Bert Errol, in character, wearing a shiny black dress. Process print, 1922.

Date:
1922
Reference:
2044938i
Part of:
The James Gardiner Collection.
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view Bert Errol, in character, wearing a shiny black dress. Process print, 1922.

In copyright

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Credit

Bert Errol, in character, wearing a shiny black dress. Process print, 1922. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Publication/Creation

Brixton (13 Villa Road) : Repro by S. Georges, 1922.

Physical description

1 print : process print ; sheet 13.7 x 8.3 cm

Lettering

Sincerely yours, Bert Errol. 1922. Lettering written in black on bottom recto

Notes

The following description was provided by James Gardiner: "He is holding his long beaded necklace in one hand while posing on steps in front of a large arched window. Bert Errol (1883-1949), was to some extent the British counterpart to Julian Eltinge. By the age of eighteen he was appearing as a concert singer in his home town of Birmingham, singing in a strong tenor voice. By the time of his first appearance in London, at the Pavilion in 1909, his act had evolved into a series of impersonations of popular female singers, as well as characters of his own devising. As his act developed into the 1920s, it became more comedy-based, and his routines featured lightning-fast costume changes. Film exists of one such routine, showing how the rapid changes were effected with the unseen help of his wife, who waited in the wings with specially made costumes and props at the ready. His long and successful career took him all over Europe and on several highly successful tours of America. Despite his large and definitely masculine features, photographs reveal a very stylish and fashionable figure, and he enjoyed a long and successful career, dying in Brighton in 1949. The present photograph shows him wearing the costume and expression of a Hollywood vamp. The sequinned fish-tail gown has a plunging neckline."
This is a reproduction of an earlier photograph
This work is untitled: the title has been supplied by the cataloguer.

Reference

Wellcome Collection 2044938i

Where to find it

  • Photograph album labelled ‘Drag'

    LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

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