (April 10, 1892 – November 25, 1975) was an American playwright, screenwriter and television writer. Segall was born in Chicago. Harry Segall's writing career spans 1933 to 1959. Segall's plays, including '' Lost Horizons'', ...

. With Bobby Howes, Bryan Matheson, J H Roberts, Maxwell Foster * ''Big Business'' (1940) – London Hippodrome * ''All Clea''r (1939) – Queen's Theatre, London, with

Beatrice Lillie Beatrice Gladys Lillie, Lady Peel (29 May 1894 – 20 January 1989), known as Bea Lillie, was a Canadian-born British actress, singer and comedic performer. She began to perform as a child with her mother and sister. She made her West End debu ...

– revue that opened on 20 December 1939 * ''Bobby Get Your Gun'' (1938) –

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...

– Opened 7 October 1938 * ''Hide and Seek'' (1937) – London Hippodrome – show opened 14 October – with

Cicely Courtneidge Dame Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge, (1 April 1893 – 26 April 1980) was an Australian-born British actress, comedian and singer. The daughter of the producer and playwright Robert Courtneidge, she was appearing in his productions in the West En ...

* ''Please Teacher'' (1936) – London Hippodrome * ''Christmas Mails 100 Years Ago'' (1935) – a comedic philatelic play by Nevile Stocken * ''Yes Madam?'' (1934) – London Hippodrome – show opened 27 September – with

* '' He Wanted Adventure'' (Bobby Bramstone) – Saville Theatre – 1933 * ''Tell Her The Truth'' (Bobbie) – Saville Theatre – show opened 14 June 1932, 234 performances * ''For The Love of Mike'' (1931) – Saville Theatre * ''The Song of the Drum'' (Chips) – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – 1931 * ''

Nippy A nippy was a waitress who worked in the J. Lyons & Co tea shops and cafés in London. Beginning in the late 19th century, a J. Lyons waitress was called a "Gladys". From 1926, because the waitresses nipped (moved quickly) around the tea sho ...

'' (1930) – London Hippodrome – with Binnie Hale – 1930 * ''Sons O' Guns'' (1930) – London Hippodrome – show opened 26 June 1930. * ''Mr. Cinders'' (1930) – Streatham Hill Theatre – April 1930 * ''

'' (1929) –

, London – 528 performances * ''Mr. Cinders'' (1928–1929) – London Hippodrome – with

Ruth Maitland Ruth Maitland (born Emma Christian Ruth Erskine; 3 February 1880 – 12 March 1961) was an English actress. She is known for her roles in '' The Faithful Heart'' (1922), ''The Farmer's Wife'' (1928), '' The Only Girl'' (1933), and '' At the Villa ...

Arthur Chesney Arthur William Kellaway (21 November 1881 – 27 August 1949), known as Arthur Chesney, was an English character actor who worked on stage and screen. Biography He was born 21 November 1881 in Hampstead, London, the son of John and Catherine K ...

* ''The Blue Train'' (1927) –

Prince of Wales Theatre The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre in Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in London. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner. The theatre ...

– 10 May 1927 * ''The Midnight Follies'' (bathing chorus) (1925) –

Metropole A metropole (from the Greek ''metropolis'' for "mother city") is the homeland, central territory or the state exercising power over a colonial empire. From the 19th century, the English term ''metropole'' was mainly used in the scope of ...

– with

Enid Stamp-Taylor Enid Georgiana Stamp Taylor (12 June 1904 – 13 January 1946) was an English actress. Her childhood home was 17, Percy Avenue, in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, in what is now Tyne and Wear. Taylor first became known when she won a beauty pa ...

and Eddie Childs * ''Little Revues'' (1923–24) – West End * ''Seasoned To Taste'' (1919–1920) – a burlesque written by

Jack Hylton Jack Hylton (born John Greenhalgh Hilton; 2 July 1892 – 29 January 1965) was an English pianist, composer, band leader and impresario. Hylton rose to prominence during the British dance band era, being referred as the "British King of Jazz" a ...

as a vehicle for

Tommy Handley Thomas Reginald Handley (17 January 1892 – 9 January 1949) was an English comedian, best known for the BBC radio programme ''It's That Man Again'' ("''ITMA''") which ran between 1939 and 1949. Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, Handley went o ...

and Howes, which opened at the end of 1919 and ran until early 1920, at the Metropolitan,

Edgware Road Edgware Road is a major road in London, England. The route originated as part of Roman Watling Street and, unusually in London, it runs for 10 miles in an almost perfectly straight line. Forming part of the modern A5 road, Edgware Road undergoes ...

Other live performances

* Royal Variety Command Performance – 7 November 1955, Victoria Palace * A gala revue at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane to promote National Savings – 17 October 1948. * R.A.F.A. Festival of Reunion – Sunday 22 September 1946 –

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

Discography

* ''Finian's Rainbow'' (1960) * ''Paint Your Wagon'' (1953) * ''She's My Lovely'' (1940s?) * ''Yes, Madam'' (1934) – with

* "I'm a One-man Girl" – with

, 78 from ''Mr. Cinders'' * ''The Blue Train'' (1927) * ''Rudolf Friml in London'' (1923–30) –

Derek Oldham Derek Oldham (29 March 1887 – 20 March 1968) was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in the tenor roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. After performing in concerts as a boy soprano and workin ...

, Edith Day,

Ethel Levey Ethel Levey (November 22, 1880 – February 27, 1955), born Grace Ethelia Fowler, was an American actress, dancer, and singer in musical theatre and on the vaudeville stage. She was the first wife of George M. Cohan, and the second wife of avia ...

, Bobby Howes,

Roy Royston Roy Royston MC (born Roy Charles Crowden, 5 April 1899 – 7 October 1976) was an English actor who appeared in a large number of films between 1912 and 1966, beginning as a child actor. Most of his films were silents made before the First Wo ...

, Dennis Kings, et al., from 78s.

Product endorsements

* ''Ardath Cigarette Cards'', No. 28 of 50. Issued by Ardath Tobacco Co. in England. * ''British Film Stars'' cigarette cards issued in England by W.A. & A.C. Churchman in 1934. He was card No. 14.

References

External links

*
BBC profile

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howes, Bobby 1895 births 1972 deaths English male film actors English male musical theatre actors People from Battersea 20th-century English male actors 20th-century English singers 20th-century British male singers