G. H. Elliott
Encyclopedia
G. H. Elliott was a British
music hall
singer and dancer. He was born George Henry Elliott in Rochdale
, Lancashire
in 1882
Known as the "Chocolate Coloured Coon", he came on stage with a painted black face but dressed entirely in white. He had a white top hat, a white tail-coat which came down well below the knees, white gloves, white tie or cravat, white trousers, white shoes and a white cane.
He and his family emigrated to the United States
when he was four. There he played juvenile parts on stage including the title role in Little Lord Fauntleroy
. He was a member of the Primrose West Minstrels at the age of nine where he first blacked up.
The family returned to England in 1901 where he continued to perform on the music hall stage. After a number of years treading the boards he rose to top of the bill. He was influenced by Eugene Stratton
who also used to black up and he sang some of Stratton’s songs particularly Lily of Laguna
which he sang in tribute to his hero. Among the songs particularly associated with him are Idaho, I Used To Sigh For The Silvery Moon and Sue, Sue, Sue.
He appeared in two films Music Hall (1934) and Those Were the Days (1934 film)
and in This is Your Life as Himself in 1957
He appeared in two Royal Variety Performance
s, in 1925 and 1948. He made over 100 records, his first on a wax cylinder and his last in 1960.
He was married twice, first to Emily Hayes who died in 1940 and then to Florence May Street, known as June. She had been an acrobat in acts as various as the Martinez Troupe/Duo and Sereno (Harry Sereno) and June.
G. H. Elliott retired to Rottingdean
, Brighton
where he lived in a cottage he named Silvery Moon after his song I Used to Sigh for the Silvery Moon. He is buried in the churchyard of St Margaret's Church, Rottingdean
and his gravestone shows a stage with curtains drawn back. It bears the words: "The last curtain call for G H Elliott The Chocolate Coloured Coon who passed peacefully away 19 November 1962. Dearly loved R.I.P."
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
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...
singer and dancer. He was born George Henry Elliott in Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, 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...
in 1882
Known as the "Chocolate Coloured Coon", he came on stage with a painted black face but dressed entirely in white. He had a white top hat, a white tail-coat which came down well below the knees, white gloves, white tie or cravat, white trousers, white shoes and a white cane.
He and his family emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he was four. There he played juvenile parts on stage including the title role in Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy is the first children's novel written by English playwright and author Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was originally published as a serial in the St. Nicholas Magazine between November 1885 and October 1886, then as a book by Scribner's in 1886...
. He was a member of the Primrose West Minstrels at the age of nine where he first blacked up.
The family returned to England in 1901 where he continued to perform on the music hall stage. After a number of years treading the boards he rose to top of the bill. He was influenced by Eugene Stratton
Eugene Stratton
Eugene Augustus Rühlmann was born in Buffalo, New York. He adopted the stage name Eugene Stratton, and became an American-born dancer and singer, whose career was mostly spent in British Music halls.- Biography :...
who also used to black up and he sang some of Stratton’s songs particularly Lily of Laguna
Lily of Laguna
Lily of Laguna is a song written in 1898 by Leslie Stuart and performed by Eugene Stratton and G. H. Elliott. The Carlton Football Club's official theme, We Are The Navy Blues is based on the tune...
which he sang in tribute to his hero. Among the songs particularly associated with him are Idaho, I Used To Sigh For The Silvery Moon and Sue, Sue, Sue.
He appeared in two films Music Hall (1934) and Those Were the Days (1934 film)
Those Were the Days (1934 film)
Those were the Days is a film primarily remembered as Will Hay's first major film role. It was based on the farce The Magistrate written by playwright Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, and was the first of two Hay movies that were based Pinero's plays, the other being Dandy Dick...
and in This is Your Life as Himself in 1957
He appeared in two Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
s, in 1925 and 1948. He made over 100 records, his first on a wax cylinder and his last in 1960.
He was married twice, first to Emily Hayes who died in 1940 and then to Florence May Street, known as June. She had been an acrobat in acts as various as the Martinez Troupe/Duo and Sereno (Harry Sereno) and June.
G. H. Elliott retired to Rottingdean
Rottingdean
Rottingdean is a coastal village next to the town of Brighton and technically within the city of Brighton and Hove, in East Sussex, on the south coast of England...
, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
where he lived in a cottage he named Silvery Moon after his song I Used to Sigh for the Silvery Moon. He is buried in the churchyard of St Margaret's Church, Rottingdean
St Margaret's Church, Rottingdean
St Margaret's Church is an Anglican church in Rottingdean, in the English city of Brighton and Hove. It is the parish church of the previously separate village of Rottingdean, which became part of the former Borough of Brighton in 1928...
and his gravestone shows a stage with curtains drawn back. It bears the words: "The last curtain call for G H Elliott The Chocolate Coloured Coon who passed peacefully away 19 November 1962. Dearly loved R.I.P."