Anthony Binns
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Anthony Binns
@anthonybinns.bsky.social
Theatre & music hall historian. Author of 'The Funniest Man in London - The Life of H.G.Pelissier, Edwardian Satirist & Founder of The Follies'👉 bit.ly/3DcqoAo www.anthonybinns.com & www.pelissiersfollies.com
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Throwback to September 2025, in the latest @musichallsociety.bsky.social ‘Call Boy’, with a little piece about the excellent #MusicHall themed ‘Wax Fruit’ book launch at BAaD Glasgow

Follow @waxfruittvseries on Instagram for more updates!

@jamiemacdougall.bsky.social
January 24, 2026 at 4:35 PM
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Some good news from @salfordvictoria.bsky.social 🎉

With our support, the group has successfully applied to @archhfund.org.uk for a project viability grant and has registered as a charity

Significant steps towards bringing this theatre back into use

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...
January 23, 2026 at 5:08 PM
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Not-for-profit theatres 🎭

Interested in applying to our Small Grants Programme? Grants of up to £7.5k for access, sustainability and viability projects

Find out more about what we are looking for at our webinar on 18 February

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/event...
January 20, 2026 at 3:01 PM
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It has now been over eight months since the Streatham Hill Theatre Change of Use application was first made but it is not on the agenda for the January Lambeth planning meeting. However, you can still email your objections - details on the process here: https://streathamhilltheatre.org/campaign
January 18, 2026 at 12:01 PM
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Streatham Hill Theatre programme advertising from 1930.
January 17, 2026 at 11:01 AM
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My great great aunt, Daisy Dormer, #musichall performer was born #otd 16 January 1883 in Portsmouth. Here's a few images of her from my collection.
January 16, 2026 at 2:45 PM
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Our first #SongSheetSaturday of 2026 – “Come & Cuddle Me”. As the temperatures drop, this might be a solution for seeking that extra warmth. A 1915 #panto hit for Dorothy Ward, composed by Clifford Harris & Jas W. Tate (Clarice’s husband).
January 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM
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In the month that The Great Vance took his final bow in 1888 on the stage of the Sun Music Hall, Knightsbridge, here is his 'Beautiful Nell' for #songsheetsaturday by Stacey Lee & R Coote with lithography by Alfred Concanen #MusicHall
December 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
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Proud my hometown was where Hezekiah coached. As you know paid a little visit there myself a few weeks ago
December 26, 2025 at 8:50 PM
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Boxing Day, chasing Hezekiah Moscow's ghost in Nottingham! (Day off?? 😂). The Malt Cross Music Hall was the first home of the Nottingham Amateur Boxing Association, inaugural coaches - Will Atkins (Irish) and 'Prince Ching Ghook' aka Hezekiah Moscow (Caribbean). 1886 🥊
December 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
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At the beginning of the week of 13th December 1954, a spectacular programme of Italian Opera came to Streatham Hill Theatre.
December 13, 2025 at 10:01 AM
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The celebrated #panto patter song - The Shopwalker - a sketch by the one & only Dan Leno who was born #OTD 1860. Composed by George Le Brunn with lyrics by Walter de Freece (later Mr Vesta Tilley) depicting a humorous take on a department store assistant
#songsheetsaturday #musichall #walkthisway
December 13, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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Harry Rickards, 'King of Australian vaudeville', was born in December 1843. For #SongSheetSaturday: his 1887 song 'That's What the Country Wants to Know' composed by Elsie Phillis (female songwriter - info anyone?) with words by FV St Clair, pub. Hopwood & Crew. Find it in our archive #MusicHall
December 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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This documentary was written by Ray Mackender, one of the co-founders of our Society #MusicHall #BMHS
A loving documentary tribute to the days of British Music Hall.

🎭 A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY (1968) 5:45pm featuring #LilyMorris #MarkEden #BarryCryer #GusElen and many more in archival footage and live recreations.
December 5, 2025 at 10:45 AM
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The Brixton Chamber Orchestra will stage a free concert at Streatham Hill Theatre on 19th December at 7pm as part of their 2025 Christmas Estates Tour.
More information here - https://tinyurl.com/BCOatSHT
November 29, 2025 at 10:02 AM
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Today, Jack Stanford, 'the greatest eccentric dancer of the day,' will be commemorated with a Blue Plaque at his Mallinson Road home, Battersea. Here's a 1932 showcard from our archive featuring him in a 'non-stop variety' bill at the London Pavilion. Look him up on YouTube to see his incredible act
November 29, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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Solve your Christmas gift worries - and support our cause - with a copy of our history book or a set of our Christmas Cards (or both!). Visit our shop page here - https://streathamhilltheatre.org/support/shop
November 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
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Vesta Victoria was born November 1873, for #songsheetsaturday here's her 1897 hit written by Fred Murray & Laurence Barclay. 'Our Lodger's Such a Nice Young Man'. He's such a good, goody young man, Mamma told me so, 'he kissed Mamma and all of us, cos Papa was away.'
November 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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Some beautiful modernist housing in #Liverpool, the latest from the ever-excellent @municipaldreams.bsky.social blog:

#History 🗃️
2/ Secondly, Liverpool's interwar tenement housing of the 1930s - an innovative attempt to 'raise an A1 community in a properly planned township of flats':
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/liverpools...
November 21, 2025 at 8:56 AM
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Sickert - Love, Death & Ennui at Piano Nobile features a superb selection of paintings, drawings, and prints, including famous Music Hall works like The Old Bedford and The Old Mogul Tavern. The collection is for sale, starting at £2,000, but it's worth visiting for its well-researched catalogue.
November 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM
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The extraordinary Sheila Steafal used to do a hilarious Popsy Wopsy number on "The Good Old Days".
November 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
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Annie Adams was born in November 1843 in Newport, Isle of Wight. For #songsheetsaturday here's her c. 1868 hit song, 'Popsy Wopsy!' One of the first successful female Music Hall performers, 'The Queen of Serio-Comic Vocalists.'
November 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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One of Blackpool's finest - Victoria Monks - was born #OTD 1882 . For #songsheetsaturday here is her 1908 hit song by EW Rogers and J Charles Moore. ‘Call round any old time and make yourself at home, put your feet on the mantle shelf, open the cupboard and help yourself…’ #MusicHall
November 1, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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I am looking forward to this day tomorrow and speaking about a tragic 'audience participation' incident at the Clapham Grand in 1906 #MusicHall
We are in @thetimes.com again!
A lovely article all about our Music Hall exhibition and events

There are still the last few tickets remaining for our Music Hall event this Saturday

Times article: www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...

Event tickets: www.thelondonarchives.org/whats-on/cen...
October 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM