Caricature
September 1903 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature is of Phil Ray (b.1872), ‘The Abbreviating Comic’ or ‘The Abbreviating Patterer’. He was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 21 September 1903. He was billed as ‘the popular London Patter Comedian. The man who has taken Dan Leno’s place at the London Pavilion during his illness’. 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.
Music hall performers liked to cultivate ‘specialities’. Phil Ray was known for wearing Eton collars and hats with feathers, and for singing songs that included abbreviations such as,
I weren’t feeling right so I went down to Bright; to spend a few mins by the sea. On Victoria plat I patiently sat with my little portmant on my knee. Then in from the junc came the 3.30 punc, as they shunted it in from the staysh said the guard ‘Make a start, room for one, this compart’. I said ‘Thanks for the kind informaysh’.
Phil Ray was popular up to about 1914, despite being censured by some for his rather ‘blue’ humour.
Music hall performers liked to cultivate ‘specialities’. Phil Ray was known for wearing Eton collars and hats with feathers, and for singing songs that included abbreviations such as,
I weren’t feeling right so I went down to Bright; to spend a few mins by the sea. On Victoria plat I patiently sat with my little portmant on my knee. Then in from the junc came the 3.30 punc, as they shunted it in from the staysh said the guard ‘Make a start, room for one, this compart’. I said ‘Thanks for the kind informaysh’.
Phil Ray was popular up to about 1914, despite being censured by some for his rather ‘blue’ humour.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Caricature of the music hall performer the comic and singer Phil Ray, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. September 1903. |
| Physical description | Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Phil Ray, full-length, wearing a brown jacket, white trousers and a black hat with ostrich feathers, carrying a crop in his right hand and riding a child's rocking horse. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Sept 25th 1903. Too good for Hanley, you ought to be in London. Phil Ray. (Signature; Hand written; Pen and ink) |
| Object history | This caricature is of the music hall performer Phil Ray (b.1872), performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley during the week of 21 September 1903. Ray was known as 'The Abbreviating Comic' or 'The Abbreviating Patterer' and often wore an Eton collar and a variety of hats with feathers stuck in them. His pseudonym related to the way he sang songs with abbreviated words such as: 'On Victoria plat/ I patiently sat/ with my little portmant on my knee.' 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. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature is of Phil Ray (b.1872), ‘The Abbreviating Comic’ or ‘The Abbreviating Patterer’. He was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 21 September 1903. He was billed as ‘the popular London Patter Comedian. The man who has taken Dan Leno’s place at the London Pavilion during his illness’. 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. Music hall performers liked to cultivate ‘specialities’. Phil Ray was known for wearing Eton collars and hats with feathers, and for singing songs that included abbreviations such as, I weren’t feeling right so I went down to Bright; to spend a few mins by the sea. On Victoria plat I patiently sat with my little portmant on my knee. Then in from the junc came the 3.30 punc, as they shunted it in from the staysh said the guard ‘Make a start, room for one, this compart’. I said ‘Thanks for the kind informaysh’. Phil Ray was popular up to about 1914, despite being censured by some for his rather ‘blue’ humour. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.392:49-2002 |
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| Record created | November 5, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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