Charles B. Cochran
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Blake Cochran (25 September 187231 January 1951), generally known as C. B. Cochran, was an English theatrical manager. He produced some of the most successful musical revue
s, musicals and plays of the 1920s and 1930s, becoming associated with Noel Coward
and his works.
and educated at Oxford
. He became an actor and made his first appearance in New York
. Subsequently he was press representative to various theatres, circuses and exhibitions in the United States
. For three years he was personal representative of Richard Mansfield
. In 1917, he became responsible for the productions of the Oxford Music Hall
, including the surprise hit The Better 'Ole
, which ran for over 800 performances. He later showed an interest in many of the best known English theatres either as lessee or licensee. Cochran was also responsible for bringing Nikita Balieff
and Balieff's theatre group "Chauve-Souris" to London.
From the 1920s, he produced musical revues and spectaculars in competition with André Charlot
, and collaborated regularly with Noël Coward
to produce Coward's famous plays and musical comedies.
Cochran was responsible for discovering new talents and making stars out of them, including Gertrude Lawrence
, Noel Coward, Evelyn Laye
, Jessie Matthews
, The Dolly Sisters
and Lizbeth Webb
. He was knighted in 1948.
He died in January 1951, after being trapped in a bath full of scalding water at his home in London.
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
s, musicals and plays of the 1920s and 1930s, becoming associated with Noel Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
and his works.
Biography
Cochran was born in SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
and educated at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He became an actor and made his first appearance in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Subsequently he was press representative to various theatres, circuses and exhibitions in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. For three years he was personal representative of Richard Mansfield
Richard Mansfield
Richard Mansfield was an English actor-manager best known for his performances in Shakespeare plays, Gilbert and Sullivan operas and for his portrayal of the dual title roles in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
. In 1917, he became responsible for the productions of the Oxford Music Hall
Oxford Music Hall
Oxford Music Hall was a music hall located in Westminster, London at the corner of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. It was established on the site of a former public house, the Boar and Castle, by Charles Morton, in 1861. The hall was converted into a legitimate theatre in 1917, but the...
, including the surprise hit The Better 'Ole
The Better 'Ole
The Better 'Ole, also called The Romance of Old Bill, is an Edwardian musical comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliott, music by Herman Darewski, and lyrics by Percival Knight and James Heard, based on the cartoon character Old Bill, an infantryman, drawn by Bairnsfather...
, which ran for over 800 performances. He later showed an interest in many of the best known English theatres either as lessee or licensee. Cochran was also responsible for bringing Nikita Balieff
Nikita Balieff
Nikita Balieff , was an Armenian vaudevillian, stage performer, writer, impresario, and director best known as the master of ceremonies and creator of La Chauve-Souris theater group.-Theatrical career begins in Moscow:...
and Balieff's theatre group "Chauve-Souris" to London.
From the 1920s, he produced musical revues and spectaculars in competition with André Charlot
André Charlot
André Eugene Maurice Charlot was a French impresario known primarily for the highly successful musical revues he staged in London between 1912 and 1937...
, and collaborated regularly with Noël Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
to produce Coward's famous plays and musical comedies.
Cochran was responsible for discovering new talents and making stars out of them, including Gertrude Lawrence
Gertrude Lawrence
Gertrude Lawrence was an English actress, singer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End theatre district of London and on Broadway.-Early life:...
, Noel Coward, Evelyn Laye
Evelyn Laye
Evelyn Laye, CBE was an English theatre and film actress.-Early years and career:Born as Elsie Evelyn Lay in Bloomsbury, London, Laye made her first stage appearance in August 1915 at the Theatre Royal, Brighton as Nang-Ping in Mr...
, Jessie Matthews
Jessie Matthews
Jessie Matthews, OBE was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1930s, whose career continued into the post-war period.-Early life:...
, The Dolly Sisters
Dolly Sisters
The Dolly Sisters, twins Roszika and Janszieka Deutsch were Vaudeville performers.-Biographies:They were born October 25, 1892 in Hungary, and emigrated to the United States in 1905. They perfected a single-sex "tandem" dance act - practising in front of mirrors - under the name of 'The Dolly...
and Lizbeth Webb
Lizbeth Webb
Elizabeth Holton , better known by her stage name, Lizbeth Webb, is a retired English soprano and stage actress. After entertaining British troops during World War II, Webb pursued a career in West End musicals, playing such roles as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls.-Early life and career:Webb was...
. He was knighted in 1948.
He died in January 1951, after being trapped in a bath full of scalding water at his home in London.
Productions
His stage productions include:- The Better 'OleThe Better 'OleThe Better 'Ole, also called The Romance of Old Bill, is an Edwardian musical comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliott, music by Herman Darewski, and lyrics by Percival Knight and James Heard, based on the cartoon character Old Bill, an infantryman, drawn by Bairnsfather...
(1917) - In the Night Watch (1918)
- As You Were (1918)
- The Man Who Came Back (1920)
- The League of Notions (1921)
- The Man in Evening Clothes (1924)
- One Damn Thing After Another (1927)
- This Year of GraceThis Year of GraceThis Year of Grace is a revue with a book, music, and lyrics by Noël Coward.It opened in London on March 22, 1928 at the London Pavilion and ran nearly ten months, with a cast featuring Sonnie Hale, Maisie Gay, Jessie Matthews, Sheilah Graham and Tilly Losch among others. Doris Zinkeisen was one of...
(1928) - The Middle Watch (1929)
- Many Waters (1929)
- Bitter SweetBitter SweetBitter Sweet is an operetta in three acts written by Noël Coward and first produced in 1929 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. It ran for a very successful 967 performances....
(1929) - Wake Up and DreamWake Up and DreamWake Up and Dream is a musical revue with a book by John Hastings Turner and music and lyrics by Cole Porter and others. The most famous song from the revue is the Porter standard "What Is This Thing Called Love?"...
(1929) - Private LivesPrivate LivesPrivate Lives is a 1930 comedy of manners in three acts by Noël Coward. It focuses on a divorced couple who discover that they are honeymooning with their new spouses in neighbouring rooms at the same hotel. Despite a perpetually stormy relationship, they realise that they still have feelings for...
(1930) - CavalcadeCavalcade (play)Cavalcade is a play by Noël Coward. It focuses on three decades in the life of the Marryotts, a quintessential British family, and their servants, beginning at the start of the 20th century and ending on New Year's Eve in 1929....
(1931) - Words and MusicWords and Music (musical)Words and Music is a musical revue with sketches, music, lyrics and direction by Noël Coward. The revue introduced the song "Mad About the Boy", which, according to The Noël Coward Society's website, is Coward's most popular song...
(1932) - Nymph ErrantNymph ErrantNymph Errant is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Romney Brent based upon the novel by James Laver. The somewhat controversial story concerned a young English lady intent upon losing her virginity. Porter considered the score his best because of its worldliness and sexual...
(1933) - Conversation PieceConversation Piece (musical)Conversation Piece, billed as "A Romantic Comedy with Music", is a musical written by Noel Coward. It premiered at His Majesty's Theatre, London, on 16 February 1934, and ran for 177 performances over five months...
(1934) - Anything GoesAnything GoesAnything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
(1935) - Escape Me Never (1935)
- Big Ben (1946)
- Bless the BrideBless The BrideBless the Bride is a musical with music by Vivian Ellis and a book and lyrics by A. P. Herbert, the third of five musicals they wrote together. The musical is remembered as Ellis's best work and for the recordings of "This is my lovely day" and "I was never kissed before", with Lizbeth Webb and...
(1947) - The Ivory TowerThe Ivory TowerThe Ivory Tower is an unfinished novel by Henry James, posthumously published in 1917. The novel is a brooding story of Gilded Age America...
(1948)
Publications
- Secrets of a Showman, (1925)
- C.B.C.'s Review of Revues, (1930)
- I Had Almost Forgotten, (1932)
- Cock-a-Doodle-Do, (1941)
- A Showman Looks On, (1945)