Not currently on display at the V&A

Caricature

December 1904 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature is of the comedian Will Manning of Manning’s Entertainers. He was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 19 December 1904. The company had appeared there the previous March, and now they were billed as ‘The Welcome Return of Manning’s Entertainers in the Convulsing Carnival of Uproarious Mishaps’. This is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums. This depicts a moment from ‘The Turkish Bath’ sketch. Comic sketches were a regular feature on variety bills at this date, and often featured companies of performers.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Caricature of the music hall performer and comedian Will Manning performing with Manning's Entertainers, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. December 1904.
Physical description
Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Will Manning dressed as a Scotsman in a red tam o'shanter and slippers, with one towel wrapped round him and another draped over his shoulder. To his right the small figure of a hooded old man with a staff is calling 'Next!'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25cm
  • Width: 18cm
Marks and inscriptions
Next!(?) Every Bit as good as Phil May, Sincerely Yours, Will Manning Manning's Entertainers (Signature; Pen and ink)
Object history
This caricature is of the music hall performer Will Manning performing a Turkish Bath sketch with 'Manning's Entertainers' Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 19th December 1904. The caricature comes from the first of several albums compiled by the graphic artist George Cooke, featuring performers working in music hall in the early 20th century. The album is dated 1903-4-5.
Summary
This caricature is of the comedian Will Manning of Manning’s Entertainers. He was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 19 December 1904. The company had appeared there the previous March, and now they were billed as ‘The Welcome Return of Manning’s Entertainers in the Convulsing Carnival of Uproarious Mishaps’. This is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums. This depicts a moment from ‘The Turkish Bath’ sketch. Comic sketches were a regular feature on variety bills at this date, and often featured companies of performers.
Collection
Accession number
S.392:39-2002

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Record createdNovember 27, 2003
Record URL
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