Early British Comedy

Turn of the Century

After their March 1896 theatrical debut at the Alhambra and Empire music halls in London, moving pictures in Great Britain quickly became an important staple of music hall programme. And who was cast in those early, rather banal little productions? Unknowns amateurs and semi-professionals. Not all pioneer film makers before the turn of the century seem to have noticed that they were surrounded by an abundance of extraordinary talent that would enrich their comedies, it was a belief novelty was all that was required to sell the new medium.

Most of the pre 1900 story lines featured maids, servants, soldiers and, that perennial favourite, policemen and it was usual (but not always) for the underdog to reign triumphant. The casting had nothing to do with the stars of the day considering this new form of entertainment common place and inferior as in the United States, nor was it a matter of being too expensive to employ these stars or even a lack of demand from the public. Music hall performers of the day were only too willing to make shorts cameoing their act and for little if any money, it was good publicity.