Ella Shields
Encyclopedia
Ella Shields was a music hall
singer and male-impersonator
. Her famous signature song, "Burlington Bertie from Bow
", written by her manager and first husband, William Hargreaves
, was an immediate hit. Though American-born, Ella achieved her greatest success in England.
, Maryland
in 1879. Her true surname appears to have been Buscher (sometimes spelled Busher). It is not certain when she adopted the stage name Shields. "Ella" might also have been a stage name).
She began her career in 1898 doing a vaudeville
song-and-dance act with her sisters. In 1904 a talent scout lured Shields to London, where she was billed as the "Southern Nightingale." In 1910 she appeared at the opening night of the London Palladium
. It was at this time that she become a male impersonator. The story goes that one night in 1910 Shields was attending a party at which music-hall performers did their acts for one another. Half of a two-man musical act was out sick, and Shields put on trousers to fill in for him. This impromptu turn in trousers proved to be the turning point of her career and she rarely wore dresses on stage again.
In 1915 her song-writing husband, William Hargreaves, wrote "Burlington Bertie from Bow", a comic ditty about a penniless Londoner who affects the manner of well-heeled gentleman. It was a parody of an earlier song, simply called Burlington Bertie
, written by Harry B. Norris and made famous by Vesta Tilley
. Shields sang the song, dressed up in top hat and tails, in the role of Burlington Bertie 'himself'. She toured the world in this role, including appearances at Baltimore's now-demolished Maryland Theatre
in 1924 and '26. The persona of Bertie haunted the rest of her life and she was known as Bertie as much as Ella. She divorced her husband in 1923.
The Depression
brought difficult times for many entertainers, and Shields spent time working at a Macy's
jewellery counter in New York. After a period of performing in obscurity, a music-hall reunion show called Thanks for the Memory put "Bertie" back in the spotlight. This show ran throughout England for over three years from 1947 - '51.
Ella worked with many stars over the years, including a very young Julie Andrews
in the late 1940s with whom she shared the same bill of a Royal Command Performance
. Julie Andrews pays tribute to Ella Shields in her own one woman show and has recorded Ella's famous song "Burlington Bertie from Bow". It is most likely Julie Andrews used Ella Shields as her role model for 'Victor' in the film and musical version, Victor/Victoria
.
In August 1952, a septuagenarian Shields performed in northern England. Her death was dramatic. Singing her trademark song, in what would be her final show, instead of the traditional opening lines 'I'm Burlington Bertie', she began with 'I was Burlington Bertie'. After finishing the song she collapsed on stage and died three days later, without regaining consciousness, at Lancaster
in Lancashire
, on August 5, 1952 and her body was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium
in London. In the cemetery courtyard she shares a memorial plaque with music hall star Nellie Wallace.
Her repertoire of songs were related to her male-impersonation act, which was often in military attire. They included:
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...
singer and male-impersonator
Drag king
Drag kings are mostly female performance artists who dress in masculine drag and personify male gender stereotypes as part of their performance. A typical drag king routine may incorporate dancing and singing, live as in the Momma's Boyz of San Francisco's performances or lip-synching...
. Her famous signature song, "Burlington Bertie from Bow
Burlington Bertie
"Burlington Bertie" is a music hall song composed by Harry B. Norris in 1900 and sung by Vesta Tilley. It concerns an aristocratic young idler who pursues a life of leisure in the West End of London....
", written by her manager and first husband, William Hargreaves
William Hargreaves
William Hargreaves was an English composer, mainly of songs for the music hall. His most famous composition was Burlington Bertie From Bow in 1916 but he also wrote Delaney's Donkey, I Know Where the Flies Go , PC 49, We All Went Marching Home Again, They Built Piccadilly For Me and Give My...
, was an immediate hit. Though American-born, Ella achieved her greatest success in England.
Biography
Ella Shields was born in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1879. Her true surname appears to have been Buscher (sometimes spelled Busher). It is not certain when she adopted the stage name Shields. "Ella" might also have been a stage name).
She began her career in 1898 doing a vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
song-and-dance act with her sisters. In 1904 a talent scout lured Shields to London, where she was billed as the "Southern Nightingale." In 1910 she appeared at the opening night of the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
. It was at this time that she become a male impersonator. The story goes that one night in 1910 Shields was attending a party at which music-hall performers did their acts for one another. Half of a two-man musical act was out sick, and Shields put on trousers to fill in for him. This impromptu turn in trousers proved to be the turning point of her career and she rarely wore dresses on stage again.
In 1915 her song-writing husband, William Hargreaves, wrote "Burlington Bertie from Bow", a comic ditty about a penniless Londoner who affects the manner of well-heeled gentleman. It was a parody of an earlier song, simply called Burlington Bertie
Burlington Bertie
"Burlington Bertie" is a music hall song composed by Harry B. Norris in 1900 and sung by Vesta Tilley. It concerns an aristocratic young idler who pursues a life of leisure in the West End of London....
, written by Harry B. Norris and made famous by Vesta Tilley
Vesta Tilley
Matilda Alice Powles , was an English male impersonator. At the age of 11, she adopted the stage name Vesta Tilley becoming the most famous and well paid music hall male impersonator of her day...
. Shields sang the song, dressed up in top hat and tails, in the role of Burlington Bertie 'himself'. She toured the world in this role, including appearances at Baltimore's now-demolished Maryland Theatre
Maryland Theater (Baltimore)
The Maryland Theater was a music venue in Baltimore, Maryland, home to that city's first jazz band, led by John Ridgely. It was originally built by James L. Kernan, as a vaudeville house, in 1903, and included a rathskeller in the basement. Kernan also owned a large hotel, in the same building as...
in 1924 and '26. The persona of Bertie haunted the rest of her life and she was known as Bertie as much as Ella. She divorced her husband in 1923.
The Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
brought difficult times for many entertainers, and Shields spent time working at a Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
jewellery counter in New York. After a period of performing in obscurity, a music-hall reunion show called Thanks for the Memory put "Bertie" back in the spotlight. This show ran throughout England for over three years from 1947 - '51.
Ella worked with many stars over the years, including a very young Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
in the late 1940s with whom she shared the same bill of a Royal Command Performance
Royal Command Performance
For the annual Royal Variety Performance performed in Britain for the benefit of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, see Royal Variety Performance...
. Julie Andrews pays tribute to Ella Shields in her own one woman show and has recorded Ella's famous song "Burlington Bertie from Bow". It is most likely Julie Andrews used Ella Shields as her role model for 'Victor' in the film and musical version, Victor/Victoria
Victor/Victoria
Victor Victoria is a 1982 musical comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that involves transvestism and sexual identity as central themes. It stars Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren, Alex Karras, and John Rhys-Davies. The film was produced by Tony Adams, directed...
.
In August 1952, a septuagenarian Shields performed in northern England. Her death was dramatic. Singing her trademark song, in what would be her final show, instead of the traditional opening lines 'I'm Burlington Bertie', she began with 'I was Burlington Bertie'. After finishing the song she collapsed on stage and died three days later, without regaining consciousness, at Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, on August 5, 1952 and her body 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. In the cemetery courtyard she shares a memorial plaque with music hall star Nellie Wallace.
Her repertoire of songs were related to her male-impersonation act, which was often in military attire. They included:
- "Burlington Bertie from BowBurlington Bertie"Burlington Bertie" is a music hall song composed by Harry B. Norris in 1900 and sung by Vesta Tilley. It concerns an aristocratic young idler who pursues a life of leisure in the West End of London....
" - "Baa Lambs"
- "I'm Walking 'round the World"
- "I Don't Admire the Girl in White (In the Army)"
- "Oh! It's a Lovely WarOh, What a Lovely War!Oh, What a Lovely War! is an epic musical originated by Charles Chilton as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop in 1963...
" - "Coo-ee"
- "Stick to London Town"
- "Adeline"
- "The King's Navee"
- "What a Difference the Navy's Made to Me"
- "Why Did You Creep into My Heart?"
- "Why Did I Kiss That Girl?"
- "I'm Not There At All"
- "All the Nice Girls Are in the Ballroom"
- "Show Me the Way to Go HomeShow Me the Way to Go Home"Show Me the Way to Go Home" is a folk song. It was made famous by its 1925 adaptation by the pseudonymous "Irving King" . The song was written on a railroad train journey from London by Campbell and Connelly. They were tired from the travelling and had a few alcoholic drinks during the journey,...
" - "When the Bloom Is on the Heather"
- "If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)"
- "San Francisco"
- "Jolly Good Fellows"
- "I'd Do It All Over Again"
- "Everybody's Singing"
- "Nelly GreyNellie Gray"Darling Nelly Gray" is a 19th c. popular song composed by Benjamin Hanby, and as such, is a pseudo-African-American folksong. Hanby composed the song while attending Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio in 1856, in response to the plight of a runaway slave named Joseph Selby or Shelby...
"