Billy Cotton
Caricature
12 August 1951 (dated)
12 August 1951 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Billy Cotton (1899-1969) in Wakey! Wakey!, a Variety Show with Billy Cotton and his band, at the Oxford New Theatre in August 1951. 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.
Billy Cotton was the showman band-leader of radio and television fame whose catch-phrase ‘Wakey! Wakey!’ is referred to here by the cartoon cockerel.
Billy Cotton was the showman band-leader of radio and television fame whose catch-phrase ‘Wakey! Wakey!’ is referred to here by the cartoon cockerel.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Billy Cotton (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, ink and watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature of the bandleader Billy Cotton, New Theatre Oxford, Gilbert Sommerlad, 12 August 1951. |
| Physical description | Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature of the bandleader Billy Cotton, New Theatre Oxford, 12 August 1951. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the New Theatre, Oxford when he drew this caricature. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows Billy Cotton (1899-1969) in Wakey! Wakey!, a Variety Show with Billy Cotton and his band, at the Oxford New Theatre in August 1951. 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. Billy Cotton was the showman band-leader of radio and television fame whose catch-phrase ‘Wakey! Wakey!’ is referred to here by the cartoon cockerel. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.131:137-2002 |
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| Record created | December 18, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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