Anthony Binns
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anthonybinns.bsky.social
Anthony Binns
@anthonybinns.bsky.social
40 followers 62 following 44 posts
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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anthonybinns.bsky.social
#OTD 1808 the first Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, burned down. Opened in 1732, it was then known as the Theatre Royal. Reopened 1809 & burned again 1858. A frequent 19th-century hazard. Hope someone shouted "fire!"
@bho.bsky.social @theatrestrust.bsky.social @theatreresearch.bsky.social
August 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"He swallowed the poison like a lover so brave, Now Villikins and his Dinah lie both in one grave." 🎶
Remembering #otd d.1864 Frederick Robson, cross-dressing music hall pioneer & performer of popular tragi-comic ballad Villikins & His Dinah.
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 8:07 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Remembering #otd d.1856 Fulham, British actress, singer & impresario Madame Vestris, pioneer of cross-dressing 'belt n breeches' roles & independent female business management 👉bit.ly/3Z18zPz @youngalison.bsky.social @womenknowhistory.bsky.social @billyrough.bsky.social @theatreresearch.bsky.social
August 8, 2025 at 6:21 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"I shave from my cuff all the whiskers and fluff, stick my hat on and toddle up West..." 🎶
Remembering #otd d.1952 cross-dressing music hall legend Ella Shields, in the fine tradition of #HGPelissier & #TheFollies 👉 bit.ly/3DcqoAo @musichallsociety.bsky.social @roadsw9.bsky.social @genderlib.com
August 5, 2025 at 5:15 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"I to Monte Carlo went, just to raise my Winter's rent.. " 🎶
Remembering #otd b.Stepney, London, music hall comic singer, Charles Coborn, The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo!
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @heathertweed.bsky.social @billyrough.bsky.social @roberthazle.bsky.social
August 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Celebrating #otd b.1867 in Cudham,Kent, international music hall legend Harry Relph aka 'Little Tich'.
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social @charlieholland.bsky.social @roadsw9.bsky.social @billyrough.bsky.social @thevicsoc.bsky.social @heathertweed.bsky.social
July 21, 2025 at 5:47 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"They're the widest in creation & I make no extra charge.
Who'll have a chance for a dozen or two,
They're all very fine & large!" 🎶
##otd d.1904 Lambeth born music hall comedian Herbert Campbell, a leading panto dame #DruryLane
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social
July 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage!" 🎶
Remembering #otd d.1922, aged 64, British songwriter Harry Dacre, who retired & lived comfortably off his earnings in Langham Place, Westminster. @musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social
July 16, 2025 at 5:23 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"Beautiful as a butterfly and proud as a queen
was pretty little Polly Perkins
of Paddington Green."
Remembering #otd d.1872 Shepherd's Bush, singer-songwriter Harry Clifton, early star of music hall who also gave us The Rocky Road to Dublin!
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Remembering #otd d.1896 aged 44, British actor & impresario Sir Augustus Harris, who introduced music hall artistes & panto to #DruryLane. Memorial Drinking Fountain in #CoventGarden
@youngalison.bsky.social @musichallsociety.bsky.social @roadsw9.bsky.social @theatreresearch.bsky.social #DanLeno
June 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
#otd opened 1765, the King's Theatre, the first in Richmond, Surrey, with comic opera 'Love in a Village'. First off-West End engagement of comedian #JoeCowell & his first encounter with the great actor #EdmundKean. Read more 👉 bit.ly/3Z18zPz
June 15, 2025 at 6:22 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Celebrating ##otd b.1791, American actor, playwright & composer, John Howard Payne, whose 1822 'Home Sweet Home' became a #musichall standard on both sides of the Atlantic. Also starred at Drury Lane in his own play 'Brutus' (1818) with comedian #JoeCowell 👉 bit.ly/3Z18zPz
June 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
They don't bake 'em like that any more! #otd m.1912 Dan Everard & Dollis Brooke, seaside & #Pierrot entertainers & West End stars of #TheFollies 👉 bit.ly/3DcqoAo

@musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social @intothelimelight.bsky.social @seasideferry.bsky.social
June 8, 2025 at 5:44 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"Last night as I slumbered, I had a strange dream..." #otd b.1863 Leo Dryden, music hall singer, whose one big hit, composed in 1891, was popular for over 40 years & recently covered by folk singer #KateRusby
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social @heathertweed.bsky.social
June 6, 2025 at 6:03 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Anyone interested in theatre & music hall history might enjoy my new blog on the Cowell-Compton-Pelissier dynasty. Pt.One focuses on comedy & circus pioneer Joe Cowell 👉 bit.ly/3Z18zPz
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social @billyrough.bsky.social @intothelimelight.bsky.social
June 3, 2025 at 5:33 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Great family show! Saw them this weekend. Friendly, exhilarating, colourful & fun! Keeping the circus tradition alive & on tour throughout UK 👉 www.jaymillerscircus.co.uk

@musichallsociety.bsky.social @theatrestrust.bsky.social
June 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Celebrating #otd b.1885 Fred Barnes, popular singer & seaside entertainer. Among first to be openly gay. Buried #Southend.
#MotherKellysDoorstep #GiveMeTheMoonlight
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @seasideferry.bsky.social @billyrough.bsky.social @gaymusic.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social
May 31, 2025 at 4:44 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Celebrating #otd 1951, the first ever broadcast of #TheGoonShow on BBC Home Service under the title 'Crazy People'. Heirs to ##TheFollies 👉 bit.ly/3DcqoAo

@musichallsociety.bsky.social
May 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"The saxophone is the embodied spirit of beer."
#otd b.1867, Stoke-on-Trent #ArnoldBennet popular novelist, playwright & devotee of cabaret.
@literaturegeek.bsky.social @stokeontrentlive.bsky.social @oldedwardians.bsky.social @dickenssociety.bsky.social
May 27, 2025 at 11:57 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"You were once wild here. Don't let them tame you."
#otd b.1877 San Francisco, avant-garde dancer #IsadoraDuncan

@theatrestrust.bsky.social @theatreresearch.bsky.social @danceronfilm.bsky.social @thevicsoc.bsky.social @victorianmasc.bsky.social @visittheatres.bsky.social
May 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"Clear the way! For the Rocky Road to Dublin!" 🎶
##otd d.1865 legendary Irish music hall singer, comedian & impresario Sam Collins.
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @youngalison.bsky.social @billyrough.bsky.social @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social @layersoflondon.bsky.social @theatrestrust.bsky.social
May 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
Fab 125th anniversary tour of The Clapham Grand music hall yesterday organised by its intrepid manager Ally Wolf & @musichallsociety.bsky.social. Built as 3,000 seater in an era of mass theatregoing! 👉 bit.ly/40QY9An @billyrough.bsky.social @theatrestrust.bsky.social @victorianlondon.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 8:08 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
"I mustn't tell you what I mean!
I mustn't tell you what I've seen!"
#otd b.1870 the great #MarieLloyd. The Censor couldn't understand her nuanced performance but banned her anyway. Her response: the song "You Can't Stop A Girl From Thinking!"
@musichallsociety.bsky.social @heathertweed.bsky.social
February 12, 2025 at 7:38 AM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
##otd 1912 #HGPelissier & #TheFollies opened at the Ealing Hippodrome. An era of mass theatregoing (see my blog 👉bit.ly/40QY9An) Built 1899, capacity 2,000, demolished for shops 1959.
February 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
anthonybinns.bsky.social
#otd 1913 #HGPelissier &#TheFollies opened their groundbreaking satirical musical revue at Chiswick Empire, designed by @frankmatchamsoc.bsky.social demolished 1959 for office block. Artists appearing there: #LaurelandHardy #GeorgeFormby ##PeterSellers @musichallsociety.bsky.social
January 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM