Caricature of the Edwardian music hall performer J.W. Hall, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. March 1905.

Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of J.W. Hall, full-length, shown as a batsman with long sideburns and hair, wearing a blue cap, red and white striped blazer, white trousers and one unserviceable cricket pad, wielding a lump of wood as a bat. Behind him are a wicket keeper (to his left) and an umpire (to his right).

This caricature is of J.W. Hall the song-writer and music hall performer who was well-known for two songs which ridiculed well-known contemporary actors - 'John James `Enery Irving Wilson Barrett Baggs' and 'She Thinks She's Wilson Barrett'. This 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.

J.W. Hall 'The Inimitable Comedian; a Delineator of Everyday Characters' appeared at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley on 29 February 1904 when he was on the bill with Griff, also one of Cooke's subjects. During the week of 13 March 1905 he was at the Empire Theatre of Varieties, Hanley. He was engaged in Hanley again during the week of 16 April 1906 when he was at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, singing two songs: 'one about a tram and one a parody on 'The Wooden Hut' song.' {Staffordshire Sentinel, 14 April 1906)

This caricature is of J. W. Hall when he was performing at the Empire Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 13 March 1905. He was billed as ‘the popular comedian’. 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 of Varieties, Hanley. He compiled them in a series of albums.

J. W. Hall was a Yorkshire comedian, singer and songwriter. He was well known for his songs, ‘John James 'Enery Irving Wilson Barrett Baggs’ and ‘She Thinks She’s Wilson Barrett’. Each song ridiculed a well-known contemporary actor-manager - Henry Irving and Wilson Barrett respectively. Hall appeared at the Grand Theatre of Varieties at Hanley every year from 1903 to 1907, when he was described as ‘a delineator of everyday characters’. He is seen here in three of his characters, including the cricketer ‘Captain Scratch’.

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