Richard (Dickie) Murdoch in So Long As They're Happy
Caricature
25 April 1953 (dated)
25 April 1953 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Richard Murdoch (1907-1990) as Bobby Denver in As Long As They're Happy by Vernon Sylvaine, at the Oxford New Theatre in April 1953. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.
Richard Murdoch was an actor and comedian whose career embraced musicals, pantomime, film and television. In the late 1930s Murdoch was one of the first regular performers on radio when he teamed up with Arthur Askey in Band Waggon, where he earned the nickname 'Stinker’.
Richard Murdoch was an actor and comedian whose career embraced musicals, pantomime, film and television. In the late 1930s Murdoch was one of the first regular performers on radio when he teamed up with Arthur Askey in Band Waggon, where he earned the nickname 'Stinker’.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Richard (Dickie) Murdoch in <i>So Long As They're Happy</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, ink and watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad of Richard (Dickie) Murdoch in So Long As They're Happy at the Oxford New Theatre, 25 April 1953. |
| Physical description | Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature of Richard (Dickie) Murdoch in So Long As They're Happy at the Oxford New Theatre, 25 April 1953. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 at the Oxford New Theatre. Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows Richard Murdoch (1907-1990) as Bobby Denver in As Long As They're Happy by Vernon Sylvaine, at the Oxford New Theatre in April 1953. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums. Richard Murdoch was an actor and comedian whose career embraced musicals, pantomime, film and television. In the late 1930s Murdoch was one of the first regular performers on radio when he teamed up with Arthur Askey in Band Waggon, where he earned the nickname 'Stinker’. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.132:21-2002 |
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| Record created | November 28, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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