Violet Elliott (born Violet Zara Hargrave; 26 February 1899 – 20 May 1977), who was known in Britain as Chick Elliott, was an Australian comedian, singer and actress.
Early life and career
She was born in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
, the daughter of Arthur Hargrave — a New Zealand-born comedian and acrobat who used the stage name Arthur Elliott — and his wife Maud Fanning. The family toured widely in Australia and New Zealand as part of
variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...
s, and Violet (credited as Violet Elliott) joined the shows from a young age, performing with her parents and sisters. From about 1913, she largely performed a solo act, combining comic routines and singing, and from the late 1910s onward toured Australia as a solo performer, often performing in
blackface make-up as a
'coon' singer, and appearing in
pantomime
Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking ...
s. In the 1920s, she featured in several Australian films, and on radio.
["Violet Elliott (2)", ''Australian Variety Theatre Archive'']
Retrieved 6 January 2023
Work in Britain
In 1930 she moved to Britain, where she was known as Chick (or Chic) Elliott in order to avoid confusion with another actress of a similar name. She continued to perform as a blackface act in touring variety shows, and as a
stand-up comedian in an
evening gown
An evening gown, evening dress or gown is a long dress usually worn at formal occasions. The drop ranges from ballerina (mid-calf to just above the ankles), tea (above the ankles), to full-length. Such gowns are typically worn with evening ...
. She worked in musical comedies, revues and operettas, and appeared in the 1942 British film, ''
Asking for Trouble
''Asking for Trouble'' is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Max Miller, Carole Lynne and Wilfrid Hyde-White. Its plot follows a fishmonger who takes up bookmaking to earn extra cash.
Cast
* Max Miller as Di ...
''. She appeared in ''
Merrie England'' at the
Princes Theatre, followed by a show, ''The Kid from Stratford'', with
Arthur Askey
Arthur Bowden Askey, (6 June 1900 – 16 November 1982) was an English comedian and actor. Askey was known for his short stature (5' 2", 1.58 m) and distinctive horn-rimmed glasses, and his playful humour incorporating improvisation ...
, until 1948.
[
]
Personal life and death
In the 1950s, she returned to live in Australia. She was married twice. She died in Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Ra ...
in 1977 at the age of 78.[
]
References
External links
*
1899 births
1977 deaths
Blackface minstrel performers
{{Australia-comedian-stub