Early British Comedy

Butt, Evans, Tae, Chirgwin, Leno

There were exceptions, R. W. Paul, in the spring of 1896 was producing short films made on the roof of the Alhambra Theatre Leicester Square showcasing music hall acts like trick cyclist John Butt, and the next year the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company were filming at the rear of the Tivoli Music Hall in the Strand. In 1899 The Warwick Trading Company had filmed extracts from various popular acts of the day, Will Evans, 1873-1931, uncle to Fred Evans who, with his ‘Pimple’ character, was probably the most popular pre-war British comedian, did an odd little act dodging missiles and throwing himself about while playing the cornet, there was Harry Tate with his rubber face, singer-comedian G. H Chirgwin billed as The White Eyed Kaffir, his make up consisted of black-face with a solid white diamond painted around his right eye, and in 1900, referred to as ‘The Funniest Man On Earth’ Dan Leno.