British Music Hall

Music Hall was a form of theatrical life whose mummy, embalmed by memory, is still livelier than anything that has appeared since to take its place. Genet, The New Yorker

On the left is a list of entertainers, some stars of the old music hall and some present day who, in my opinion, show the influence of music hall in their work.

Click on the names to the left for info, pictures and maybe video.

My Credentials
Beginning of Music Hall
The Old Songs
Music Hall on Radio
Live Music Hall Today

How did I get to be such an expert?

Well, I am not an expert but in my youth in London I went to the local variety theatres (Chiswick Empire, Shepherd's Bush Empire) and saw some of these acts. This is really an arbitrary list of the ones I like. I love magic. Every time there was a magician or ventriloquist on the bill, I was there. I saw The Great Lyle, Tommy Cooper, Al Koran, Tattersal, Daisy Mae and Saveen, Billy McCoomb, Blackstone, Arthur Worseley, Peter Brough and Archie Andrews and a lot of great magicians who were not famous at all. Saturdays I hung out at the magic shops, Davenport's and Harry Stanley's in London.

While going to see magicians I also saw headliners, George Formby, Max Miller, Vera Lynn, Arthur Askey, Vic Oliver and many pop singers of the day who were top of the bill with a song on the hit parade. Links to info and some videos of these characters are in the list on the left.

I turned out to be a better singer than magician so that is what I do now for a living. Usually you will find me and many other entertainers floating around the ocean doing our shows on cruise ships because venues on land for live entertainment are becoming more and more rare as DVD and HDTV take over. So take a cruise and see some live entertainment, much of it has its roots in Music Hall. I know mine does.

Click here to find out where I am doing my songs at the piano, sometimes I sneak in a trick or two (not the linking rings, my wife won't let me do that) and even an occasional duet with Horace, my wooden friend.
London Bobby

The Beginning of Music Hall

Music Hall began in the pubs when the gaffers started hiring entertainers to attract customers. As it grew in popularity they built halls for the express purpose of entertainment. Music Hall finally gave way to the cinema but it still lives in occasional revivals and - ta da! - London Bobby's Dinner Show and tapes and CDs! Many of today's acts have strong echoes of the genre. (Mine does, hear some Sound Clips or Video Clips .

This picture is of Albert Chevalier and comes from the cover of his second song album, published by Reynolds & Co., London, no copyright date.
Click Here for Music Hall Songs, Lyrics

Music Hall on Radio

This will eventually be an international listing of radio programs that play British Music Hall. Here's a start:

Calling All Britons, Radio CHWO 1250 am,
audible in the Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara Peninsula area.
Saturdays 5 to 7PM.
Contact:
Colin Hoare, Radio CHWO,
284 Church St.,
Oakville, Ont. Canada.

Music Hall - Live

London Bobby Show
Player's Theatre link in list on the left
In Spain, of all places, British music Hall is alive and well at The Salon Varietes Theatre in Fuengilrola, Costa del Sol.

Music Hall on the Web: I shall add links as I find them, if you know any good ones please email me.

email: bob@londonbobby.com

London Bobby Entertainment


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