Not currently on display at the V&A

Playing the Game in the West

Sheet Music
ca. 19th century (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

George Formby Senior's stage persona traded on his northern roots and would introduce himself as 'George Formby fra' Wigan', to which he would add 'I've not been in England long.' Formby sang this song composed in 1910, about his enjoyment of being a 'dare devil or 'gay dog' living the West End life in London, 'rolling along the Strand', 'quaffing the sparkling wine', and smoking cigars. Born James Booth in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Formby was well known for his dry wit, his distinctive cough and his catch-phrase 'It's not the cough that carries you off; it's the coffin they carry you off in.'


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Sheet Music
  • Prints
  • Sheet Music
  • Prints
  • Sheet Music
  • Prints
TitlePlaying the Game in the West (published title)
Materials and techniques
Chromolithograph. Intermediate pages composed of printed text.
Brief description
Music sheet for Playing the Game in the West written by Alec Kendall, composed and sung by George Formby Senior (1875-1921). Feldman's 6d Edition no.331, millustrated with a photograph of George Formby Senior. Published by Bert Feldman & Co., ca.1910
Physical description
Music sheet for Playing the Game in the West written by Alec Kendall, composed and sung by George Formby, published by B. Feldman & Co., ca. 19th century.
Dimensions
  • Front cover height: 36cm (approx)
  • Front cover width: 26cm
Credit line
Gabrielle Enthoven Collection
Subject depicted
Association
Summary
George Formby Senior's stage persona traded on his northern roots and would introduce himself as 'George Formby fra' Wigan', to which he would add 'I've not been in England long.' Formby sang this song composed in 1910, about his enjoyment of being a 'dare devil or 'gay dog' living the West End life in London, 'rolling along the Strand', 'quaffing the sparkling wine', and smoking cigars. Born James Booth in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Formby was well known for his dry wit, his distinctive cough and his catch-phrase 'It's not the cough that carries you off; it's the coffin they carry you off in.'
Collection
Accession number
S.4580-2013

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Record createdDecember 13, 2013
Record URL
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