Caricature
February 1906 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature is of George Gray in his stage character as a pugilistic parson. He was performing at the Grand Theatre, Hanley, during the week of 19 February 1906 in his comedy drama The Fighting Parson. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums.
George Gray was born in 1863. An actor in the 1890s, he appeared with the Kendals, in burlesque and pantomime, and as a singer at the Tivoli in 1900. He made his name in 1901 at the Paragon, Mile End, with the sketch ‘The Night Alarm’, and at the Royal Holborn in January 1903 with The Fighting Parson. This was a 35-minute, four-scene dramatic monologue that featured more than 100 ‘extras’ and a dramatic churchyard fight between a vicar and a sinner. He had such a success with it that it helped to restore the fortunes of the Royal Holborn, and was in demand all over the country. Gray retired in 1913.
George Gray was born in 1863. An actor in the 1890s, he appeared with the Kendals, in burlesque and pantomime, and as a singer at the Tivoli in 1900. He made his name in 1901 at the Paragon, Mile End, with the sketch ‘The Night Alarm’, and at the Royal Holborn in January 1903 with The Fighting Parson. This was a 35-minute, four-scene dramatic monologue that featured more than 100 ‘extras’ and a dramatic churchyard fight between a vicar and a sinner. He had such a success with it that it helped to restore the fortunes of the Royal Holborn, and was in demand all over the country. Gray retired in 1913.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Caricature of the Edwardian music hall performer George Gray as 'The Fighting Parson', from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. February 1906. |
| Physical description | Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of George Gray, full-length, dressed as a vicar with white shirt, dog collar, black waistcoat and trousers, shadow-boxing without gloves. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'In all sincerity 'Parson' George Gray' (Signature; Hand written; Pen and ink) |
| Object history | This caricature is of George Gray, a music hall performer known as 'The Fighting Parson'. The caricature comes from the second album of caricatures in a collection of albums owned by the Theatre Museum compiled by the graphic artist George Cooke. It is labelled by the artist 'Geo Cooke HYS BOOKE' and features music hall performers working in the early 20th century. George Gray first appeared at the Grand Theatre Hanley during the week of 19 February 1906, billed as 'First Time Here of the Greatest Success of the Century GEORGE GRAY and his Specially Selected Company, including One Hundred Auxiliaries in the Comedy Drama, founded upon actual incidents and facts, in Four Scenes THE FIGHTING PARSON. Laughter! Tears! Excitement! Cheers!' |
| Summary | This caricature is of George Gray in his stage character as a pugilistic parson. He was performing at the Grand Theatre, Hanley, during the week of 19 February 1906 in his comedy drama The Fighting Parson. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums. George Gray was born in 1863. An actor in the 1890s, he appeared with the Kendals, in burlesque and pantomime, and as a singer at the Tivoli in 1900. He made his name in 1901 at the Paragon, Mile End, with the sketch ‘The Night Alarm’, and at the Royal Holborn in January 1903 with The Fighting Parson. This was a 35-minute, four-scene dramatic monologue that featured more than 100 ‘extras’ and a dramatic churchyard fight between a vicar and a sinner. He had such a success with it that it helped to restore the fortunes of the Royal Holborn, and was in demand all over the country. Gray retired in 1913. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Stars Who Made The Halls' by J. S. Theodore Felstead |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.393:4-2002 |
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| Record created | October 21, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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