Gabys Deslys and Surye Kichi Eida in the Ju-Jitsu Waltz, Gaiety Theatre, London, 1907

A real photograph postcard of ‘Mdlle Gaby Deslys & S.K. Eida, in the new Ju-Jitsu Waltz at the Gaiety’ published in A. & G. Taylor’s ‘Reality’ series, no. 1300, 70 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC
(photo: Bassano, London, probably 1907; there were at least five photographs taken at this sitting)

Gaby Deslys and S.K. Eida introduced the Ju-Jitsu Waltz to London audiences during the run of The New Aladdin, a musical extravaganza, which ran at the Gaiety Theatre, London, from 29 September 1906 to 27 April 1907.

Surye Kichi Eida (1878-1918), who was born in Japan, appears in the 1901 Census as an assistant gardener, living in Acton, West London, with his brother, Saburo Eida (1858-1911), an importer of art, and his family. In 1909 he married Ellen Christina Brown (1886-1931) and together they toured United Kingdom music halls in a Japanese dancing and ju-jitsu act, billed as Nellie Falco and S.K. Eida.

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