Caricature
10/11/1904 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature is of Vesta Victoria performing at Collins’ Hippodrome, Stoke-on-Trent, during the week of 7 November 1904. She was billed as ‘England’s Brightest and Best Comedienne’. 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, Hanley. He compiled them in a series of albums.
Born in Leeds in 1874, Vesta Victoria made her first professional stage appearance at the age of four with her father. He was a black-faced performer billed as ‘The Upside-Down Comedian’ because he sang songs standing on his head. In 1893 ‘Daddy Wouldn’t Buy Me a Bow Wow’ established her at the top of the bill as a music hall singer and comedienne, both at home and in the USA, where she toured in vaudeville for six years. ‘Waiting at the Church’ was another song that she made famous. Her stage character was the prototype ‘dumb blonde’, unlucky in love. Vesta Victoria died in 1951.
Born in Leeds in 1874, Vesta Victoria made her first professional stage appearance at the age of four with her father. He was a black-faced performer billed as ‘The Upside-Down Comedian’ because he sang songs standing on his head. In 1893 ‘Daddy Wouldn’t Buy Me a Bow Wow’ established her at the top of the bill as a music hall singer and comedienne, both at home and in the USA, where she toured in vaudeville for six years. ‘Waiting at the Church’ was another song that she made famous. Her stage character was the prototype ‘dumb blonde’, unlucky in love. Vesta Victoria died in 1951.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Caricature of the music hall singer and comedian Vesta Victoria (1874-1951), from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. Dated 10 November 1904. |
| Physical description | Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Vesta Victoria wearing a white hat with blue and red striped band, a blue jacket with white collar and gloves, a red, brown and white patterned dress, white tights and black boots. In her right hand she holds a parasol. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Yours faithfully Vesta Victoria (Signature; Pen and ink) |
| Object history | This caricature is of the music hall singer and comedienne Vesta Victoria (1874-1951), performing in 1904. The prototype of the 'dumb blonde', unlucky in love, she was born in Leeds, the daughter of a black-faced performer who sang songs on his head, billed as 'The Upside Down Comedian'. She first appeared on stage with her father when she was four, and in 1893 'Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Bow' established her at the top of the bill at home and in the USA where she toured in vaudeville for six years. 'Waiting at the Church' was another song made famous by Vesta Victoria who appeared in the 1932 Royal Variety Performance. The caricature comes from the first of several albums compiled by the graphic artist George Cooke, featuring performers working in music hall in the early 20th century. The album is dated 1903-4-5. |
| Summary | This caricature is of Vesta Victoria performing at Collins’ Hippodrome, Stoke-on-Trent, during the week of 7 November 1904. She was billed as ‘England’s Brightest and Best Comedienne’. 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, Hanley. He compiled them in a series of albums. Born in Leeds in 1874, Vesta Victoria made her first professional stage appearance at the age of four with her father. He was a black-faced performer billed as ‘The Upside-Down Comedian’ because he sang songs standing on his head. In 1893 ‘Daddy Wouldn’t Buy Me a Bow Wow’ established her at the top of the bill as a music hall singer and comedienne, both at home and in the USA, where she toured in vaudeville for six years. ‘Waiting at the Church’ was another song that she made famous. Her stage character was the prototype ‘dumb blonde’, unlucky in love. Vesta Victoria died in 1951. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.392:33-2002 |
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| Record created | November 5, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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