Vic Oliver
Caricature
1937 (dated)
1937 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows the comedian Vic Oliver (1897-1964) at the Oxford New Theatre in 1937. 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.
Vic Oliver was born in Vienna and educated in Austria but went to the United States in 1926 where he abandoned a career as a pianist to become a comedian. He made his first appearance in vaudeville in Indianapolis in 1926 and in New York in 1929. After his first London appearance at the Palladium in 1931 he became a regular performer in revue, musical theatre and variety on the London stage. He started his film career in 1933 and became a regular wartime radio performer, notably in the BBC's Hi Gang! In 1942 he was Roy Plomley's first ever castaway on the much-loved radio programme Desert Island Discs.
Vic Oliver was born in Vienna and educated in Austria but went to the United States in 1926 where he abandoned a career as a pianist to become a comedian. He made his first appearance in vaudeville in Indianapolis in 1926 and in New York in 1929. After his first London appearance at the Palladium in 1931 he became a regular performer in revue, musical theatre and variety on the London stage. He started his film career in 1933 and became a regular wartime radio performer, notably in the BBC's Hi Gang! In 1942 he was Roy Plomley's first ever castaway on the much-loved radio programme Desert Island Discs.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Vic Oliver (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of the comedian Vic Oliver, New Theatre Oxford, 1937. |
| Physical description | Pencil caricature of the comedian Vic Oliver, New Theatre, Oxford, 1937. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the New Theatre, Oxford when he drew this caricature. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows the comedian Vic Oliver (1897-1964) at the Oxford New Theatre in 1937. 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. Vic Oliver was born in Vienna and educated in Austria but went to the United States in 1926 where he abandoned a career as a pianist to become a comedian. He made his first appearance in vaudeville in Indianapolis in 1926 and in New York in 1929. After his first London appearance at the Palladium in 1931 he became a regular performer in revue, musical theatre and variety on the London stage. He started his film career in 1933 and became a regular wartime radio performer, notably in the BBC's Hi Gang! In 1942 he was Roy Plomley's first ever castaway on the much-loved radio programme Desert Island Discs. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.131:63-2002 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 10, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
