Anna Wheaton as she appeared for the song ‘My Snake-Charming Girl’ in the revue, Push and Go at the London Hippodrome 1915

Anna Wheaton (1896-1961), American musical comedy and revue actress, dancer and singer as she appeared in the revue Push and Go at the London Hippodrome (10 May 1915) in her costume for the song, ‘My Snake-Charming Girl.’
(photo: Wrather & Buys, 27 New Bond Street, London, 1915)

Anna Wheaton, accompanied by Jamieson Dodds, recorded ‘My Snake-Charming Girl’ for the Columbia label in London (Col 560) about June 1915. While this is unavailable at the moment, several of Miss Wheaton’s later recordings are featured on YouTube, including ‘Rolled Into One‘ from Oh! Boy!, recorded in New York City, 23 March 1917.

The principals in Push and Go were Violet Lorraine and Harry Tate. They were joined by a number of American artists including Shirley Kellogg, Arthur Swanston and Anna Wheaton. Among the sketches was a skit on Elsie Janis and her mother (played by Misses Kellogg and Wheaton), with Gerald Kirby appearing as Basil Hallam. It was well known at the time that in her private life Miss Janis (the American revue star then currently appearing at the Palace Theatre, London, in The Passing Show of 1915) was always accompanied by her mother and that she was also romantically attached to to her co-star, the English actor Basil Hallam.

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Violet Grey, English actress and singer, circa 1918

Violet Grey (active circa 1908-1925), English actress and singer
(postcard photo; Wrather & Buys, 27 New Bond Street, London, W, circa 1918)

Violet Grey appeared at various variety theatres, such as the Wood Green Empire, north London, during December 1915 when The Stage described her as ‘a dainty lady with a pleasing voice and manner.’ She was also seen in a number of revues and pantomime, both in London and the UK provinces, including Harry Grattan’s revue, Tabs, produced at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, on 15 May 1918.

Jean Allistone

Jean Allistone (1897-1958), English actress, singer and entertainer, as she appeared as Gertie Le Roy, a revue artist, in the revue, Oh! La! La!, produced at the Queen’s Theatre, London, on 27 December 1915
(photo: Wrather & Buys, London, 1915/16)

Jean Allistone, who became Mrs Tommy Handley, was first noticed in Oh! La! La!, a review starring and partly written by Jack Norworth, which was produced at the Queen’s, London, on 27 December 1915. Other members of the cast included Ernie Lotinga, Laura Guerite and Hettie King. The piece was not an unqualified success and closed after 58 performances.
Besides United Kingdom provincial tours, Miss Allistone went on to appear in Jingle Bells, a modest musical burlesque with Edward Rigby and Harry Welchman, produced at the London Opera House on 8 May 1916, for a run of 12 performances. She was later seen in the revue, The Show’s the Thing, which began at the Victoria Palace, London, and then ran successfully at the Lyceum, London, from 19 August 1929, then transferring to the Winter Garden, London. The cast included Archie Pitt, who wrote the book, and his wife, Gracie Fields.
Meanwhile, Jean Allistone was rather better known for her work on radio for the BBC with her husband. She made several recordings including a sketch with Handley entitled ‘Have You Seen My Chickens.’

Ida René and Marie Blanche in Samples!

a scene with Ida René and Marie Blanche from Harry Grattan’s revue, Samples!, Playhouse Theatre, London, 30 November 1915
(photo: Wrather & Buys, London, 1915)

a scene with Ida René and Marie Blanche from Harry Grattan’s revue, Samples!, Playhouse Theatre, London, 30 November 1915
(photo: Wrather & Buys, London, 1915)

a scene with Ida René and Marie Blanche from Harry Grattan’s revue, Samples!, Playhouse Theatre, London, 30 November 1915
(photo: Wrather & Buys, London, 1915)