Saturday, May 5, 2012

Drawing of the Day: The Immobile One, 1905



Caricature of Sam Mayo
George Cooke, 1905
The Victoria & Albert Museum


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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