Harry Brayne, English actor and well-known pantomime dame

a postcard photograph of Harry Brayne (1864-1947), English actor and well-known pantomime dame, signed on 19 January 1907 while he was playing Cook in the pantomime Dick Whittington and His Famous Cat, at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, which opened on 26 December 1906. Other members of the cast included Madelaine Du Val in the title role, and Gladys Huxley as Alice.
(photo: ‘RY,’ United Kingdom, circa 1906; postcard published about 1906 by The Rotary Photographic Co Ltd, London, Rotary Photographic Series, no. 4205 A)

Harry Brayne (Henry Francis Burkett Brayne) was born in the Lambeth district of London on 4 September 1864, and began his theatrical career about 1890. He was married twice; first to Esther E. Cornwell (1871-1914) in 1893 and second to Edith Annie Daniels in 1919. Harry Brayne died in London in 1947.

Ellaline Terriss as the Duc de Richelieu in The Dashing Little Duke, Hicks Theatre, London, 1909

two postcard photographs of Ellaline Terriss (1871-1971), English actress and singer, star of musical comedy
(photos: Foulsham & Banfield, London, 1909)

These two postcards, serial nos. 11509 F and 11530 A in the Rotary Photographic Series, published in London during 1909 by the Rotary Photographic Co Ltd, show Ellaline Terriss (left) as she appeared as the Duc de Richelieu in the musical play, The Dashing Little Duke, by Miss Terriss’s husband, Seymour Hicks, with lyrics by Ardian Ross and music by Frank E. Tours. The production, the cast of which also included Hayden Coffin, Courtice Pounds, Elizabeth Firth and Coralie Blythe, opened at the Hicks Theatre (now the Gielgud), London, on 17 February 1909 following an out of town trial at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. It ran for a disappointing 95 performances. The postcard on the right shows Miss Terriss in private life with a ‘Duc de Richelieu’ doll.

Frank Backus

Frank Backus (1848?-after 1901), English comedian, billed in 1874 as ‘The Voluble and Eccentric Negro Delineator’
(photo: unknown, probably UK, 1870s)

‘EAST OF ENGLAND MUSIC HALL, NORWICH.
‘MESSRS. J.C. MARSHALL and FRANK BACKUS beg most respectfully to thank Albert D. Lane, Esq., for his kindness in giving them an Engagement and Benefit, and also presented them with a handsome Silver Cup on their farewell benefit, January 10th, 1868. Yours most respectfully, J.C. MARSHALL and FRANK BACKUS, the Only American Flag Comedians in England. Present Engagement, ORIENTAL MUSIC HALL, GRAVESEND.’
(The Era, London, Sunday, 2 February 1868, p. 1c, advertisement)

Bellamy’s Royal Model Gallery, Alford, Lincolnshire, December 1870.
‘BELLAMY’S ROYAL MODEL GALLERY has been located here during the past three weeks, and at this time of year is very acceptable. In addition there is a promenade concert every evening, in which some well-known artistes appear, including Miss Victorine Bellamy, an excellent juvenile pianist; Mrs. Pat Dennis, a good Irish comedian; and Mr. Frank Backus (Negro comedian) whose songs, dances, jokes, &c., create roars of laughter.’
(The Era, London, Sunday, 1 January 1871, p. 5a)

‘MR. FRANK BACKUS, American comedian and Minstrel Corner Man, will be at Liberty June 12th and future dates for Troupe or Concert Hall Business. First-class Wardrobe. Address, 87, Cleveland-street, Doncaster.’
(The Era, London, Sunday, 4 June 1871, p. 16b)

The Bedford Music Hall, London, February 1880
‘Mr Frank Backus (a Negro comedian) who next undertook the task of amusing the audience, thoroughly succeeded in accomplishing it. He sang of being ”Samuel the Great.” ”The Nigger Swell,” ”I’m going to Kentucky once more,” and ”There’s a funny little Nigger I know,” were also sung by him. His rendering of the last-named merry, laughing lay was preceded by facetious talk about being in gaol and about trades. While some of his sayings were familiar many were fresh. His manner is original and funny. He made the people laugh heartily.’
(The Era, London, Sunday, 8 February 1880, p. 4a)

The People’s Palace of Varieties, London, October 1881
‘The name of Mr Alf. Rivers was in the bill, but he did not appear, owing, it was announced, to indisposition. His place was taken by Mr Frank Backus, who caused great amusement by his Negro eccentricities. He talked in fluent and humorous fashion about the disadvantages of being married, and sang of being a coloured boy aged twenty-one, who is fond of dancing. His second discourse was concerning various trades, and included smart puns and jokes. The titles of newspapers were ingeniously worked into a piece about what the newsboy sells, and might be, as he does. This facetious speech was followed by a song with the retrain ”I’m going to Kentucky once more.” He finished with a dance of an original and nimble kind, which, like his other doings, caused hearty applause.’
(The Era, London, Saturday, 8 October 1881, p. 4b)

Robinson Crusoe, pantomime, with Amy Grundy in the title role, Theatre Royal, Nottingham, Christmas, 1881
‘… Mr. Frank Backus as King Cockalorum introduces some sprightly dancing, and makes much of the somewhat minor character.’
The Stage, London, Friday, 6 January 1882, p. 5a)

The Coliseum, Leeds, December 1885
‘THE SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS. – This band of sable minstrels have at present a brief engagement at the Coliseum, Leeds. They gave the second of a series of eight entertainments on Saturday evening, and the crowded state of the house indicated afresh how popular still is this class of amusement. The variety which the programme of such a band usually presents, and which is no doubt one of the chief attractions, is here found in full measure. There is a good display of vocal power, with the sentimental and comic happily blended, delightful choruses, in which the instrumentalists take no unimportant part, much laughter provoked by the end men, with burlesque, negro eccentricities, and ventriloquism to heighten the merriment. The comic business is not entirely new – it never is – but taken as a whole it is very amusing. Mr. Charles Wilson’s singing of ”Tidings of Comfort and Joy,” is irresistibly funny, as are also the joint performances of himself and his droll colleague, Mr. James Sanford, in ”Nic-nacs.” Mr. Frank Backus does the chief part of the dancing, and does it well. The ventriloquist is Mr. Frank Mordaunt, who also excites hilarity. Amongst the vocalists, none excel Mr. A. Clifford, who has a find baritone voice, and Mr. Fred Salcombe, one of the tenors. the entertainment is a capital one of its kind.’
(The Leeds Mercury, Leeds, Monday 28 December 1885, p. 5c)

Alice Hamilton

Alice Hamilton (fl. 1870s-1890s), mezzo-soprano and actress, probably as she appeared as Pricess Guinevere in E.L. Blanchard’s pantomime, Tom Thumb the Great; or, Harlequin King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, at Drury Lane Theatre, Christmas, 1871. Other members of the cast were the Vokes Family and Miss Amalia.
(carte de visite photo: The London Stereoscopic & Photographic Co Ltd, London, circa 1871/72; hand tinted)

Alice Hamilton appeared again at Drury Lane the following Christmas in the pantomime The Children of the Wood; or, Harlequin, Queen Mab, and the World of Dreams. She is next mentioned in connection with an English version of Lecocq’s comic opera Giroflé-Girofla, produced at the Criterion Theatre, London, on 1 May 1875. According to The Morning Post (Monday, 3 May 1875, p. ), ‘Miss Hamilton made a tame, but still interesting, Paquita’; the cast also included Pauline Rita, Emily Thorne and Rose Keene.

In July 1875 Alice Hamilton joined Kate Santley’s Company for a provincial tour, after which she appeared in many comic operas and plays, including Charles Calvert’s 1877 production of Henry VIII at the Theatre Royal, Manchester, in which she played Anne Boleyn, looking ‘very pretty and graceful’ (The Era, London, Sunday, 2 September 1877, p. 13a/b). On 8 September 1881 she created the part of Mrs Augustus Green in George R. Sims’s farcical comedy The Gay City, when it was first produced at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham; the case was lead by Lionel Rignold.

Jenny Dawson (Mrs Clara Sharlach, d. 1936),
English actress and vocalist
(photo: London Stereoscopic Co, London, mid 1890s)

‘Dawson, Jenny. – Miss Jenny Dawson made her début at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, in a minor part, and shortly afterwards gained her first success as Pousette in the pantomime of Cinderella at the Prince’s Theatre, Manchester. In 1886 she came to London, and appeared as Jeames in Oliver Grumble at the Novelty Theatre [25 March 1886], under the management of Mr. Willie Edouin. An Autumn tour with Mr. G.P. Hawtrey, to play in The Pickpocket, was followed by her charming impersonation of Allan-a-Dale in the successful pantomime of The Babes in the Wood at the Prince of Wales’ Theatre, Liverpool. She remained in the provinces for a year, undertaking juvenile and leading parts, and principal burlesque. In September, 1887, she accepted an offer to join the Drury Lane Company, where she played Mrs. Egerton in Pleasure, and made an adorable Cupid in the pantomime of Puss in Boots. Mr. George Edwardes next engaged Miss Dawson for his provincial tour of Miss Esmeralda, and she then crossed the Atlantic solely to understudy Miss Nelly Farren in America, which brought her but barren honours. Returning to England in June, 1888, she appeared in Faust up to Date at the Gaiety during Mr. Van Bienne’s short autumnal season, to the success of which she very materially conduced. A pantomime engagement took her to Edinburgh for the winter, and in the spring of 1890 she was cast for Millie in The Bungalow at Toole’s [7 October 1889]. When Carmen up to Data was produced [Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool, 22 September 1890, transferred to the Gaiety, London, 4 October 1890], Miss Dawson created the rôle of Escamillo, but not liking the part, resigned it after the first week. Liverpool again claimed her for the winter pantomime, and in the spring of 1891 she was engaged by Mr. Thomas Thorne for Lady Franklin in the revival of Money, alternating the part with Miss Kate Phillips, after which she joined Mr. Charles Hawtrey’s Company at the Comedy, and besides creating the part of Rosabel in Houp La with unqualified success, filled the leading part in Husband and Wife with equal verve during Miss Lottie Venne’s absence.’
(Erskine Reid and Herbert Compton, The Dramatic Peerage, Raithby, Lawrence & Co Ltd, London, 1892, pp.67 and 68)

Jenny Dawson, whose husband was Robert E. Sharlach, was the mother of the actress, singer and mimic, Marie Dainton (1880-1938).