Signed caricature of W. E. Ritchie, dated 14th June 1916. One in an album of caricatures by the commercial artist George Cooke, showing actors and music hall and variety entertainers who appeared at the Palace Theatre, Blackpool, 1916- 1924.

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.

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.

This was the fifth album that the commercial artist George Cooke used for his caricatures of actors and music hall and variety artists who appeared at the Palace Theatre, Blackpool. Originally from Yorkshire, George Cooke specialised in designing illustrated publicity material for performers. These included flyers, letterheads, posters and newspaper advertisements. Before moving to Blackpool he lived in Hanley, Staffordshire, where he drew performers at the Grand Theatre. By 1917 he had moved to London, where he established Cooke’s Publicity Agency at 453 The Strand.

S.396:9-2002