Physical description
Singed caricature of Ernie Ream. One in an album of caricatures of music hall and variety entertainers drawn by George Cooke.
Bound album with board covers covered in brown paper. The album contains blue cartridge paper leaves, and the spine has a white label inscribed: 'GEORGE COOKE, CARICATURES. ALBUM V 192-265'. The front cover is inscribed by George Cooke in red pencil with the words 'Geo. Cooke / Hys Book'. The album contains 74 ink and wash caricatures, each glued to a separate page. All are autographed by the subjects, who are: Albert Whelan, Fred Kitchen, Ernie Ream, Tom E. Hughes, Ernest Shand, W.E.Ritchie, Jay Laurier, Mark Sheridan, Syd Walker, Fred Duprez, Alfred Lester, George Carney, George Hughes, Johnny Danvers (2), George Lashwood, George Formby Senior, Bruce Green, Tom Foy, Jack Pleasants, Harry Lauder, Johnson & Clark, Seymour Hicks, George Graves, Harry Tate, Jack Gallagher, Edward Laurie, Harry Weldon, George Robey (2), Chirgwin, Fred Curran, Bert Weston, Tom Clare, Ernie Mayne, Arnold Richardson, Rich Hayes, Wilkie Bard, R.G. Knowles (2), Nixon Grey, Jimmy Learmouth, Fyne & Hurley, Tom Payne, James Tate, John Barton, Tom D. Newell, Arnaut Brothers, Sammy Shields, Bradshaw Brothers, George Babs, Noni, G.S. Melvin, Grock, Nellie Wallace, Will Hay, Fred Terry, Joe O'Gormon, Hal Jones, Hannaway Brothers, Wyllie Watson, Talbot O'Farrell, Jack Lane, Nervo & Knox, Arthur Bouchier, Little Tich, Scotch Kelly, Charlie Rich, Billy Caryll, Carmo, Ella Shields, H.O. Wills, Joe Elvin, and J.W. Hall.
On the first page is a printed advertisement for 'George Cooke / Caricaturist / Designs for / Lithographs, / Memo. Heads, / Post cards ' with a head and shoulders line drawing printed in pink; a circular paper label printed with a black and white self portrait by Cooke with the words 'George Cooke Caricaturist' round the edge and 'Palace / Blackpool' across the forehead, and a dark green label in the shape of a profile head printed with the words 'George Cooke / Caricaturist / Designs / for Lithos / Blackpool'. On the second page is a signed pen and ink drawing of George Cook walking with a dog, with Blackpool Tower in the background.
The drawing of Grock has been removed from the album and is mounted separately.
Place of Origin
Blackpool, England (drawn)
Date
1916-1924 (drawn)
1916 (drawn)
Artist/maker
Cooke, George (artist)
Materials and Techniques
Pen and ink and wash caricatures
Marks and inscriptions
'GEORGE COOKE, CARICATURIST. ALBUM V 192-265'
'Excellent! / yours truly / Ernie Ream'
Dimensions
Height: 25.9 cm caricature, Width: 19.3 cm caricature, Height: 31.6 cm page, Width: 22.2 page
Object history note
This is one of ten albums which, according to an article in The Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 12 December 1967, were inherited by Cyril Cooke, George Cooke's nephew. Cyril Cooke is quoted as saying, 'My uncle, a Yorkshireman, was a brilliant caricaturist who was in personal touch with all the celebrities visiting the Palace Theatre and Blackpool.... At one time he had a commission to produce groups for the Blackpool Illuminations.' These caricatures appear to have been done for George Cooke's own amusement, since it was he who collected them, and got the subjects to autograph them for him.
Descriptive line
Signed caricature of Ernie Ream. One in an album of caricatures of music hall and variety entertainers drawn by George Cooke, 1916- 1924
Materials
Ink; Wash; Cardboard; Paper (fiber product); Glue; Cartridge paper
Techniques
Drawing; Painting; Glueing
Categories
Entertainment & Leisure; Caricatures & Cartoons
Collection code
T&P
