Fred Spencer burlesques a Gibson Girl, 1905

Fred Spencer (fl. 1890s-after 1949), English comedian, concert party entertainer and pantomime dame in costume as a Gibson Girl
(photo: J. White & Son, Littlehampton, East Sussex, probably 1905)

Dick Whittington, pantomime, The King’s Theatre, Hammersmith, Saturday, 23 December 1905
‘Mr. Fred Spencer introduces a capital burlesque of The Gibson Girl and as Martha Mixit, FitzWarren’s Housekeeper, supplies much mirth.’ Other members of the cast were Carlotta Levey in the title role, Harry Rogerson as Jack Idle and Maude Noel as Alice, Rhoda Ray as the Princess, Harry Kilburn as Alderman Fitzwarren and Johnny Fuller as the Cat.
(The Stage, London, 4 January 1906, p. 17a/b)

‘Fred Spencer.
‘Fred Spencer tells us that he is retiring from active work on the stage after a career extending over forty years. In his time he was one of the most popular of pantomime dames, and for many years enjoyed success as a seaside entertainer, spending twenty-one seasons at Littlehampton, seven at Paignton, ten at Seaford, and seven at Clacton. In more recent times he toured a three-act comedy with Gilbert Payne, which ran for over three years and his interpretation of the Mrs. ‘Arris character of C.B. Poultney made him known to many audiences. Mr. Spencer will retain the ”Mrs. ‘Arris” rights, but the part will in future be played by Dorothy Hildebrande.’
(The Stage, London, Thursday, 9 July 1931, p. 4b)

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Maud Courtney

Maude Courtney (Mrs Finlay Currie, 1884-1959),
American variety theatre entertainer
(photo: Hemus Sarony, Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1911)

Maude Courtney at the Colonial, New York, week beginning Monday, 15 October 1906
‘Maude Courtney, who used to sing the old songs, and who has been in Europe and other parts of the word for the past four years, made her reappearance and was given a very cordial welcome. She opened with a song called ”Au Revoir Hyacinth,” following it with a ditty called ”Put a Little Bit Away for a Rainy Day,” both of which are the hits of the present day in London. It must be recorded that they did not hit the fancy of the Colonial patrons to any extent. Miss Courtney’s personality and manner made as strong an appeal as ever which was proven when she recited ”Didn’t She Jim?” and sang a medley of songs that were once popular here and which she had sung in London. In her last selection she was assisted by a man in the gallery [probably Harry Calvo], who joined in very harmoniously. When Miss Courtney finds good substitutes for her first two song her speciality will be as attractive as ever, as she is an accomplished and gifted artist.’
(The New York Dramatic Mirror, New York, New York, 27 October 1906, p. 18a) (The song ‘Au Revoir, My Little Hyacinth,’ by Herman Darewski, with words by A.E. Sidney Davis, was featured as an interpolated number in the popular musical comedy, The Beauty of Bath, which was first produced by Seymour Hicks at the Aldwych Theatre, London, on 19 March 1906. The star of that show, Ellaline Terriss recorded the song for The Gramophone & Typewriter Co Ltd of London on 10 January 1907, but it was it was rejected. The same company, however, had already issued a recording of the song made on 16 November 1906 by Phyllis Dare. The latter, who had not appeared in The Beauty of Bath, was well known through professional ties with Ellaline Terriss and her husband, Seymour Hicks. C.W. Murphy and Dan Lipton’s ‘Put a Little Bit Away for a Rainy Day’ was among the first songs recorded by the English music hall comedienne, Ella Retford; she cut it three times during 1906, twice for the Sterling label and once for Odeon. Michael Kilgarriff, Sing Us One of the Old Songs, Oxford, 1998, states that Carlotta Levey, another English music hall artist of the period, also sang ‘Put a Little Bit Away for a Rainy Day.’)

Sisters Levey

Sisters Levey (fl. 1890s)
English music hall dancers and singers
(photo: unknown, USA, 1890/91)

This real photograph card was issued in the United States of America by Duke’s in one of the Honest Long Cut series.

As well as appearing in New York during 1890/91, the three Sisters Levey (Adéle, Carlotta & May Lilian), who had made their debut at the at the Trocadero, London, on 19 September 1887, were on tour with Evans & Hoey’s company in A Parlor Match.

‘The Evans & Hoey comedy company gave A Parlor Match at the Grand [Decatur] last night and despite the inclement weather had an audience of fair size. The comedy was presented by the talented comedians who are up in G in their business, and Hoyt’s best will never grow wearisome as long as Evans & Hoey pilot it through the country. The Sisters Levey are shapely girls and sized up pleasingly in their specialties. They male quartet was great in music and the silent drill.’
(The Decatur Republican, Decatur, Illinois, Friday, 20 February 1891, p.3d)