Kurt at 21:01, 22 September 2024

2024-09-22T21:01:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:01, 22 September 2024
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	\| birth_name = James Lawler Booth		\| birth_name = James Lawler Booth
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1875\|10\|04\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1875\|10\|04\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[~~w:Ashton-under-Lyne\|~~Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[~~w:Lancashire\|~~Lancashire]]		\| birth_place = [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Lancashire]]
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1921\|02\|08\|1875\|10\|04\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1921\|02\|08\|1875\|10\|04\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[~~w:Warrington\|~~Warrington]], Lancashire		\| death_place = [[Warrington]], Lancashire
	\| other_names =		\| other_names =
	\| occupation =		\| occupation =
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	'''George Formby''' (born '''James Lawler Booth'''; 4 October 1875 – 8 February 1921) was an English comedian and singer in musical theatre, known as one of the greatest [[music hall]] performers of the early 20th century.<ref name="Dundee C: Obit" /> His comedy played upon [[Lancashire]] stereotypes, and he was popular around Britain. His nickname, "The Wigan Nightingale", was coined because of the way he would use his [[Bronchitis\|bronchial]] cough as a comedic device in his act.		'''George Formby''' (born '''James Lawler Booth'''; 4 October 1875 – 8 February 1921) was an English comedian and singer in musical theatre, known as one of the greatest [[music hall]] performers of the early 20th century.<ref name="Dundee C: Obit" /> His comedy played upon [[Lancashire]] stereotypes, and he was popular around Britain. His nickname, "The Wigan Nightingale", was coined because of the way he would use his [[Bronchitis\|bronchial]] cough as a comedic device in his act.

	Formby was born into poverty in the industrial [[~~w:North West England\|~~North West England]]; his mother was an alcoholic and part-time prostitute, and during much of his youth he was maltreated. To earn money he would sing for pennies on street corners, before he joined a singing duo in his teens. He began to develop his own act during the 1890s and built up a following in Lancashire. He also developed a series of stage characters, including that of "John Willie", which is described by the cultural historian Jeffrey Richards as "the archetypal gormless Lancashire lad ... hen-pecked, accident-prone, but muddling through."{{sfn\|Richards\|2004}} Formby also had a successful recording career and made the transition from music hall to [[revue]] in 1916.		Formby was born into poverty in the industrial [[North West England]]; his mother was an alcoholic and part-time prostitute, and during much of his youth he was maltreated. To earn money he would sing for pennies on street corners, before he joined a singing duo in his teens. He began to develop his own act during the 1890s and built up a following in Lancashire. He also developed a series of stage characters, including that of "John Willie", which is described by the cultural historian Jeffrey Richards as "the archetypal gormless Lancashire lad ... hen-pecked, accident-prone, but muddling through."{{sfn\|Richards\|2004}} Formby also had a successful recording career and made the transition from music hall to [[revue]] in 1916.

	His health had always been poor, but a stage accident in 1916 weakened Formby's lungs, and he suffered increasingly for the next few years, reducing his ability to perform. [[~~w:Tuberculosis\|~~Tuberculosis]] and [[w:Influenza A virus subtype H1N1\|influenza]]—the latter contracted in the [[w:1918 flu pandemic\|pandemic of 1918]]—weakened his constitution further, and he died of [[~~w:pulmonary tuberculosis\|~~pulmonary tuberculosis]] in 1921 at the age of 45. Formby's act, and one of his costumes and canes, inspired [[Charlie Chaplin]] in the formation of his character [[~~w:the Tramp\|~~the Tramp]]. Formby's son also used parts of his father's act when starting his stage career and, once established, also changed his name to [[George Formby]]; Formby Jr went on to become the top British male star in box office takings between 1937 and 1943.		His health had always been poor, but a stage accident in 1916 weakened Formby's lungs, and he suffered increasingly for the next few years, reducing his ability to perform. [[Tuberculosis]] and [[Influenza A virus subtype H1N1\|influenza]]—the latter contracted in the [[1918 flu pandemic\|pandemic of 1918]]—weakened his constitution further, and he died of [[pulmonary tuberculosis]] in 1921 at the age of 45. Formby's act, and one of his costumes and canes, inspired [[Charlie Chaplin]] in the formation of his character [[the Tramp]]. Formby's son also used parts of his father's act when starting his stage career and, once established, also changed his name to [[George Formby]]; Formby Jr went on to become the top British male star in box office takings between 1937 and 1943.

	==Biography==		==Biography==
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	===Early years: 1875–90===		===Early years: 1875–90===
	{{Quote box\|bgcolor=#E0E6F8\|quote="Mine is not an isolated story of the stage. Which of the 'bhoys', I wonder, can say they never knew days of privation and distress? But which of them, I wonder, can tell a more pathetic story than I?"\|source=Formby on his childhood<ref name="Red Letter" />\|width=250px\|salign=right}}		{{Quote box\|bgcolor=#E0E6F8\|quote="Mine is not an isolated story of the stage. Which of the 'bhoys', I wonder, can say they never knew days of privation and distress? But which of them, I wonder, can tell a more pathetic story than I?"\|source=Formby on his childhood<ref name="Red Letter" />\|width=250px\|salign=right}}
	George Formby was born James Lawler Booth in [[~~w:Ashton-under-Lyne\|~~Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[~~w:Lancashire\|~~Lancashire]], on 4 October 1875. He was the illegitimate and only child of Sarah Jane Booth (c. 1856–1912), a poor, illiterate cotton weaver. His father, Francis Lawler, a coal miner, was not named on the [[~~w:birth certificate\|~~birth certificate]]; six months after the birth of their son, the couple married, both aged about 19.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=1}}{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=4}} Sarah worked as a prostitute; she was small, around {{convert\|4\|ft\|m}} tall, and sang in pubs in exchange for alcoholic drinks. She was convicted 140 times for offences that included theft, prostitution, drunkenness and brawling.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=1}} The marriage was turbulent, and Formby was often neglected, mistreated and suffered [[w:malnutrition\|malnourishment]]. Because Sarah was frequently absent from home, and often detained overnight at the local police station, Formby was regularly forced to sleep outside. As a result he developed [[~~w:asthma\|~~asthma]] and became susceptible to [[~~w:bronchitis\|~~bronchitis]].{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=4}}{{sfn\|Randall\|Seaton\|1974\|p=21}}{{efn\|Formby was not alone in developing a chest complaint: the mortality rate from bronchitis was 20% higher in the north west than the rest of the country.{{sfn\|Fisher\|1975\|pp=10–11}}}} In his later years he recalled that his "''childhood was the most miserable as ever fell to the lot of a human creature''".{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=4}}		George Formby was born James Lawler Booth in [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Lancashire]], on 4 October 1875. He was the illegitimate and only child of Sarah Jane Booth (c. 1856–1912), a poor, illiterate cotton weaver. His father, Francis Lawler, a coal miner, was not named on the [[birth certificate]]; six months after the birth of their son, the couple married, both aged about 19.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=1}}{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=4}} Sarah worked as a prostitute; she was small, around {{convert\|4\|ft\|m}} tall, and sang in pubs in exchange for alcoholic drinks. She was convicted 140 times for offences that included theft, prostitution, drunkenness and brawling.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=1}} The marriage was turbulent, and Formby was often neglected, mistreated and suffered [[malnutrition\|malnourishment]]. Because Sarah was frequently absent from home, and often detained overnight at the local police station, Formby was regularly forced to sleep outside. As a result he developed [[asthma]] and became susceptible to [[bronchitis]].{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=4}}{{sfn\|Randall\|Seaton\|1974\|p=21}}{{efn\|Formby was not alone in developing a chest complaint: the mortality rate from bronchitis was 20% higher in the north west than the rest of the country.{{sfn\|Fisher\|1975\|pp=10–11}}}} In his later years he recalled that his "''childhood was the most miserable as ever fell to the lot of a human creature''".{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=4}}

	Formby left formal education at the age of eight or nine, and did not learn to read until well into his teenage years.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=4}}{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=3}}{{efn\|Details—including dates—for Formby's activities are scant: his biographers, Sue Smart and Richard Bothway Howard, write that "little is known about the period between 1884 and 1892"; many of the stories Formby related later in life are contradicted by extant records. One of Formby's claims was that he ran away from home when he was seven and worked in a steel foundry near [[Wigan]]. Official census records, however, show that in 1891 he was still living with his mother, his father having died the previous year.<ref>[[~~w:Office for National Statistics\|~~Office for National Statistics]], "1891 [[w:Census in the United Kingdom\|UK Census]]", RG12; Piece: 3277; Folio 127; p. 13; GSU roll: 6098387.</ref>{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=5–6}}}} To earn money for the household, he sang on street corners for [[Coins of the pound sterling\|coppers]]; the family's poverty worsened when, in October 1890, Lawler died from [[pulmonary tuberculosis]] at the age of 33.<ref name="Red Letter" />{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=7}} Formby secured a job at a cotton mill and spent two years as a [[loom]] builder. He supplemented his wages by singing in pubs, alehouses and free-and-easies,{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=2}}<ref name="Variety: Loom" /> the last being places where informal arrangements were made for patrons to provide their own entertainment.{{sfn\|Richards\|2001\|p=324}} Around this time he joined up with another boy to form an act, "the Glenray Brothers" (also "the Glen Ray Brothers"), which was profitable enough to have a manager; the act continued until Formby's [[~~w:boy soprano\|~~boy soprano]] voice broke, after which the pair separated.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=2}}{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=4–5}}		Formby left formal education at the age of eight or nine, and did not learn to read until well into his teenage years.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=4}}{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=3}}{{efn\|Details—including dates—for Formby's activities are scant: his biographers, Sue Smart and Richard Bothway Howard, write that "little is known about the period between 1884 and 1892"; many of the stories Formby related later in life are contradicted by extant records. One of Formby's claims was that he ran away from home when he was seven and worked in a steel foundry near [[Wigan]]. Official census records, however, show that in 1891 he was still living with his mother, his father having died the previous year.<ref>[[Office for National Statistics]], "1891 [[Census in the United Kingdom\|UK Census]]", RG12; Piece: 3277; Folio 127; p. 13; GSU roll: 6098387.</ref>{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=5–6}}}} To earn money for the household, he sang on street corners for [[Coins of the pound sterling\|coppers]]; the family's poverty worsened when, in October 1890, Lawler died from [[pulmonary tuberculosis]] at the age of 33.<ref name="Red Letter" />{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=7}} Formby secured a job at a cotton mill and spent two years as a [[loom]] builder. He supplemented his wages by singing in pubs, alehouses and free-and-easies,{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=2}}<ref name="Variety: Loom" /> the last being places where informal arrangements were made for patrons to provide their own entertainment.{{sfn\|Richards\|2001\|p=324}} Around this time he joined up with another boy to form an act, "the Glenray Brothers" (also "the Glen Ray Brothers"), which was profitable enough to have a manager; the act continued until Formby's [[boy soprano]] voice broke, after which the pair separated.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=2}}{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=4–5}}

	===Burgeoning stage career: 1890–1902===		===Burgeoning stage career: 1890–1902===
	[[File:Eliza Formby, nee Hoy, c. 1921.png\|thumb\|alt=Head and shoulders image of a woman in her 30s\|Formby's second wife Eliza Ann, {{nee}} Hoy (c. 1879–1981), whom he [[~~w:bigamous\|~~bigamous]]ly married{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=65–67}}]]		[[File:Eliza Formby, nee Hoy, c. 1921.png\|thumb\|alt=Head and shoulders image of a woman in her 30s\|Formby's second wife Eliza Ann, {{nee}} Hoy (c. 1879–1981), whom he [[bigamous]]ly married{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=65–67}}]]

	Formby began to develop his own stage act during the 1890s, and built a large fan base in Lancashire. He devised several characters with their own costumes, and composed a series of comic songs. By 1896 his assignment book records that he was buying and collecting comic songs and securing the singing rights. He was billed as J.H. Booth until 1897, when he changed his stage name to George Formby. Although rumoured to have picked his new surname after seeing it as a destination on a railway carriage, the main sources agree this story is likely to be apocryphal.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=2}}{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=14}}{{efn\|Those main sources are the biographies of Formby's son, [[George Formby\|George]]: [[David Bret]], who published ''George Formby: A Troubled Genius'' in 1999;<ref name="D Tel: Bret review" /> and Sue Smart and Richard Bothway Howard who, in 2011, wrote ''It's Turned Out Nice Again!''.<ref name="EDP: TONA" />}} The origin of the Formby name is more likely to have been a suggestion from Dennis Clarke, the manager of the [[Argyle Theatre]] in Birkenhead, while George was chosen in honour of the music hall star [[George Robey]].{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=2}} Formby first used his new stage name in Birkenhead in 1897.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=16}}		Formby began to develop his own stage act during the 1890s, and built a large fan base in Lancashire. He devised several characters with their own costumes, and composed a series of comic songs. By 1896 his assignment book records that he was buying and collecting comic songs and securing the singing rights. He was billed as J.H. Booth until 1897, when he changed his stage name to George Formby. Although rumoured to have picked his new surname after seeing it as a destination on a railway carriage, the main sources agree this story is likely to be apocryphal.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=2}}{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=14}}{{efn\|Those main sources are the biographies of Formby's son, [[George Formby\|George]]: [[David Bret]], who published ''George Formby: A Troubled Genius'' in 1999;<ref name="D Tel: Bret review" /> and Sue Smart and Richard Bothway Howard who, in 2011, wrote ''It's Turned Out Nice Again!''.<ref name="EDP: TONA" />}} The origin of the Formby name is more likely to have been a suggestion from Dennis Clarke, the manager of the [[Argyle Theatre]] in Birkenhead, while George was chosen in honour of the music hall star [[George Robey]].{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=2}} Formby first used his new stage name in Birkenhead in 1897.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=16}}
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	In 1897 Formby met Martha Maria Salter, a 20-year-old music hall performer, and they married in her home town of [[Halifax, West Yorkshire\|Halifax]] in August. Little is known about Salter, although the [[United Kingdom Census 1901\|1901 census]] shows that she was still living with her parents. The marriage does not appear to have been successful, but according to Formby's biographers, Sue Smart and Richard Bothway Howard, there is no evidence of a divorce between the couple and no information relating to when the couple separated.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=67–68}}		In 1897 Formby met Martha Maria Salter, a 20-year-old music hall performer, and they married in her home town of [[Halifax, West Yorkshire\|Halifax]] in August. Little is known about Salter, although the [[United Kingdom Census 1901\|1901 census]] shows that she was still living with her parents. The marriage does not appear to have been successful, but according to Formby's biographers, Sue Smart and Richard Bothway Howard, there is no evidence of a divorce between the couple and no information relating to when the couple separated.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=67–68}}

	In 1897 or 1898 Formby was signed to appear at the Lyceum Theatre, [[Blackburn]], supporting the magician [[Walford Bodie]]; a 40-week tour followed, with Formby earning 30 [[shilling]]s a week.{{sfn\|Randall\|Seaton\|1974\|p=16}} In 1898, while performing at the Wigan Empire as part of the tour, Formby met Eliza Hoy, the daughter of the Empire's cashier.{{efn\|Sources disagree on Eliza's age. Bret states she was 21;{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=3}} Smart and Bothway Howard put her at 19.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=16}} The Formby memorial, including her grave, states that she "Died July 1981, Aged 102 Years".{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=244}} }} The couple married in August the following year at Wigan Registry Office, although this marriage was [[~~w:bigamous\|~~bigamous]] because of his union two years previously with Salter.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=4}}{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=65–67}} In the months after their marriage, Eliza persuaded Formby to join the [[Catholic Church\|Roman Catholic Church]], which helped her parents overcome their initial distrust of him.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=4}} Formby and Eliza had thirteen children, of whom seven survived: four daughters and three sons.<ref name="Guard: Louv" /> The cultural historian [[David Bret]] states that Formby was "possessed of staggering consumptive virility", as the comedian also had several children with other partners.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=4}} Eliza became an important figure in Formby's professional life, making his costumes and standing in the wings during his performances to help him. Eliza also continued working as a seamstress and would sell chips during lunchtimes to supplement the family's income.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=22 & 30–31}}		In 1897 or 1898 Formby was signed to appear at the Lyceum Theatre, [[Blackburn]], supporting the magician [[Walford Bodie]]; a 40-week tour followed, with Formby earning 30 [[shilling]]s a week.{{sfn\|Randall\|Seaton\|1974\|p=16}} In 1898, while performing at the Wigan Empire as part of the tour, Formby met Eliza Hoy, the daughter of the Empire's cashier.{{efn\|Sources disagree on Eliza's age. Bret states she was 21;{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=3}} Smart and Bothway Howard put her at 19.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|p=16}} The Formby memorial, including her grave, states that she "Died July 1981, Aged 102 Years".{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=244}} }} The couple married in August the following year at Wigan Registry Office, although this marriage was [[bigamous]] because of his union two years previously with Salter.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=4}}{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=65–67}} In the months after their marriage, Eliza persuaded Formby to join the [[Catholic Church\|Roman Catholic Church]], which helped her parents overcome their initial distrust of him.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=4}} Formby and Eliza had thirteen children, of whom seven survived: four daughters and three sons.<ref name="Guard: Louv" /> The cultural historian [[David Bret]] states that Formby was "possessed of staggering consumptive virility", as the comedian also had several children with other partners.{{sfn\|Bret\|1999\|p=4}} Eliza became an important figure in Formby's professional life, making his costumes and standing in the wings during his performances to help him. Eliza also continued working as a seamstress and would sell chips during lunchtimes to supplement the family's income.{{sfn\|Smart\|Bothway Howard\|2011\|pp=22 & 30–31}}

	===London, and a growing reputation: 1902–16===		===London, and a growing reputation: 1902–16===

Kurt at 18:22, 5 February 2023

2023-02-05T18:22:30Z

Show changes

Kurt at 05:27, 5 February 2023

2023-02-05T05:27:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:27, 5 February 2023
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	~~{{short description\|English comedian and singer}}~~
	~~{{distinguish\|text=[[George Formby]], his son, who used the same stage name}}~~
	~~{{featured article}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=August 2011}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}~~
	[[File:George Formby Sr, 1919.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright=1.15\|alt=Head and shoulders, black and white picture of Formby looking towards the camera\|Formby in 1919]]		[[File:George Formby Sr, 1919.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright=1.15\|alt=Head and shoulders, black and white picture of Formby looking towards the camera\|Formby in 1919]]
	'''George Formby''' (born '''James Lawler Booth'''; 4 October 1875 – 8 February 1921) was an English comedian and singer in musical theatre, known as one of the greatest [[music hall]] performers of the early 20th century.<ref name="Dundee C: Obit" /> His comedy played upon [[Lancashire]] stereotypes, and he was popular around Britain. His nickname, "The Wigan Nightingale", was coined because of the way he would use his [[Bronchitis\|bronchial]] cough as a comedic device in his act.		'''George Formby''' (born '''James Lawler Booth'''; 4 October 1875 – 8 February 1921) was an English comedian and singer in musical theatre, known as one of the greatest [[music hall]] performers of the early 20th century.<ref name="Dundee C: Obit" /> His comedy played upon [[Lancashire]] stereotypes, and he was popular around Britain. His nickname, "The Wigan Nightingale", was coined because of the way he would use his [[Bronchitis\|bronchial]] cough as a comedic device in his act.

Kurt: clean up

2022-10-22T04:25:18Z

clean up

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 21 October 2022
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	*[http://www.georgeformby.org/george-formby-senior/george-formby-senior-songs/ List of Formby's songs]		*[http://www.georgeformby.org/george-formby-senior/george-formby-senior-songs/ List of Formby's songs]
	*[https://rfwilmut.net/site/musichll/xformby.html George Fomby Senior] includes two recordings		*[https://rfwilmut.net/site/musichll/xformby.html George Fomby Senior] includes two recordings

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Formby Sr, George}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Formby Sr, George}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-25T14:49:06Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 09:49, 25 August 2022
(No difference)

213.205.194.4: Violent father isn’t in the article. Correcting the quote: the removed words are not in the DNB version. Removing OVERLINKING (which is also an Easter egg)

2021-12-08T15:43:40Z

Violent father isn’t in the article. Correcting the quote: the removed words are not in the DNB version. Removing OVERLINKING (which is also an Easter egg)