Here’s another of the series of Edwardian music
hall, theatrical and variety caricatures drawn and saved by George Cooke. This caricature is of Sam Mayo, who was known
as “The Immobile One,” when he was
performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties in Hanley, during the week of May
29 1905.
Mayo was billed as “the
Original Immobile Comedian” and grew popular with the song “I Never Stopped
Running Till I Got Home.” When he was at
Hanley in May of 1905, the theatre held a competition to find the person who could
most accurately imitate him his unusual style.
At the time, music hall performers liked to cultivate specialties which
would set them apart. Mayo Mayo specialized in standing eerily still on
stage, often with his hands between his knees while he sang. That sounds fun. He was also known for
singing at a piano wearing an old dressing gown, a motoring cap, a yellow wig
and a trademark lugubrious expression. Also
fun!
The caricature is signed by Mayo, presumably to the artist, “Would that I had
such teeth. Good luck Sam Mayo.” Would
that you did, Sammy, would that you did.
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