Harry Freeman (music hall performer)
Harry Freeman | |
|---|---|
 Freeman c. 1890 | |
| Born | 29 July 1858 Bromsgrove, Birmingham, England |
| Died | 30 July 1922 (aged 64) |
| Occupation | Entertainer |
| Movement | Grand Order of Water Rats |
Harry Freeman (29 July 1858 – 30 July 1922) was an English music hall performer of the Victorian era and early twentieth century, and the first King Rat of the show business charity the Grand Order of Water Rats.[1] Among his popular songs were 'Leicester Square' and 'The Giddy little Girl said, "No!"'
Freeman was born near
Midlands. He made his London debut at 'Lusby's Music Hall' in 1881. Freeman became a popular entertainer in the music halls of London and the provinces, but he never gained the fame or success in these that he held in his native Birmingham. His songs included 'Can't Stop', 'They're After Me', 'It Never Troubles Me', 'The Giddy little Girl said, "No!"', 'They Were All Occupied' and 'Leicester Square'.[1] A popular success was the song 'Wot Cher Trilby', written by Cart Howard following the success of the stage play Trilby, and which Freeman sang dressed in female attire.[2]
During the early 1890s Freeman was living in London, and when the
Freeman was one of the 231 figures depicted in
Walter Lambert's 'Popularity', a vast painting depicting the music hall stars of the early 1900s.[5] His last public appearance was in Norwich
in May 1922.
Harry Freeman died on 30 July 1922 following an abdominal operation in St Peter's Hospital in Covent Garden. He was buried in St Mary's Church, Handsworth in his native Birmingham on 4 August 1922.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Freeman on the Grand Order of Water Rats website
- ^ Tyler, Max Looking for Trilby - Frederick Denny's - Encyclopædia of the British Music Hall
- ^ Chester, Charlie, The Grand Order of Water Rats - A Legend of Laughter W H Allen, London (1984) pg 14
- ^ Programme for 'The Paragon Theatre of Varieties' (1896) on the 'East London Theatre archive' website
- ^ Lambert's 'Popularity' on arthurlloyd.co.uk
External links
- Freeman shown as King Rat in the first photograph of the Grand Order of Water Rats (1890)
- Freeman on the 'Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America' website
- Portrait of Harry Freeman - Published as a supplement to the Music Hall and Theatre Review, 26 July 1890 - Victoria and Albert Museum Collection