Doris Ashton

Doris Ashton (fl. 1919-1938), English popular singer, variety theatre entertainer and pantomime principal boy
(photo: Hana, London, circa 1919)

Doris Ashton appears to have had some success as a popular singer in the United Kingdom during the 1920s and ’30s. She began her career in 1919 and that year and the following she was at the London Coliseum. In 1920 she made a handful of recordings in London for the Regal label. She next appeared in Pot Luck!, described as a ‘Cabaret Show,’ which opened for a successful run at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, on 24 December 1921. The cast also included Jack Hulbert, Beatrice Lillie, Mary Leigh, Margaret Bannerman, Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar, and Maidie Scott. ‘Miss Doris Ashton has a good voice, which she has no need to force.’ (The Daily Mirror, London, Tuesday, 27 December 1921, p. 12a)

During 1926 and again in the 1930s, Doris Ashton made a number of broadcasts for the BBC. In the late 1920s she also appeared with the entertainer Billy Rawson. They were at the London Palladium together in 1928, the year in which they made an 8 minute synchronized sound film in London for the De Forest Phonofilm company, which was released in May that year. In January 1929 the couple appeared in the pantomime Dick Whittington and His Cat, at the Metropole Theatre, Glasgow. This was followed in March by a personal appearance on stage at the Astoria cinema in London.

Doris Ashton’s other pantomime parts included as the Princess Guenevere in the Brixton Theatre, London, pantomime of 1927/28, St. George and the Dragon. At Christmas 1931 she was principal boy at the Brixton Theatre’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. ‘Miss Doris Ashton is a principal boy good enough in diction, presence, and voice for Drury Lane – or should it be in these days be the Lyceum?’ (The Times, London, 28 December 1931, p. 8b) (The last Drury Lane pantomime was The Sleeping Beauty at Christmas 1929). Miss Ashton returned to the Brixton Theatre for the Christmas pantomimes of 1936 and 1937, respectively Babes in the Wood, when she appeared as Robin Hood, and The Sleeping Beauty, when she appeared as the principal boy.

Walter Dowling’s The Fantastics, English concert party entertainers

Walter Dowling’s The Fantastics (1909-1914),
English concert party entertainers
(photo: H. Mortimer Allen, Tenby, south Wales, circa 1910)

This real photograph postcard is one of a small series featuring The Fantastics, issued in England about 1910.

The Fantastics concert party was the brainchild of Walter Dowling, an actor and comedian who was born in 1880. A native of Liverpool, he was originally employed in the retail goldsmiths’ trade by Elkington & Co Ltd in that city before drifting into concert party work. Dowling moved to London where he became the jester in the Scarlet Mr. E’s concert party before establishing his own group, The Fantastics, whose original members were himself, Jose (Josephine) Leyton (Mrs Walter Dowling), comedienne and siffleuse, Jessie Crone, contralto, Roland Green, baritone, Alfred Daniels, banjo-humorist, and Bert Darant, pianist. Their first appearance was at the London Coliseum in 1909. Although Dowling died in 1914 at the early age of 32, The Fantastics appear not to have been disbanded until the early 1920s.

Madge Temple (1875/80-1943),
English actress, vocalist and music hall comedienne
(photos: unknown, circa 1905)

This tinted real photograph postcard of Madge Temple, actress, vocalist and music hall comedienne, was printed in Saxony and published about 1905 by the Aristophot Co of London.

Miss Temple made her first appearance in pantomime at the Lyric Theatre, Ealing, West London, at Christmas, 1900. She subsequently toured in a production of Leslie Stuart’s musical comedy, Florodora and other similar pieces before making an appearance on the variety stage for the first time, at the London Coliseum on 18 December 1905. After that, she made successful tours of music hall circuits, with such songs as ‘Come, Be My Rainbow,’ ‘He’s a Very Old Friend of Mine’ and ‘I’m Looking for Mr Wright.’ The latter was among a number of songs which she recorded for Pathé in 1909 or 1910, which may be heard on ‘Chez Pathe,’ vol. 2, a CD of music hall songs by original artists issued by Music Hall Masters (MHM 015).

In private life, Madge Temple was married to Herman Darewski, a prolific and successful composer of popular songs, and died in Sheffield on 8 December 1943.

Madge Temple (1875/80-1943),
English actress, vocalist and music hall comedienne
(photos: unknown, circa 1905)

This tinted real photograph postcard of Madge Temple, actress, vocalist and music hall comedienne, was printed in Saxony and published about 1905 by the Aristophot Co of London.

Miss Temple made her first appearance in pantomime at the Lyric Theatre, Ealing, West London, at Christmas, 1900. She subsequently toured in a production of Leslie Stuart’s musical comedy, Florodora and other similar pieces before making an appearance on the variety stage for the first time, at the London Coliseum on 18 December 1905. After that, she made successful tours of music hall circuits, with such songs as ‘Come, Be My Rainbow,’ ‘He’s a Very Old Friend of Mine’ and ‘I’m Looking for Mr Wright.’ The latter was among a number of songs which she recorded for Pathé in 1909 or 1910, which may be heard on ‘Chez Pathe,’ vol. 2, a CD of music hall songs by original artists issued by Music Hall Masters (MHM 015).

In private life, Madge Temple was married to Herman Darewski, a prolific and successful composer of popular songs, and died in Sheffield on 8 December 1943.

Lubov Tchernicheva of the Diaghileff Ballet Company as Cleopatra, photographed by Malcolm Arbuthnot, London, 1918

front cover of the December 1918 issue of The Dancing Times, London,
with colour halftone portrait of Lubov Tchernicheva (1890-1976), Russian ballet dancer,
of the Diaghileff Ballet Company in the ballet Cleopatra
(photo: Malcolm Arbuthnot, London, 1918)

‘Australians who visited London in the years just before the war will remember the vogue of the Russian ballet – the joys of Pavlova’s dancing, the manly form of M. Mordkin, the grace and agility of Nijinsky, and the stately beauty of Mdlle. Karsavina (writes a London lady). For two years Russian has been in eclipse, even from the stanpoint of art. However, there is now a change for the better, and a Russian ballet is once more being performed at a London theatre. M. Diaghileff’s company, which charmed London seven years ago, has returned to the Coliseum with a wonderful combination of dance, music, spectacle, and dramatic miming. The well-known ballet, with music by Arensky, covering a version of the Cleopatra myth, is given in the afternoon, and a comedy-ballet, with music by Domenico Scarlatti, is staged in the evening. The story of the evening production is based on a play by Goldini. The scene is laid in Venice in carnival time. It deals with the merry pranks of 18th century carnival keepers, and includes a wonderful supper scene. Imagine a company of dancers gyrating through a supper. Yet the Russian ballet company do it with perfect grace and charm. Mdlle. Lydia Lopokova, the principal dancer, is as delightful as any of her predecessors, and is splendidly supported by the company. The delight of the Russian ballet, of course, lies in the fact that it is not a ballet. It is a mixture of arts, as Wagnerian opera is a blend of music, drama, epic poetry, and spectacle. The ballet dresses, designed by Bakst, are alone worth a visit. The music is as delightful as anything to be heard at a West-End concert room; the plot of the ballet is far more complex and amusing than most comic operas. The miming of Mdlle Lydia Lopokova, Mme. Lubov Tchernicheva, M. Leonide Massine, and M. Idzikovsky is much more entertaining than most efforts on the London state at present. The Russian ballet, therefore, offers something for all tastes.’
(The Daily News, Perth, Western Australia, Wednesday, 27 November 1918, p. 3a/b)

Russell Wallett, ‘The Lady in Black’

Russell Wallett (1867-1912)
English actor, music hall entertainer and female impersonator,
as a ‘Gibson Girl’
(photo: unknown, UK, circa 1906; half-tone publicity postcard)

Russell Wallett appears as an extra turn at the London Coliseum, February 1908
‘Mr. Russell Wallett appeared on Monday afternoon as an extra turn at the Coliseum. Dressed as a lady, he played the piano and sang. For his sudden lapse into masculinity few were prepared, and he scored a distinct success, especially in his advice to the girls.’
(The Era, London, Saturday, 4 April 1908, p. 19a)