Charles Gulliver (7 April 1882 – 8 June 1961) was a British music-hall producer and impresario who was also the secretary and a founder of the

Variety Artistes' Federation The Variety Artistes' Federation (VAF) was a trade union representing variety performers in the United Kingdom. History The union was founded on 18 February 1906, after discussions between the show business social club and charity the Grand Orde ...

in 1906. Born in

Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...

, in his youth, Gulliver worked in a solicitors' office, and thereby gained a basic understanding of the law. The office building in which he worked also housed the offices of

The Automobile Association AA Limited, trading as The AA (formerly The Automobile Association), is a British motoring association. Founded in 1905, it provides vehicle insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans, motoring advice, road maps and other services. Th ...

(AA), and after demonstrating an interest in cars, he served for a short time as secretary and treasurer of the AA. At the time, the position was unpaid, so Gulliver focused on searching for a paid, full-time successor. Gulliver served as the first secretary of the

, a trade union representing variety performers. In 1909, he became secretary of the industry association, the London Theatres of Varieties, followed by a similar post with Barrasford Halls. He became managing director of the

London Palladium The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in the famous area of Soho. The theatre holds 2,286 seats. Of the roster of stars who have played there, many have televised performances. Between 1955 an ...

in 1912. In the 1920s, Gulliver became managing director of the

Moss Empires Moss Empires was a company formed in Edinburgh in 1899, from the merger of the theatre companies owned by Sir Edward Moss, Richard Thornton and Sir Oswald Stoll. This created the largest chain of variety theatres and music halls in the United K ...

group of theatres, originated in Scotland by Edward Moss. Gulliver retired from the variety business in 1932. He died at his home in Bexhill on 8 June 1961, aged 79.

References

Impresarios 1882 births Businesspeople from Southampton 1961 deaths 20th-century British businesspeople Music hall people {{UK-business-bio-stub