Sanford and Lyons: Difference between revisions
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m General tidy up of text and added further information and references. There are some major features on the duo in press reports and in books (including as mentioned by Chaplin himself), not just passing references. Perhaps we can have an editor look over the draft whose knowledge in Music hall and vaudeville entertainment is a specialty? |
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George "Sanford" Bradbury (1869—1950) and George "Lyons" Jennings (1892—1911), |
George "Sanford" Bradbury (1869—1950) and George "Lyons" Jennings (1892—1911), known as '''Sanford and Lyons,''' were popular English [[music hall]] comedians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
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They were best known for their simultaneous dance and |
They were best known for their simultaneous dance and comedy routines, gaining popularity throughout the provinces and in London's variety theatres where they enjoyed particular success at the [[Oxford Music Hall]] and at the [[Tivoli Theatre of Varieties]]. |
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The partnership ended during the peak of their career, with the unexpected early death of George Lyons, aged just 38. |
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== Biography == |
== Biography == |
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George Sanford was born George Henry Bradbury in the city of [[Liverpool]] to musician Robert Henry Bradbury and Susannah Bell in the predominantly [[Irish Catholics|Irish Catholic]] neighbourhood of [[Everton, Liverpool|Everton]]. His elder brother John Bradbury (1868–1929) |
George Sanford was born George Henry Bradbury in the city of [[Liverpool]] to musician Robert Henry Bradbury and Susannah Bell in the predominantly [[Irish Catholics|Irish Catholic]] neighbourhood of [[Everton, Liverpool|Everton]]. His elder brother John "Cullen" Bradbury (1868–1929) gained fame as one half of the comedy double act [[Cullen and Carthy]]. Their father's early death from [[scarlet fever]] in 1870 left their mother widowed with two infant sons at the relatively young age of twenty-seven. Susannah remarried to Joseph Roper in 1872, giving birth to a further five children. Such was the popularity of the two brothers that upon their mother's death in 1908, various national newspapers published condolences.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 February 1908|title=Births, Marriages and Deaths|work=The Era|url-status=live|p=19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2 February 1908|title=p. 3 Stage Whispers|work=Empire News & The Umpire|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=15 February 1908|title=p. 18 Stage Notes|work=Bristol Times and Mirror|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=30 January 1908|title=p. 13 Variety Gossip|work=The Stage|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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George Lyons was born George William John Jennings in the [[West Derby]] neighbourhood of Liverpool to James Jennings, a painter, and his wife Catherine. He was one of ten children. |
George Lyons was born George William John Jennings in the [[West Derby]] neighbourhood of Liverpool to James Jennings, a painter, and his wife Catherine. He was one of ten children. |
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Aside from their music hall appearances, the duo established themselves as popular performers in Christmas [[Pantomime|pantomimes]] and appeared in them at theatres throughout the United Kingdom. Their pantomime appearances include ''The Forty Thieves'' (Royalty Theatre Chester, 1898), ''Babes In The Wood'' (St. James Theatre, Manchester 1899), ''Cinderella'' (Grand Junction Theatre, Manchester 1901), ''Aladdin'' (Theatre Royal, Bristol 1902), ''Little Red Riding Hood'' (Theatre Royal, Bristol 1903), ''Little Red Riding Hood'' (Grand Theatre, Brighton 1904), ''The Sleeping Beauty'' (Princes Theatre, Manchester 1905), ''Aladdin'' (Grand Theatre, Leeds 1906) and ''Robinson Crusoe'' (Grand Theatre, Brighton 1909). |
Aside from their music hall appearances, the duo established themselves as popular performers in Christmas [[Pantomime|pantomimes]] and appeared in them at theatres throughout the United Kingdom. Their pantomime appearances include ''The Forty Thieves'' (Royalty Theatre Chester, 1898), ''Babes In The Wood'' (St. James Theatre, Manchester 1899), ''Cinderella'' (Grand Junction Theatre, Manchester 1901), ''Aladdin'' (Theatre Royal, Bristol 1902), ''Little Red Riding Hood'' (Theatre Royal, Bristol 1903), ''Little Red Riding Hood'' (Grand Theatre, Brighton 1904), ''The Sleeping Beauty'' (Princes Theatre, Manchester 1905), ''Aladdin'' (Grand Theatre, Leeds 1906) and ''Robinson Crusoe'' (Grand Theatre, Brighton 1909). Their seasons at Bristol's Theatre Royal (today the [[Bristol Old Vic]]) were triumphs: the theatre reported record attendances and press reviews were superlative. Such was the success of ''Aladdin'' that the production was extended, eventually closing on March 14, 1903. At the conclusion of the ''Aladdin'' season, the ''Bristol Magpie'' reported the duo's enormous popularity: <blockquote>"If you want to get even standing room you will have to go early to the Theatre Royal on Friday night. For on that night Sanford and Lyons take their benefit, and Bristol is going to turn out in force to express their esteem and admiration for two of the hardest working and most genuinely funny comedians that have ever appeared on the boards of the old-made-new-house in King Street. The pair are not new to pantomime business, and as they write their own words and compose their own music, their turns are always new and original."<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 March 1903|title=p. 14 Messrs. SANDFORD & LYONS. THE CHINESE POLICEMEN IN ALADDIN AT THE THEATRE ROYAL|work=Bristol Magpie|url-status=live}}</ref> </blockquote>From 1905 Sanford and Lyons began to appear to great success at the major Music Halls in London. In April 1905 a reviewer from ''The London Entr'acte'' noted their performance: "A notable success is being made at the Oxford by Sanford and Lyons. They dress in black and white gloves and white spats over their boots. Their dancing, besides being extremely clever in itself, is most effectively presented. The lights are lowered, so that the eye is attracted only by their rhythmically moving hands and feet. They dance together in perfect time, and also essay — with complete acceptance — some amusing "crosstalk" business. They take several "calls" at the conclusion of their smart performance."<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 April 1905|title=p. 4 London Programmes Reviewed|work=London and Provincial Entr'acte|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Their seasons in at Bristol's Theatre Royal (today the [[Bristol Old Vic]]) were triumphs: the theatre reported record attendances and press reviews were superlative. At the conclusion of the Aladdin season, the ''Bristol Magpie'' reported "If you want to get even standing room you will have to go early to the Theatre Royal on Friday night. For on that night Sanford and Lyons take their benefit, and Bristol is going to turn out in force to express their esteem and admiration for two of the hardest working and most genuinely funny comedians that have ever appeared on the boards of the old-made-new-house in King Street. The pair are not new to pantomime business, and as they write their own words and compose their own music their turns are always new and original."<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 March 1903|title=p. 14 Messrs. SANDFORD & LYONS. THE CHINESE POLICEMEN IN ALADDIN AT THE THEATRE ROYAL|work=Bristol Magpie|url-status=live}}</ref> Such was the success of ''Aladdin'' that the production was extended, and eventually closed on March 14, 1903. |
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At the closure of ''Little Red Riding Hood'' in 1904, George Lyons married his co-star Rosie White, an actress known professionally as Miss Irene Rose, at St. George's Church, Bristol. ''The Clifton Society'' observed that "the body of the church was crowded with with local and professional friends of the pair... the marriage service was read by the vicar of the parish, who, in the course of an address, remarked that under the benediction of the Church they would work together in future in a noble and honourable profession — giving pleasure to thousands of the public."<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 March 1904|title=p. 9 Theatrical Wedding at Brandon Hill|work=The Clifton Society|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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From 1905 Sanford and Lyons began to appear to great success at the major Music Halls in London. In April 1905 a reviewer from ''The London Entr'acte'' noted their performance. "A notable success is being made at the Oxford by Sanford and Lyons. They dress in black and white gloves and white spats over their boots. Their dancing, besides being extremely clever in itself, is most effectively presented. The lights are lowered, so that the eye is attracted only by their rhythmically moving hands and feet. They dance together in perfect time, and also essay — with complete acceptance — some amusing "crosstalk" business. They take several "calls" at the conclusion of their smart performance."<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 April 1905|title=p. 4 London Programmes Reviewed|work=London and Provincial Entr'acte|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In September 1908 Sanford and Lyons appeared at the Oxford music hall on the same bill as [[Marie Lloyd]], [[Little Tich]] and [[Paul Cinquevalli|Cinquevalli]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 September 1908|title=p. 8 Music Halls and Theatres|work=Music Hall and Theatre Review|url-status=live}}</ref> Writing in The Stage, one reporter observed that "Sanford and Lyons move as one man. They are cross-talkers and dancers. This variety has been worn to death. The excellence of these two young men, however, the freshness of their jokes, the skill of their dances make one forget that there are others of inferior degree."<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 July 1908|title=p. 12 Sanford and Lyons|work=The Stage|url-status=live}}</ref> |
In September 1908 Sanford and Lyons appeared at the Oxford music hall on the same bill as [[Marie Lloyd]], [[Little Tich]] and [[Paul Cinquevalli|Cinquevalli]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 September 1908|title=p. 8 Music Halls and Theatres|work=Music Hall and Theatre Review|url-status=live}}</ref> Writing in ''The Stage'', one reporter observed that "Sanford and Lyons move as one man. They are cross-talkers and dancers. This variety has been worn to death. The excellence of these two young men, however, the freshness of their jokes, the skill of their dances make one forget that there are others of inferior degree."<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 July 1908|title=p. 12 Sanford and Lyons|work=The Stage|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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== Death and legacy == |
== Death and legacy == |
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Their |
Their partnership ended with the death of George Lyons in June 2011. His health had reportedly broken down for several months preceding, and he eventually succumbed to "a chill with consumption".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=16 June 1911|title=p. 4 Music Hall artists death|work=Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Clifton Society'', reporting his funeral, noted that he was "carried off in the zenith of his success as a star of the variety stage". ''The Music Hall and Theatre Review'' mourned the end of the Sanford and Lyons partnership, writing "as simultaneous dancers they created a style that was extensively copied; their patter was invariably witty and well delivered".<ref name=":0" /> |
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Sanford continued the act with a new partner, starring in the 1914 London Palladium revue ''Town Topics'', but by the 1920's had retired. A 1929 feature on Sanford in ''The Stage'' reported him as being "unable to stay away from variety". He became a prominent member of the [[Grand Order of Water Rats|Water Rats]] charity, and died in October 1950 at the age of 81.<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 November 1950|title=p. 3 Death of George Sanford|work=The Stage|url-status=live}}</ref> Obituaries noted his support of the [[Variety Artistes' Federation|Variety Artists Federation]] during the early days of the union.<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 November 1950|title=p. 3 Death of George Sanford|work=The Stage|url-status=live}}</ref> His descendants include a daughter named Jessie "Jeannie" Bradbury (1916—1967) — a jazz singer who married Welsh bandleader [[Harry Parry]], his great-nephew [[George Roper]] (1934—2003) who achieved national recognition as a stand-up comedian on British television during the 1970s and 1980s, and a son of the latter, [[Matt Roper]] (1977—) achieving note as a theatre and variety performer, today living in New York City. |
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== Further resources == |
== Further resources == |
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Charlie Chaplin |
Charlie Chaplin shares reminisces of Sanford and Lyons during the golden age of music hall in his travel writings ''A Comedian Sees the World'', first published in 1932.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1932|title=p. 119 Part IV|work=Charlie Chaplin: A Comedian Sees the World|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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George "Sanford" Bradbury (1869—1950) and George "Lyons" Jennings (1892—1911), known as Sanford and Lyons, were popular English music hall comedians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
They were best known for their simultaneous dance and comedy routines, gaining popularity throughout the provinces and in London's variety theatres where they enjoyed particular success at the Oxford Music Hall and at the Tivoli Theatre of Varieties.
Biography
George Sanford was born George Henry Bradbury in the city of Liverpool to musician Robert Henry Bradbury and Susannah Bell in the predominantly Irish Catholic neighbourhood of Everton. His elder brother John "Cullen" Bradbury (1868–1929) gained fame as one half of the comedy double act Cullen and Carthy. Their father's early death from scarlet fever in 1870 left their mother widowed with two infant sons at the relatively young age of twenty-seven. Susannah remarried to Joseph Roper in 1872, giving birth to a further five children. Such was the popularity of the two brothers that upon their mother's death in 1908, various national newspapers published condolences.[1][2][3][4]
George Lyons was born George William John Jennings in the West Derby neighbourhood of Liverpool to James Jennings, a painter, and his wife Catherine. He was one of ten children.
Aside from their music hall appearances, the duo established themselves as popular performers in Christmas pantomimes and appeared in them at theatres throughout the United Kingdom. Their pantomime appearances include The Forty Thieves (Royalty Theatre Chester, 1898), Babes In The Wood (St. James Theatre, Manchester 1899), Cinderella (Grand Junction Theatre, Manchester 1901), Aladdin (Theatre Royal, Bristol 1902), Little Red Riding Hood (Theatre Royal, Bristol 1903), Little Red Riding Hood (Grand Theatre, Brighton 1904), The Sleeping Beauty (Princes Theatre, Manchester 1905), Aladdin (Grand Theatre, Leeds 1906) and Robinson Crusoe (Grand Theatre, Brighton 1909). Their seasons at Bristol's Theatre Royal (today the Bristol Old Vic) were triumphs: the theatre reported record attendances and press reviews were superlative. Such was the success of Aladdin that the production was extended, eventually closing on March 14, 1903. At the conclusion of the Aladdin season, the Bristol Magpie reported the duo's enormous popularity:
"If you want to get even standing room you will have to go early to the Theatre Royal on Friday night. For on that night Sanford and Lyons take their benefit, and Bristol is going to turn out in force to express their esteem and admiration for two of the hardest working and most genuinely funny comedians that have ever appeared on the boards of the old-made-new-house in King Street. The pair are not new to pantomime business, and as they write their own words and compose their own music, their turns are always new and original."[5]
From 1905 Sanford and Lyons began to appear to great success at the major Music Halls in London. In April 1905 a reviewer from The London Entr'acte noted their performance: "A notable success is being made at the Oxford by Sanford and Lyons. They dress in black and white gloves and white spats over their boots. Their dancing, besides being extremely clever in itself, is most effectively presented. The lights are lowered, so that the eye is attracted only by their rhythmically moving hands and feet. They dance together in perfect time, and also essay — with complete acceptance — some amusing "crosstalk" business. They take several "calls" at the conclusion of their smart performance."[6]
In September 1908 Sanford and Lyons appeared at the Oxford music hall on the same bill as Marie Lloyd, Little Tich and Cinquevalli.[7] Writing in The Stage, one reporter observed that "Sanford and Lyons move as one man. They are cross-talkers and dancers. This variety has been worn to death. The excellence of these two young men, however, the freshness of their jokes, the skill of their dances make one forget that there are others of inferior degree."[8]
Death and legacy
Their partnership ended with the death of George Lyons in June 2011. His health had reportedly broken down for several months preceding, and he eventually succumbed to "a chill with consumption".[9] The Clifton Society, reporting his funeral, noted that he was "carried off in the zenith of his success as a star of the variety stage". The Music Hall and Theatre Review mourned the end of the Sanford and Lyons partnership, writing "as simultaneous dancers they created a style that was extensively copied; their patter was invariably witty and well delivered".[9]
Sanford continued the act with a new partner, starring in the 1914 London Palladium revue Town Topics, but by the 1920's had retired. A 1929 feature on Sanford in The Stage reported him as being "unable to stay away from variety". He became a prominent member of the Water Rats charity, and died in October 1950 at the age of 81.[10] Obituaries noted his support of the Variety Artists Federation during the early days of the union.[11] His descendants include a daughter named Jessie "Jeannie" Bradbury (1916—1967) — a jazz singer who married Welsh bandleader Harry Parry, his great-nephew George Roper (1934—2003) who achieved national recognition as a stand-up comedian on British television during the 1970s and 1980s, and a son of the latter, Matt Roper (1977—) achieving note as a theatre and variety performer, today living in New York City.
Further resources
Charlie Chaplin shares reminisces of Sanford and Lyons during the golden age of music hall in his travel writings A Comedian Sees the World, first published in 1932.[12]
References
- ^ "Births, Marriages and Deaths". The Era. 1 February 1908. p. 19.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 3 Stage Whispers". Empire News & The Umpire. 2 February 1908.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 18 Stage Notes". Bristol Times and Mirror. 15 February 1908.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 13 Variety Gossip". The Stage. 30 January 1908.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 14 Messrs. SANDFORD & LYONS. THE CHINESE POLICEMEN IN ALADDIN AT THE THEATRE ROYAL". Bristol Magpie. 14 March 1903.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 4 London Programmes Reviewed". London and Provincial Entr'acte. 15 April 1905.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 8 Music Halls and Theatres". Music Hall and Theatre Review. 11 September 1908.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 12 Sanford and Lyons". The Stage. 30 July 1908.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "p. 4 Music Hall artists death". Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle. 16 June 1911.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 3 Death of George Sanford". The Stage. 30 November 1950.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 3 Death of George Sanford". The Stage. 30 November 1950.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "p. 119 Part IV". Charlie Chaplin: A Comedian Sees the World. 1932.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
References
Category:Comedians by century and nationality
Category:Music hall performers
Category:British comedians
Category:Comedians from Liverpool
Category:Vaudeville performers
Category:Pantomime comics
Category:Pantomime
Category:20th-century English comedians