MR DAN LENO AS THE CAPTAIN OF THE FORTY THIEVES
Drawing
1898 (drawn)
1898 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This drawing of the much-loved music hall star Dan Leno (1860-1904) depicts him in his costume as Abdullah, the Captain of the forty thieves, in the successful pantomime The Forty Thieves by J. Hickory Wood and Arthur Collins, with music by J. Glover, which opened at Drury Lane Theatre, 26 December 1898.
Leno was born George Galvin in London, the son of the music hall singers known as Mr and Mrs Wilde. After his father's death, his mother married William Grant whose stage name was Leno, and Dan Leno appeared from the age of four with his brother Jack and his uncle Johnny Danvers, dancing in public houses all over England. By the age of 18 Dan was a champion clog-dancer and was engaged by George Conquest with Danvers for pantomime at London's Surrey Theatre. In 1889 he went to Drury Lane Theatre where he excelled as pantomime Dame, returning for several years. He continued to appear in music hall where he specialised in long rambling anecdotes of incidents involving himself and his family. In 1901 he performed for King Edward VII at Sandringham, after which he was dubbed 'the King's Jester'.
Leno was born George Galvin in London, the son of the music hall singers known as Mr and Mrs Wilde. After his father's death, his mother married William Grant whose stage name was Leno, and Dan Leno appeared from the age of four with his brother Jack and his uncle Johnny Danvers, dancing in public houses all over England. By the age of 18 Dan was a champion clog-dancer and was engaged by George Conquest with Danvers for pantomime at London's Surrey Theatre. In 1889 he went to Drury Lane Theatre where he excelled as pantomime Dame, returning for several years. He continued to appear in music hall where he specialised in long rambling anecdotes of incidents involving himself and his family. In 1901 he performed for King Edward VII at Sandringham, after which he was dubbed 'the King's Jester'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | MR DAN LENO AS THE CAPTAIN OF THE FORTY THIEVES (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Ink and blue crayon on paper |
| Brief description | Dan Leno (1860-1904) as Abdullah, the Captain of the Forty Thieves in The Forty Thieves Drury Lane Theatre, 26 December 1898. Pen and ink and crayon drawing by Ferguson Scotson-Clark. |
| Physical description | Pen and ink and blue crayon drawing of Dan Leno as The Captain of the Forty Thieves, standing at the top of a flight of steps, wearing a tall black conical hat, a bolero, a wide cummerbund, voluminous trousers and curled pointed-toed shoes, holding a scimitar in his right hand and his left hand to his cummerbund. Entitled MR DAN LENO AS "THE CAPTAIN OF THE FORTY THIEVES" |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
| Object history | Dan Leno is depicted in costume as Abdallah, the Captain of The Forty Thieves in the pantomime The Forty Thieves by Arthur Sturgess and Arthur Collins, with music by J.M.Gover, Drury Lane Theatre, 26 December 1898. In this production Herbert Campbell played The Fair Zuleika, and Leno's uncle, Johnny Danvers, played Ali Baba. |
| Summary | This drawing of the much-loved music hall star Dan Leno (1860-1904) depicts him in his costume as Abdullah, the Captain of the forty thieves, in the successful pantomime The Forty Thieves by J. Hickory Wood and Arthur Collins, with music by J. Glover, which opened at Drury Lane Theatre, 26 December 1898. Leno was born George Galvin in London, the son of the music hall singers known as Mr and Mrs Wilde. After his father's death, his mother married William Grant whose stage name was Leno, and Dan Leno appeared from the age of four with his brother Jack and his uncle Johnny Danvers, dancing in public houses all over England. By the age of 18 Dan was a champion clog-dancer and was engaged by George Conquest with Danvers for pantomime at London's Surrey Theatre. In 1889 he went to Drury Lane Theatre where he excelled as pantomime Dame, returning for several years. He continued to appear in music hall where he specialised in long rambling anecdotes of incidents involving himself and his family. In 1901 he performed for King Edward VII at Sandringham, after which he was dubbed 'the King's Jester'. |
| Associated object | S.205-2008 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.204-2008 |
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| Record created | July 8, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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