Wigan Album
Hallgate 1880’s?
4 Comments
Photo: Keith
Item #: 35084
Alfred Glanville Vance (born Alfred Peck Stevens); B.1839 London – Died 26 December 1888, aged 49), often known as "The Great Vance" was an English music hall singer, regarded as "one of the most important of the early music-hall performers".
He toured provincial theatres with his own one-man show, featuring his acting, singing and dancing. He played up to 20 parts at each performance, equally at ease in male or female roles. It was said he was a better dancer than singer. He also toured with his concert party.
He developed a new style of music hall performance taking his inspiration from his everyday experiences and the colourful characters of daily street life. This generated criticism in some quarters and it was written that he was broad and vulgar.
However, he remained a favourite of the Prince of Wales and remained popular. In 1944 Stanley Holloway played him in an Ealing comedy film Champagne Charlie. It looks as if Ron’s photo was taken perhaps in the 1880’s.
Great research, Keith.
It's on record that Vance was performing at venues in Lancashire in June 1872, so could that be a possible date for this image?
Great picture and interesting story, thanks Keith.
Thank you for those comments. Just a little more on this remarkable performer who started off in life as a solicitor’s clerk. He worked under Edmund Falconer in Preston so perhaps this accounted for his appearances in the north-west, in addition it’s believed he ran a dancing school in Liverpool and may have had one in Carlisle also. Tony L, you’re quite right, I made a conservative estimate as to the date of the photo, it could well have been earlier since his first solo appearance was in 1864 in London. One final note, in one of his songs ‘Walking in the Zoo’ Desmond Morris, the zoologist and one time tv presenter, mentions this is the first time “O.K” was used in its current sense and ‘zoo’ in place of ‘zoological gardens’. They referred to the ones in Regent’s Park, London.
What a great photo - and info. Just what Wigan world is all about.