Stanelli conducting a performance of Humpty Dumpty, Christmas 1953
Caricature
December 1953-January 1954 (dated)
December 1953-January 1954 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Stanelli (1896-1961) conducting a performance of Humpty Dumpty at the Oxford New Theatre during Christmas 1953 and January 1954. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.
Edward Stanley de Groot, or Stanelli, was a musical prodigy destined for the concert platform as a conductor and a violinist when he opted instead for comedy. He formed the double act Stanelli and Edgar and devised Stanelli's Stag Parties a boisterous BBC radio entertainment from 1935, later retitled Stanelli's Bachelor Parties. A sequel in 1939, Stanelli's Crazy Cruise, was set on board a ship. By 1953 he was working as a conductor and is seen here conducting Humpty Dumpty, one of the large star-studded pantomimes staged every year at the Oxford New Theatre. In 1973 Stanelli made his television debut, introducing his 'Hornchestra', a device comprising a weird collection of electric and bulb motor-horns on which he played jazz.
Edward Stanley de Groot, or Stanelli, was a musical prodigy destined for the concert platform as a conductor and a violinist when he opted instead for comedy. He formed the double act Stanelli and Edgar and devised Stanelli's Stag Parties a boisterous BBC radio entertainment from 1935, later retitled Stanelli's Bachelor Parties. A sequel in 1939, Stanelli's Crazy Cruise, was set on board a ship. By 1953 he was working as a conductor and is seen here conducting Humpty Dumpty, one of the large star-studded pantomimes staged every year at the Oxford New Theatre. In 1973 Stanelli made his television debut, introducing his 'Hornchestra', a device comprising a weird collection of electric and bulb motor-horns on which he played jazz.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Stanelli conducting a performance of <font -i>Humpty Dumpty</font -i>, Christmas 1953 (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil on cream cartridge paper |
| Brief description | Pencil caricature of Stanelli by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) conducting a performance of Humpty Dumpty, Oxford New Theatre. Dated Christmas 1953-1954. |
| Physical description | Pencil caricature of Stanelli conducting a performance of Humpty Dumpty, Christmas 1953, dated 1953/4, part of an artist's hard-backed sketch book manufactured by George Rowney & Co., called 'The Euston Sketch Book'. The pencilled sketch is drawn directly onto the page (cream cartridge paper). Titled and dated by the artist and signed by the subject. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | The artist of these caricatures, Gilbert Sommerlad, was by profession a musician who was born into a family that had a long tradition of professional musicians. In 1936 he moved to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist. Gilbert was an exceptionally good and popular rehearsal pianist, and visiting companies and individual performers used to make sure that he would be available. He became well-known in the profession and his ability as a caricaturist became common knowledge. The volume that includes this drawing contains sketches mostly of musical directors and conductors working at the Oxford New Theatre with Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows Stanelli (1896-1961) conducting a performance of Humpty Dumpty at the Oxford New Theatre during Christmas 1953 and January 1954. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums. Edward Stanley de Groot, or Stanelli, was a musical prodigy destined for the concert platform as a conductor and a violinist when he opted instead for comedy. He formed the double act Stanelli and Edgar and devised Stanelli's Stag Parties a boisterous BBC radio entertainment from 1935, later retitled Stanelli's Bachelor Parties. A sequel in 1939, Stanelli's Crazy Cruise, was set on board a ship. By 1953 he was working as a conductor and is seen here conducting Humpty Dumpty, one of the large star-studded pantomimes staged every year at the Oxford New Theatre. In 1973 Stanelli made his television debut, introducing his 'Hornchestra', a device comprising a weird collection of electric and bulb motor-horns on which he played jazz. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.130:21-2002 |
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| Record created | December 12, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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