Caricature
September 1906 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature is of Harry Kirk when he was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 24 September 1906. It 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.
When he appeared in 1905 at the Hippodrome in Stoke-on-Trent, the comedian Harry Kirk was described as ‘a good facial mimic and vocalist’. Harry Weldon, another of Cooke’s subjects, was on the bill with Kirk at the Grand in September 1906. On this occasion a review praised Kirk for his facial expressions and humorous impersonations of various characters. Kirk appeared on the London stage, as Cairo in the Drury Lane pantomime of 1904–5, The White Cat. This also featured Tom Hearn, ‘the lazy juggler’.
When he appeared in 1905 at the Hippodrome in Stoke-on-Trent, the comedian Harry Kirk was described as ‘a good facial mimic and vocalist’. Harry Weldon, another of Cooke’s subjects, was on the bill with Kirk at the Grand in September 1906. On this occasion a review praised Kirk for his facial expressions and humorous impersonations of various characters. Kirk appeared on the London stage, as Cairo in the Drury Lane pantomime of 1904–5, The White Cat. This also featured Tom Hearn, ‘the lazy juggler’.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Caricature of the music hall performer, the comedian Harry Kirk, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. September 1906. |
| Physical description | Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Harry Kirk, full-length, dressed in a light brown cardigan, brown trousers and a red and yellow scarf. He wears a large brown cap and is smoking a clay pipe, standing by a bag on the ground |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | May your Crib never be cracked Yours sincerely Harry Kirk (Signature; Hand written; Pen and ink) |
| Object history | This caricature is of the music hall performer Harry Kirk performing at The Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of the 10th April 1905. Kirk was listed as a comedian in Cooke's list of performers, but as a 'facial mimic' in his billing at Hanley. That week Kirk was one of the support acts to a lady and gentleman motor-cyclists who looped the loop in a 'huge basin-like contrivance of wood.' The caricature comes from the second album of caricatures in a collection of albums owned by the Theatre Museum compiled by the graphic artist George Cooke. It is labelled by the artist 'Geo Cooke HYS BOOKE' and features music hall performers working in the early 20th century. |
| Summary | This caricature is of Harry Kirk when he was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 24 September 1906. It 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. When he appeared in 1905 at the Hippodrome in Stoke-on-Trent, the comedian Harry Kirk was described as ‘a good facial mimic and vocalist’. Harry Weldon, another of Cooke’s subjects, was on the bill with Kirk at the Grand in September 1906. On this occasion a review praised Kirk for his facial expressions and humorous impersonations of various characters. Kirk appeared on the London stage, as Cairo in the Drury Lane pantomime of 1904–5, The White Cat. This also featured Tom Hearn, ‘the lazy juggler’. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.393:33-2002 |
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| Record created | December 9, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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