Clarice Mayne
Encyclopedia
Clarice Mayne was a music hall
and variety theatre singer and performer.
in 1886. She is best known for the song "A Broken Doll" written by her husband, the composer James W. Tate
and lyricist Frank Clifford Harris
.
Early in her career, Mayne often played the "principal girl" in pantomime
s for Francis Laidler, among others. She also became a noted music hall
performer. Later, she played the "principal boy" roles.
Mayne sang in the variety theatre act called "Clarice Mayne and That". Mayne was "This", and Tate, accompanying on the piano, was "That" ("This sings, That Plays!"). They first appeared together at “The Oxford” in 1906 and introduced a number of popular numbers including “I was a Good little girl, ‘till I met You” (1912), and “Put on Your Ta-Ta little Girlie”, both written by Tate. They married in 1912 after the death of Tate's first wife, Lottie Collins
. Tate died in 1922, and Mayne married Teddy Knox of Nervo and Knox
in 1934.
Mayne also played the principal boy in a number of Tate's pantomime
s throughout Britain beginning in World War I
, including a pantomime version of Cinderella
in 1916, Dick Whittington in 1918, Puss In Boots in 1920, Cinderella again, at the London Hippodrome in 1922 (and many times thereafter, playing with Stanley Lupino
and her later husband, Teddy Knox), and Dick Whittington again in 1923, at the London Palladium, among others.
In 1936, she played Emily Hackitt in the film Educated Evans. She and Tate had appeared together in the 1916 film Nursie! Nursie!
She died in London in 1966 at the age of 79. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium
in London.
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...
and variety theatre singer and performer.
Life and career
Mayne was born 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...
in 1886. She is best known for the song "A Broken Doll" written by her husband, the composer James W. Tate
James W. Tate
James William Tate was a songwriter, accompanist, and composer and producer of revues and pantomimes in the early years of the 20th century...
and lyricist Frank Clifford Harris
Frank Clifford Harris
Frank Clifford Harris was a British lyricist. He often worked with composer James W. Tate....
.
Early in her career, Mayne often played the "principal girl" in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
s for Francis Laidler, among others. She also became a noted 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...
performer. Later, she played the "principal boy" roles.
Mayne sang in the variety theatre act called "Clarice Mayne and That". Mayne was "This", and Tate, accompanying on the piano, was "That" ("This sings, That Plays!"). They first appeared together at “The Oxford” in 1906 and introduced a number of popular numbers including “I was a Good little girl, ‘till I met You” (1912), and “Put on Your Ta-Ta little Girlie”, both written by Tate. They married in 1912 after the death of Tate's first wife, Lottie Collins
Lottie Collins
Lottie Collins was an English singer and dancer, most famous for introducing the song "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!"-Life:...
. Tate died in 1922, and Mayne married Teddy Knox of Nervo and Knox
Nervo and Knox
Jimmy Nervo and Teddy Knox were part of the original Crazy Gang. They started the stage careers as an acrobatic dancing team. They used this ability in many of the earlier Crazy Gang shows. Among their many routines, a slow motion wrestling act was developed into a humorous show stopper...
in 1934.
Mayne also played the principal boy in a number of Tate's pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
s throughout Britain beginning in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, including a pantomime version of Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
in 1916, Dick Whittington in 1918, Puss In Boots in 1920, Cinderella again, at the London Hippodrome in 1922 (and many times thereafter, playing with Stanley Lupino
Stanley Lupino
Stanley Lupino was an English actor, dancer, singer, librettist, director and short story writer.-Early career:Lupino began his career as an acrobat and made his stage debut in 1913 and first became known as a music hall performer and played in pantomimes at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane...
and her later husband, Teddy Knox), and Dick Whittington again in 1923, at the London Palladium, among others.
In 1936, she played Emily Hackitt in the film Educated Evans. She and Tate had appeared together in the 1916 film Nursie! Nursie!
She died in London in 1966 at the age of 79. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000, and was opened in 1902 by Sir Henry Thompson....
in London.