Not currently on display at the V&A

Dinkey Arno

Music
1893 (printed and published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This colour lithograph music sheet cover illustration by H.G. Banks was based on a studio photograph of the Tilley Sisters (S.146:619-2007). At some stage a reference has been made in connection with the photograph to the sisters being called Handel and Vesta, but no substantiation has been found for those names. This music sheet dates from 1893 when the Tilley Sisters were performing Dinkey Arno with some success at the London Pavilion and on tour, when an advertisement in The South Wales Echo, 6th July 1893, for their performance at the Newport Empire that week noted that: ' their strangely named duet threatens to outdo the memorable Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom'. Other references to the sister act show them at Edinburgh's Empire Palace Theatre in 1893, and at the Paragon Theatre of Varieties in London's Mile End Road when a reviewer noted that: 'The Sisters Tilley created something of a sensation with their vigorous dancing and high kicking in skirts' but that the audiences were calmed by 'musical selections on the bells and a cornet solo.' The great music hall impersonator Vesta Tilley (1864-1952) was at the height of her fame in 1893 and was certainly not appearing in a high-kicking double act, so it appears that the name of this act was either a coincidence or an attempt to cash in on Vesta Tilley's popularity.

The Tilley Sisters may have been a one-hit wonder, but they were certainly versatile, singing Dinkey Arno, a song set to the tune of The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, as well as performing their lively high-kicking dance and playing musical instruments.





Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDinkey Arno (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Chromolithograph
Brief description
Music sheet cover for 'Dinkey Arno' by E. Andrews, performed by The Tilley Sisters, music published by Francis, Day & Hunter, 1893.
Physical description
Cover of the sheet music for Dinkey Arno, title at the top of the page. Main image in centre of sheet depicts the Tilley Sisters both kicking their left legs in front of them, and their right arms raised above their heads, holding their hats. They both wear beige coats over blue skirts and white shirts. In the top right hand corner is an image of a man wearing a fur trimmed coat and top hat surrounded by images of ladies' heads, probably relating to the subject of the song. To the left of the Tilley Sisters is an image of three bottles and a picture of a jockey on a horse. Song credits are printed underneath the image.
Dimensions
  • Height: 35.9cm
  • Width: 26.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
'This Song may be Sung in Public without / fee or Licence, Except at Music Halls / DINKEY ARNO / WRITTEN BY E. ANDREWS, / ADAPTED TO THE MELODY OF / "THE MAN THAT BROKE / THE BANK AT MONTE CARLO", / By / FRED / GILBERT / SUNG BY / THE TILLEY SISTERS, / BY PERMISSION OF MR CHARLES COBORN / Copyright / Price 4/- / LONDON; FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER, 195 OXFORD STREET, W. / Publishers of / Smallwood's Celebrated Pianoforte Tutor / Smallwood's 55 Melodious Excercises, Etc. / NEW YORK, T.B. HARMS & CO. 18 EAST 22ND STREET. / Copyright MDCCCXCIII by Francis, Day & Hunter / W.T. Stannard imp' (Printed on front of cover)
Credit line
Given by John Hall
Subject depicted
Literary references
  • Dinkey Arno
  • The Man That Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo
Summary
This colour lithograph music sheet cover illustration by H.G. Banks was based on a studio photograph of the Tilley Sisters (S.146:619-2007). At some stage a reference has been made in connection with the photograph to the sisters being called Handel and Vesta, but no substantiation has been found for those names. This music sheet dates from 1893 when the Tilley Sisters were performing Dinkey Arno with some success at the London Pavilion and on tour, when an advertisement in The South Wales Echo, 6th July 1893, for their performance at the Newport Empire that week noted that: ' their strangely named duet threatens to outdo the memorable Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom'. Other references to the sister act show them at Edinburgh's Empire Palace Theatre in 1893, and at the Paragon Theatre of Varieties in London's Mile End Road when a reviewer noted that: 'The Sisters Tilley created something of a sensation with their vigorous dancing and high kicking in skirts' but that the audiences were calmed by 'musical selections on the bells and a cornet solo.' The great music hall impersonator Vesta Tilley (1864-1952) was at the height of her fame in 1893 and was certainly not appearing in a high-kicking double act, so it appears that the name of this act was either a coincidence or an attempt to cash in on Vesta Tilley's popularity.

The Tilley Sisters may have been a one-hit wonder, but they were certainly versatile, singing Dinkey Arno, a song set to the tune of The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, as well as performing their lively high-kicking dance and playing musical instruments.





Associated object
Collection
Accession number
S.45-2012

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Record createdFebruary 7, 2012
Record URL
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