Albert Chevalier
Encyclopedia
Albert Onesime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier (21 March 1861 – 10 July 1923) was an English
comedian
and actor
.
's Notting Hill
. The son of a French master at Kensington Grammar School, and a Welsh
mother, he showed a keen interest in acting and performed The September Gale in a private family performance, when he was seven. His brother Charles Ingle
, who served as his manager and occasional partner, is known for composing music hall classics such as My Old Dutch
. In 1869, Albert premièred in public as Mark Anthony
in Shakespeare
's Julius Caesar
, in an amateur performance at the local Cornwall Hall. He joined another local amateur group, the Roscius Dramatic Club at the age of fourteen, adopting the stage name, Albert Knight.
in London
, and for fourteen years played legitimate parts at the Court Theatre
and elsewhere.
In 1891, however, he began a successful music hall
career as a singer of coster
songs of his own invention, a new type in which he had an immediate success, both in England
and America
. He subsequently organized an entertainment of his own, with sketches and songs, with which he went on tour, establishing a wide popularity as an original artist in his special line.
Chevalier appeared in the 1909 production of "The Sins of Society" at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, playing the role of James Hogg.
Chevalier performed several sentimental songs in his act; the most popular of these was My Old Dutch
, about an old man's long happy marriage to his wife. The song's title is based on Cockney rhyming slang
: in this case, "Dutch" is a shortening of the phrase "Duchess of Fife" which rhymes with "wife". The singer's "old Dutch" is therefore his spouse. Chevalier also starred in a film entitled My Old Dutch. His own old Dutch, was his wife, Florrie, the daughter of George Champagne Charlie Leybourne
.
Albert Chevalier died on 10 July 1923. He is buried with his son and father in law George Leybourne
at Abney Park Cemetery
, Stoke Newington
, London. Their grave is cared for by The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Early life
Albert Chevalier was born in the Royal Crescent, in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
. The son of a French master at Kensington Grammar School, and a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
mother, he showed a keen interest in acting and performed The September Gale in a private family performance, when he was seven. His brother Charles Ingle
Charles Ingle
Charles Ingle was an English composer. Ingle was the brother and manager of performer Albert Chevalier. Ingle was one of six children. He had two brothers, Albert and Bertram; and a sister, Adéle...
, who served as his manager and occasional partner, is known for composing music hall classics such as My Old Dutch
My Old Dutch (song)
"My Old Dutch" is an 1892 music hall and vaudeville song performed by Albert Chevalier. The lyrics were written by Chevalier, with music composed by his brother Auguste under the name Charles Ingle...
. In 1869, Albert premièred in public as Mark Anthony
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
in Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
, in an amateur performance at the local Cornwall Hall. He joined another local amateur group, the Roscius Dramatic Club at the age of fourteen, adopting the stage name, Albert Knight.
Career
In 1877, at sixteen, he was engaged as an actor under the BancroftsSquire Bancroft
Sir Squire Bancroft , born Squire White Butterfield, was an English actor-manager. He and his wife Effie Bancroft are considered to have instigated a new form of drama known as 'drawing-room comedy' or 'cup and saucer drama', owing to the realism of their stage sets.-Early life and career:Bancroft...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and for fourteen years played legitimate parts at the Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
and elsewhere.
In 1891, however, he began a successful music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
career as a singer of coster
Costermonger
Costermonger, or simply Coster, is a street seller of fruit and vegetables, in London and other British towns. They were ubiquitous in mid-Victorian England, and some are still found in markets. As usual with street-sellers, they would use a loud sing-song cry or chant to attract attention...
songs of his own invention, a new type in which he had an immediate success, both in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He subsequently organized an entertainment of his own, with sketches and songs, with which he went on tour, establishing a wide popularity as an original artist in his special line.
Chevalier appeared in the 1909 production of "The Sins of Society" at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, playing the role of James Hogg.
Chevalier performed several sentimental songs in his act; the most popular of these was My Old Dutch
My Old Dutch (song)
"My Old Dutch" is an 1892 music hall and vaudeville song performed by Albert Chevalier. The lyrics were written by Chevalier, with music composed by his brother Auguste under the name Charles Ingle...
, about an old man's long happy marriage to his wife. The song's title is based on Cockney rhyming slang
Cockney rhyming slang
Rhyming slang is a form of phrase construction in the English language and is especially prevalent in dialectal British English from the East End of London; hence the alternative name, Cockney rhyming slang...
: in this case, "Dutch" is a shortening of the phrase "Duchess of Fife" which rhymes with "wife". The singer's "old Dutch" is therefore his spouse. Chevalier also starred in a film entitled My Old Dutch. His own old Dutch, was his wife, Florrie, the daughter of George Champagne Charlie Leybourne
George Leybourne
Joe Sanders , better known as George Leybourne, was an English music hall performer. Often nicknamed "Champagne Charlie", Leybourne is best-remembered as the lyricist for The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze....
.
Albert Chevalier died on 10 July 1923. He is buried with his son and father in law George Leybourne
George Leybourne
Joe Sanders , better known as George Leybourne, was an English music hall performer. Often nicknamed "Champagne Charlie", Leybourne is best-remembered as the lyricist for The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze....
at Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park in Stoke Newington, in the London Borough of Hackney, is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. In 1840 it became a non-denominational garden cemetery, semi-public park arboretum, and...
, Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
, London. Their grave is cared for by The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America
The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America
The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America is a registered theatre charity and non-profit making theatre organisation based in London and was founded by Adrian Barry in 1992...
.