[Female Impersonators] Ella Shields (1879 - 1952) & Bert Errol (1883 - 1949)
Signed Photographs
Unusual grouping of five signed and unsigned photographs, as follows:10 x 13 inch signed photo of the popular music hall singer and male-impersonator, Ella Shields, whose famous signature song, "Burlington Bertie from Bow" written by her manager and first husband, William Hargreaves was an immediate hit that is still sung to this day. Though American-born, Ella achieved her greatest success in England.
8 x 10 inch signed photo of Clarkson Rose, in female dress, signed 'Prudence Rose". Born in 1890 as Arthur C. Rose, he began his career as "A.C. Rose-Comedian" debuting in 1905. He began playing female parts with great success appearing at the London Coliseum as a Victorian Dame singing "The Girls of the Old Brigade." He starred at the Lyceum between 1936 and 1938. A big star in Pantomimes, he claimed his favorite role was Widow Twankey in "Aladdin."
Sheet music for "Venetian Moon" by Gus Kahn and Phil Goldberg/Frank Magine (New York: H. Remick & Co.), featuring an inset photograph of the celebrated female impersonator and apparently remarkable soprano (!) Bert Errol on the cover, with a facsimile signature.
2 additional unsigned original images of unidentified actors in female costume. (5623)
Signed Photograph Song