South East London blogzine - things that are happening, things that happened, things that should never have happened. New Cross, Brockley, Deptford and other beauty spots. EMAIL US: transpontineblog at gmail.com Transpontine: 'on the other (i.e. the south) side of the bridges over the Thames; pertaining to or like the lurid melodrama played in theatres there in the 19th century'.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Black Music Hall Performers
The black presence in music hall entertainment is often overlooked, so I was interested to come across a report of a show at the South London Palace, a Victorian music hall in London Road (north of Elephant and Castle). One night in September 1889 the bill included 'J.H. Maxwell, negro comedian and one-armed juggler' and 'Bennett and Harley, negro comedians' (South London Observer, 29.9.1889). Anybody know anymore about them?
Hi, I’ve just been looking at Middlesex Music Hall posters where my great grandfather is the chairman , Gus Leach. And on one of the bills is Will Gilbert, negro comedian - and my grandfather was called Will and my father had Gilbert in his name! I would love to know more about Will Gilbert
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