This list of British music hall performers includes a related list of British

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), ...

entertainers...

Music Hall and Variety

Music Hall, Britain's first form of commercial mass entertainment, emerged, broadly speaking, in the mid-19th century, and ended (arguably) after 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 ...

, when the halls rebranded their entertainment as

. Perceptions of a distinction in Britain between bold and scandalous Victorian ''Music Hall'' and subsequent, more respectable ''Variety'' may differ (in the US, Burlesque and

Vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

have analogous connotations).

British Music Hall entertainers

Annie Adams Asaneth Ann Adams Kiskadden (November 9, 1848 – March 17, 1916), credited as Annie Adams, was an American actress. Early and personal life Adams was the daughter of Julia Ann ( Banker) and Barnabas Lothrop Adams. In 1869, she married James ...

(1843–1905)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.86–87 * Fred Albert (1844–1886) * Charles Austin (1878–1944) * Wilkie Bard (1874–1944) * Fred Barnes (1885-1938) * Ida Barr (1882–1967) * T. W. Barrett (1851–1935) * George Beauchamp (1862–1900)Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson, ''British Music Hall: A story in pictures'', Studio Vista, 1965, p.101 * Harry Bedford (1873-1939) *

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 abra ...

(1856–1896) * Ada Blanche (1862–1953) * Bessie Bonehill (1855–1902) * Herbert Campbell (1844–1904) * Kate Carney (1869–1950) * Mrs Caulfield (1817–1870) * Harry Champion (1865–1942) * Charles Chaplin Sr. (1863–1901) *

Hannah Chaplin Hannah Harriet Pedlingham Chaplin (née Hill; 6 August 1865 – 28 August 1928), also known by the stage name Lily Harley, was an English actress, singer and dancer who performed in British music halls from the age of 16. Chaplin was the mother ...

(1865–1928) * Albert Chevalier (1861–1923) *

G. H. Chirgwin G. H. Chirgwin (born George Chirgwin, 13 December 1854 – 14 November 1922) was a British music hall comedian, singer and instrumentalist, billed as "the White-Eyed Kaffir", a black face minstrel act. Biography Born in the Seven Dials area of L ...

(1854–1922) * Tom Clare (1876–1946) * Harry Clifton (1832–1872) *

Charles Coborn Colin Whitton McCallum (4 August 1852 – 23 November 1945), known by his stage name Charles Coborn, was a British music hall singer and comedian. In a long career, Coborn was known largely for two comic songs: "Two Lovely Black Eyes", and " T ...

(1852–1945) *

Lottie Collins Lottie Collins (16 August 1865 – 1 May 1910) was an English singer and dancer, most famous for introducing the song " Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!" in England. Early life She was born Charlotte Louisa Collins in the East End of London in 1865. He ...

(1865–1910) * Sam Collins (1825–1865) * Kitty Colyer (1881–1972) * Margaret Cooper (1877–1922) Dick Weindling, "The Lady in the Long Silk Gloves", ''Kilburn and Willesden History'', 25 September 2014
Retrieved 29 January 2021 * Sam Cowell (1820–1864) * Whit Cunliffe (1875–1966) * Marie Dainton (1881–1938; half-Russian) * Daisy Dormer (1883–1947) *

Leo Dryden George Dryden Wheeler Sr. (6 June 1863 – 21 April 1939), known as Leo Dryden, was an English music hall singer and vocal comic. Life and career George Dryden Wheeler, known as Leo Dryden, was born in London, the son of Sarah Ann (Frost) and Ge ...

(1863–1939) * T. E. Dunville (1867–1924) * Gus Elen (1862–1940) * G. H. Elliott (1882–1962) * Kate Everleigh (1864–1926) * James Fawn (1850–1923) * George Formby Sr (1875–1921) * Tom Foy (1879–1917) *

Harry Fragson Harry Fragson (2 July 1869 – 31 December 1913), born Léon Philippe Pot, was a British music hall singer, songwriter and comedian. Born in London of French parentage, he moved to Paris, where he developed an act imitating French music hall pe ...

(1869–1913) * Will Fyffe (1885–1947) * Barclay Gammon (1866–1915) * Gertie Gitana (1887–1957) * Robert Glindon (c. 1799–1866) * Charles Godfrey (1854–1900) *

Ernest Hastings Ernest Walter Hastings (15 June 1879 – 2 September 1940) was an English singer, pianist, composer and performer of comic monologues. He was popular from the 1900s to the 1930s, when he was described as "England's Greatest Entertainer at the ...

(1879–1940) Ernest Hastings, ''Petrucci Music Library''
Retrieved 17 January 2021 *

Dick Henderson Richard Henderson (20 March 1891 – 15 October 1958) was an English music hall comedian, singer and character actor. Life and career Dick Henderson was born in Sculcoates, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, the son of a machinist. He was an app ...

(1891–1958) * May Henderson (1884–1937) * Jenny Hill (1848–1896) * Thomas Hudson (1791–1844) * Alec Hurley (1871–1913) * Jack Judge (1872–1938) * Marie Kendall (1873–1964) * Hetty King (1883–1972) * John Labern (c. 1815–1881) * Walter Laburnum (1847–1902) * George Lashwood (1863–1942) *

Harry Lauder Sir Henry Lauder (; 4 August 1870 – 26 February 1950)Russell, Dave"Lauder, Sir Henry (1870–1950)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, online edition, January 2011, accessed 27 April 2014 was a S ...

(1870–1950) *

Dan Leno George Wild Galvin (20 December 1860 – 31 October 1904), better known by the stage name Dan Leno, was a leading English music hall comedian and musical theatre actor during the late Victorian era. He was best known, aside from his music hall a ...

(1860–1904) * Fannie Leslie (1856–1935) *

George Leybourne George Leybourne (17 March 1842 – 15 September 1884) was a '' Lion comique'' of the British Victorian music hall who, for much of his career, was known by the title of one of his songs, " Champagne Charlie". Another of his songs, and one tha ...

(1842–1884) * George Leyton (1864–1948) * Letty Lind (1861–1923) * Millie Lindon (1869–1940) * Alice Lloyd (1873–1949) * Arthur Lloyd (1839–1904) *

Marie Lloyd Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922), professionally known as Marie Lloyd (), was an English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress. She was best known for her performances of songs such as " T ...

(1870–1922) * G. H. MacDermott (1845–1901) * E. W. Mackney (1825–1909)A. P. Sharpe, "Banjo Pioneer", ''Banjo Mandolin Guitar'', February 1965, pp.164–165 * Clarice Mayne (1886–1966) * Ernie Mayne (1871–1937) * Jack Mayne (1887-1963) Comedian (name George Albert Caley) * Sam Mayo (1881–1938) *

Billy Merson Billy Merson (born William Henry Thompson; 29 March 1879 – 25 June 1947)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.227-228 was an English music hall performer, comedian and songwriter. Biog ...

(1879–1947) *

Victoria Monks Victoria Annie Monks (1 November 1884 – 26 January 1927) was a British music hall singer of the early 20th century. During the Edwardian and First World War eras she performed and recorded popular songs such as "Take Me Back to London Town" a ...

(1884–1927) * Lily Morris (1882–1952) * Jolly John Nash (1828–1901)Peter Gammond, ''The Oxford Companion to Popular Music'', Oxford University Press, 1991, p.279 * Harry Nicholls (1852–1926) * Talbot O'Farrell (1878–1952) *

Joe O'Gorman Joseph George O'Gorman (24 July 1890 – 26 August 1974) was a British entertainer and cricketer. With his brother Dave (1894–1964) he formed a song, dance and comedy act called the O'Gorman Brothers. Starting by touring the variety halls o ...

(1863–1937) "Joe O'Gorman", ''Music Hall Guild''
Retrieved 1 February 2021 *

Denise Orme Jessie Smither, Duchess of Leinster (25 August 1885 – 20 October 1960),Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 2, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd (2003), p. 2300 known by her stage name Denise Orme, was ...

(1885–1960) * Charles Penrose (1873–1952) * Mrs F. R. Phillips (c. 1829–1899) *

Jack Pleasants Jack Pleasants (born Squire Pleasants; 27 August 1874 – 2 January 1924) was an English music hall comedian and singer. Life and career Jack Pleasants was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England in 1874. After entering a talent co ...

(1875–1924) * Nelly Power (1854–1887) * Arthur Prince (1881–1946) * Harry Randall (1857–1932) * Ada Reeve (1874–1966) * Ella Retford (1885–1962) * Arthur Roberts (1852–1933) *

George Robey Sir George Edward Wade, CBE (20 September 1869 – 29 November 1954), Harding, James"Robey, George" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, accessed 10 May 2014. known professionally as George Robey, was an ...

(1869–1954) *

Frederick Robson Frederick Robson, born Thomas Frederick Brownbill (22 February 1821 – 12 August 1864) was an English comedian, actor and ballad singer. During his acting career, he combined outstanding comic gifts with the power of moving an audience to a se ...

(1821–1864) * Austin Rudd (1868–1929) * Maidie Scott (1881–1966) * Malcolm Scott (1872–1929) * Mark Sheridan (1864–1918) * Ella Shields (1879–1952) * J. H. Stead (c. 1827–1866) *

Eugene Stratton Eugene Augustus Rühlmann (May 8, 1861 – September 15, 1918) was an American-born dancer and singer. Born in Buffalo, New York, he adopted the stage name Eugene Stratton and spent most of his career in British music halls. Stratton was a ...

(1861–1918) * Marie Studholme (1872–1930) * Randolph Sutton (1888–1969) * Harry Sydney (c. 1825–1870) *

Harry Tate Ronald Macdonald Hutchison (4 July 1872 – 14 February 1940), professionally known as Harry Tate, was an English comedian, who performed in the music halls, in variety shows, and in films. Career Born in Lambeth, the son of a Scottish tea m ...

(1872–1940) *

Little Tich Harry Relph (21 July 186710 February 1928),Russell, Dav"Relph, Harry (1867–1928)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, online edition, January 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2013 professionally known as Littl ...

(1867–1928) * Vesta Tilley (1864–1952) * Sam Torr (1849–1923) * Alfred Vance (1839–1888) * Harriet Vernon (1852–1923) * Vesta Victoria (1873–1951) * Harry Weldon (1881–1930) * Bessie Wentworth (1873–1901) * Mabel Whittaker (1888-1963) (Dancer) The Rainbow Girl * Charles Whittle (1874–1947) * Daisy Wood (1877–1961) *

Wee Georgie Wood George Wood Bamlett OBE (17 December 1895 – 19 February 1979), known professionally as Wee Georgie Wood, was a British comic entertainer and actor who appeared in films, plays and music hall revues. He had a lengthy career of over fifty year ...

(1894–1979) *

Tom Woottwell Tom Woottwell (born Thomas Hare Burgess; 25 March 1864–13 February 1941) was an English music hall comedian, dancer and monologuist, popular around the turn of the twentieth century. Biography He was born in Highbury, London, the son of a b ...

(1864–1941)

British Music Hall entertainers: gallery

File:1892 Charles Coborn.jpg,

(1852-1945) File:Gus Elen 1900.jpg, Gus Elen (1862-1940) File:Little Tich in Paris.jpg,

(1867-1928) File:Marie Lloyd 02.jpg,

(1870-1922) File:Vesta Victoria 001.jpg, Vesta Victoria (1873-1951)

British Variety entertainers

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 ...

(1900–1982) * Billy Bennett (1887–1942) * Issy Bonn (1903–1977) *

Max Bygraves Walter William Bygraves (16 October 1922 – 31 August 2012), best known by the stage name Max Bygraves (adopted in honour of Max Miller), was an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, s ...

(1922–2012) *

Charlie Chester Charlie Chester MBE (26 April 1914 – 26 June 1997) was an English comedian, radio and television presenter and writer, broadcasting almost continuously from the 1940s to the 1990s. His style was similar to that of Max Miller. Life and ...

(1914–1997) *

Ken Dodd Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd (8 November 1927 – 11 March 2018) was an English comedian, singer and occasional actor. He was described as "the last great music hall entertainer", and was primarily known for his live stand-up performances. A lifel ...

(1927–2018) * Clive Dunn (1920–2012) *

Sid Field Sidney Arthur Field (1 April 1904 – 3 February 1950) was an English comedy entertainer who was popular in the 1940s. Early years Field was born in Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire, the son of Albert (a candlemaker) and Bertha (a dressma ...

(1904–1950) * Gracie Fields (1898–1979) *

Flanagan and Allen Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act most active during the 1930s and 1940s. Its members were Bud Flanagan (1896 – 1968, born Chaim Weintrop) and Chesney Allen (1894–1982). They were first paired in a Florrie Ford ...

(respectively: 1896–1968; 1894–1982) *

Flanders and Swann Flanders and Swann were a British comedy duo. Lyricist, actor and singer Michael Flanders (1922–1975) and composer and pianist Donald Swann (1923–1994) collaborated in writing and performing comic songs. They first worked together in a scho ...

(respectively: 1922–1975; 1923–1994) *

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he s ...

(1904–1961) *

Bruce Forsyth Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson (22 February 1928 – 18 August 2017) was a British entertainer and presenter whose career spanned more than 70 years. Forsyth came to national attention from the late 1950s through the ITV series '' Sunday Nig ...

(1928–2017) *

Dickie Henderson Richard Matthew Michael Henderson, OBE (30 October 1922 – 22 September 1985) was an English entertainer. Early years He was born in London. His father, Dick Henderson (1891–1958), was a music hall comedian and singer famous for his ...

(1922–1985) *

Joan Hinde Joan Hinde (21 October 1933 – 22 January 2015) was a British trumpeter and entertainer. Life Joan Hinde was born in Eckington, Derbyshire. At the age of six she began receiving cornet lessons from her uncle, who was the conductor of a local ...

(1933–2015) *

Hinge and Bracket Dr Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket were characters devised by George Logan and Patrick Fyffe for their comedy and musical act. Hinge and Bracket were elderly, intellectual female musicians; in these personae the male Logan and Fyffe play ...

: G. Logan (b. 1944) & P. Fyffe (1942–2002) *

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 on stage and screen, especially that of Alfred P. Doolittle in ''My F ...

(1890–1982) * Roy Hudd (1936–2020) *

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" ...

(1892–1965) * Jewel and Warriss (respectively: 1909–1995; 1909–1993) * Davy Kaye (1916–1998) * Danny La Rue (1927–2009) * Kenneth McKellar (1927–2010) * Max Miller (1894–1963) * Ivor Novello (1893–1951) *

(1890–1974) *

Tessie O'Shea Teresa Mary "Tessie" O'Shea (13 March 1913 – 21 April 1995) was a Welsh entertainer and actress. Early life O'Shea was born in Plantagenet Street in Riverside, Cardiff to newspaper wholesaler James Peter O'Shea, who had been a soldier and ...

(1913–1995) * Bob and Alf Pearson (respectively: 1907–1985; 1910–2012) *

Frank Randle Frank Randle (born Arthur Hughes, also known as Arthur McEvoy or Arthur Twist; 30 January 1901 – 7 July 1957) was an English comedian. A contemporary of fellow Lancastrians George Formby and Gracie Fields, he was regarded as more subv ...

(1901–1957) * Ted Ray (1905–1977) *

Leslie Sarony A Wills cigarette card from the 'Radio Celebrities' series, 1934; Sarony on right Leslie Sarony (born Leslie Legge Frye; 22 January 1897 – 12 February 1985) was a British entertainer, singer, actor and songwriter. Biography Sarony was b ...

(1897–1985) * Andy Stewart (1933–1993) * Tommy Trinder (1909–1989) * Max Wall (1908–1990) * Jimmy Wheeler (1910–1973) *

Robb Wilton Robert Wilton Smith (28 August 1881 – 1 May 1957), better known as Robb Wilton, was an English comedian and actor. He was best known for his filmed monologues during the 1930s and 1940s, in which he played incompetent authority figures. His tr ...

(1881–1957)

British Variety entertainers: gallery

File:Nina Vanna and Ivor Novello.jpg, Ivor Novello (1893–1951) File:GracieFieldsStageDoorCanteen.jpg, Gracie Fields (1898–1979) File:George Formby with the army in France, 1940 cropped.jpg,

(1904–1961) File:Danny La Rue 1975.jpg, Danny La Rue (1927–2009) File:KEN DODD.jpg,

(1927–2018)

References