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George Grossmith Jr.

George Grossmith Jr. (11 May 1874 – 6 June 1935) was an English actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies. Grossmith was also an important innovator in bringing "cabaret" and "revues" to the London stage. Born in London, he took his first role on the musical stage at the age of 18 in Haste to the Wedding (1892), a West End collaboration between his famous songwriter and actor father and W. S. Gilbert.

Grossmith soon became an audience favourite playing "dude" roles. Early appearances in musicals included George Edwardes's hit A Gaiety Girl in 1893, and Go-Bang and The Shop Girl in 1894. In 1895, Grossmith left the musical stage, instead appearing in straight comedies, but after a few years he returned to performing in musicals and Victorian burlesques. Early in the new century, he had a string of successes in musicals for Edwardes, including The Toreador (1901), The School Girl (1903), The Orchid (1903), The Spring Chicken (1905), The New Aladdin (1906), The Girls of Gottenberg (1907), Our Miss Gibbs (1909), Peggy (1911), The Sunshine Girl (1912) and The Girl on the Film (1913). The lanky Grossmith was often comically paired with the diminutive Edmund Payne. At the same time, he developed a reputation as a co-writer of musicals and revues, usually adding jokes.

Grossmith established himself as a major producer, together with Edward Laurillard, of such hits as Tonight's the Night (1914), Theodore & Co (1916) and Yes, Uncle! (1917). He wrote the long-running revue series that began with The Bing Boys Are Here (1916), scheduling these projects around his naval service in World War I. He then produced Eastward Ho! (1919) and produced, co-wrote, directed and sometimes starred in, Kissing Time (1919), A Night Out (1920), Sally (1921), The Cabaret Girl (1922), The Beauty Prize (1923) and Primrose (1924), many of these featuring Leslie Henson. He also continued to appear in other producers' shows, including The Naughty Princess (1920) and No, No, Nanette (1925).

Later, he performed in such pieces as Princess Charming (1926) and appeared in at least ten films for London Film Productions Ltd., among other films, in the 1930s. He produced The Land of Smiles and Cavalcade (both in 1931), and in 1933, he played Touchstone in a production of As You Like It.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 11, 1874 (Haverstock), Died June 6, 1935 (Haverstock)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1931

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, lyricist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-6717 10-in. 1/12/1909 Do you know Mr. Schneider? Ada Jones Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-8229 12-in. 9/16/1909 Gems from The dollar princess Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-8706 12-in. 3/14/1910 Ring o' roses Harry Macdonough ; Lucy Isabelle Marsh Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-10032 12-in. 3/7/1911 Gems from The pink lady Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 81775 10-in. 5/12/1924 Haste to the wedding Frank Quinn ; Frank Quinn Piano accordion solo and male vocal solo (humming), with piano composer  
Columbia 74207 12-in. approximately 11/30/1920 Etiquette Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; Amy Augarde ; George Grossmith Jr. Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74208 12-in. approximately 11/29/1920 Love quadrille duet Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; Ivy Connor ; George Grossmith Jr. Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74210 12-in. approximately 11/29/1920 What we'll do Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Strafford Moss Male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74211 12-in. approximately 11/29/1920 Hush! Hush! Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; George Grossmith Jr. Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74213 12-in. approximately 11/29/1920 Art Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Lily St. John Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74366 12-in. approximately 10/7/1921 The church 'round the corner John Ansell ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Heather Thatcher ; Winter Garden Theatre Orchestra Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74367 12-in. approximately 10/7/1921 The Lorelei John Ansell ; Seymour Beard ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Heather Thatcher ; Winter Garden Theatre Orchestra Vocal trio with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76478 12-in. either May or June 1919 The happy family Yvonne Arnaud ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Leslie Henson Vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76479 12-in. either May or June 1919 Desertion George Grossmith Jr. Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76480 12-in. either May or June 1919 I like it Yvonne Arnaud ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Leslie Henson Vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76483 12-in. either May or June 1919 Joan and Peter Phyllis Dare ; George Grossmith Jr. Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76484 12-in. either May or June 1919 There's a light in your eye Phyllis Dare ; George Grossmith Jr. Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) WAR587 10-in. November 1930-March 1931 Sur les vagues Barrel organ operator (unidentified; Columbia (U.K.) Records) Barrel organ solo composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Grossmith, George, Jr.," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107401.

Grossmith, George, Jr.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107401.

"Grossmith, George, Jr.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107401

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