Not currently on display at the V&A

Photograph of Leo Sheffield

Photograph
1915 (photographed)

Born in Malton, Yorkshire in 1873, the baritone Leo Sheffield made his first appearance with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in December 1906 for the company's first London repertory season, appearing as the Second Yeoman and the Lieutenant of the Tower in The Yeomen of the Guard,and Annibale and Luiz in The Gondoliers. He joined the Principal Repertory Company on tour in July 1907 and returned to the Savoy for Rupert D'Oyly Carte' second London repertory season from 1908 until 1909. He left the company at the end of the season but rejoined in May 1915 when this photograph was taken to publicise his return. He made his final appearance with the company in September 1930 and went on the appear in many othe roles on the stage and in films, and in 1947 appeared as himself and as Pooh-Bah in the original radio biography Gibert and Sullivan written by Leslie Baily.

A typed note on the back of thi photograph shows it was a press photograph issued by the D'Oyly Carte and includes the information for the press: 'Next week Mr Leo Sheffield returns to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company at the Prince's Theatre Bristol'. The touring company opened at the theatre on 10th May.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePhotograph of Leo Sheffield (generic title)
Brief description
Photograph of Leo Sheffield (1873-1951)
Physical description
Half-length, full-face photographic portrait of Leo Sheffield (1873-1951)
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.5cm
  • Width: 15.2cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Peter Parker
Object history
This photograph was inherited by Peter Parker, who bequeathed it to the museum, from his father Stanley Parker who was employed by the Savoy Hotel as a junior clerk in May 1909, straight from school. From that job, on the death of Helen D'Oyly Carte in 1913, Stanley Parker was appointed by Rupert D'Oyly Carte to understudy Mr George A. Richardson who managed the theatre from November 1911 to February 1915.

In 1913 Stanley Parker became Rupert and (later) Bridget D'Oyly Carte's private secretary, and secretary of the Savoy Theatre Ltd., and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. He worked for the company until his death in 1960.
Associations
Summary
Born in Malton, Yorkshire in 1873, the baritone Leo Sheffield made his first appearance with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in December 1906 for the company's first London repertory season, appearing as the Second Yeoman and the Lieutenant of the Tower in The Yeomen of the Guard,and Annibale and Luiz in The Gondoliers. He joined the Principal Repertory Company on tour in July 1907 and returned to the Savoy for Rupert D'Oyly Carte' second London repertory season from 1908 until 1909. He left the company at the end of the season but rejoined in May 1915 when this photograph was taken to publicise his return. He made his final appearance with the company in September 1930 and went on the appear in many othe roles on the stage and in films, and in 1947 appeared as himself and as Pooh-Bah in the original radio biography Gibert and Sullivan written by Leslie Baily.

A typed note on the back of thi photograph shows it was a press photograph issued by the D'Oyly Carte and includes the information for the press: 'Next week Mr Leo Sheffield returns to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company at the Prince's Theatre Bristol'. The touring company opened at the theatre on 10th May.
Collection
Accession number
S.1057-2021

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Record createdSeptember 6, 2021
Record URL
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