Caricature
1907 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature is of Griff, probably when he was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, in 1907. 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. He compiled them in a series of albums.
Griff appeared at the Grand Theatre of Varieties in Hanley in February 1903, February 1904 and January 1905. He was described variously as a ‘Jesting Juggler, Cynic and Humorist’ and ‘the original Jocular Juggler, assisted by Little Alpha’. Part of Griff’s act with the hoops consisted of spinning them off-stage in one direction, after which they turned magically and left the stage by a different exit.
In May 1906 Griff performed a sketch with patter and tricks called ‘The Clown in Lodgings’ at the Oxford Music Hall in London. He had previously done it at the Gaiety Theatre, Birmingham. He worked the act with Ethel Milton and Harry Castle. The highlight was to see Griff’s tomfoolery in everyday tasks, such as dressing as a clown, nursing the baby, and dealing with his wife, landlady and coachman.
Griff appeared at the Grand Theatre of Varieties in Hanley in February 1903, February 1904 and January 1905. He was described variously as a ‘Jesting Juggler, Cynic and Humorist’ and ‘the original Jocular Juggler, assisted by Little Alpha’. Part of Griff’s act with the hoops consisted of spinning them off-stage in one direction, after which they turned magically and left the stage by a different exit.
In May 1906 Griff performed a sketch with patter and tricks called ‘The Clown in Lodgings’ at the Oxford Music Hall in London. He had previously done it at the Gaiety Theatre, Birmingham. He worked the act with Ethel Milton and Harry Castle. The highlight was to see Griff’s tomfoolery in everyday tasks, such as dressing as a clown, nursing the baby, and dealing with his wife, landlady and coachman.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Caricature of the Edwardian music hall performer and clown Griff, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. 1907. |
| Physical description | Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Griff, full-length, in a loose-fitting white acrobat's suit trimmed with lace at the seams and around the neck. He has full white face make-up with large black eyebrows, and holds a blue hoop in each hand. By George Cooke. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | This caricature is of the music hall performer and clown Griff who was billed as 'England;s most pupular comedy juggler' when he appeared at the Grand Theatre of Varieties during the week of 29th February 1904. He was back at the Grand in January 1905, and in May1906 he advertised in 'The Performer' describing an act he had performed in Birmingham and at London's Oxford Music Hall. Called 'The Clown in Lodgings', it was a sketch with Ethel Milton and Harry Castle in which he could be seen with his wife, his landlady and his coachman, and in which he nursed a baby, made up as a clown, and did new tricks and patter. 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. |
| Summary | This caricature is of Griff, probably when he was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, in 1907. 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. He compiled them in a series of albums. Griff appeared at the Grand Theatre of Varieties in Hanley in February 1903, February 1904 and January 1905. He was described variously as a ‘Jesting Juggler, Cynic and Humorist’ and ‘the original Jocular Juggler, assisted by Little Alpha’. Part of Griff’s act with the hoops consisted of spinning them off-stage in one direction, after which they turned magically and left the stage by a different exit. In May 1906 Griff performed a sketch with patter and tricks called ‘The Clown in Lodgings’ at the Oxford Music Hall in London. He had previously done it at the Gaiety Theatre, Birmingham. He worked the act with Ethel Milton and Harry Castle. The highlight was to see Griff’s tomfoolery in everyday tasks, such as dressing as a clown, nursing the baby, and dealing with his wife, landlady and coachman. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'The Performer' 10 May 1906 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.393:48-2002 |
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| Record created | December 11, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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