Old Mother Riley - Revision history

Kurt at 13:01, 28 August 2024

2024-08-28T13:01:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:01, 28 August 2024
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	'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news\|last=Gifford\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary Roy Rolland\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html\|access-date=12 June 2011\|work=The Independent\|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|title=Old Mother Riley homepage \|access-date=2014-10-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|archive-date=2012-02-20 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>		'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news\|last=Gifford\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary Roy Rolland\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html\|access-date=12 June 2011\|work=The Independent\|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|title=Old Mother Riley homepage \|access-date=2014-10-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|archive-date=2012-02-20 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

	Old Mother Riley (full comedy name: '''Daphne Bluebell Snowdrop Riley''') is an Irish [[washerwoman]] and [[charwoman]] character, devised by Lucan (born Arthur Towle).<ref name="Obit"/><ref name=Brit>{{cite web\|title=Britmovie\|url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/2007/01/19/old-mother-riley-the-life-and-career-of-arthur-lucan/\|work=Old Mother Riley: The Life and Career of Arthur Lucan\|publisher=Britmovie\|access-date=13 June 2011}}</ref> His wife [[Kitty McShane]] played Old Mother Riley's daughter, Kitty.<ref name="Obit"/> It was essentially a [[drag act]] but also a [[double act]]. The couple played music halls, theatres, and broadcast on radio and appeared in films. Lucan was voted sixth biggest British box-office star by the ''[[Motion Picture Herald]]'' in 1943.<ref>{{cite web \|author=Matthew Coniam \|url=http://www.movietone-news.com/2009/09/1944-45-motion-picture-almanac.html \|title=The 1944-45 Motion Picture Almanac \|publisher=Movietone News \|date=2009-09-13 \|access-date=2014-03-03 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303172531/http://www.movietone-news.com/2009/09/1944-45-motion-picture-almanac.html \|archive-date=2014-03-03 \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.brent.gov.uk/media/7031206/Arthur%20Lucan%20-%20the%20man%20who%20was%20Old%20Mother%20Riley.pdf\|format=PDF\|title=Arthur Lucan – the man who was "Old Mother Riley"\|website=Brent.gov.uk\|access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref> In 1939, [[Jimmy Clitheroe]] appeared in an Old Mother Riley [[pantomime]] called ''The Old Woman who Lives in a Shoe'',<ref>{{cite web\|title=Vintage British Comedy\|url=http://www.vintagebritishcomedy.co.uk/#/old-mother-riley-theatre/4547927999\|work=Old Mother Riley\|access-date=13 June 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218172453/http://vintagebritishcomedy.co.uk/#/old-mother-riley-theatre/4547927999\|archive-date=18 December 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref> and then the following year had a part in the film, ''[[Old Mother Riley in Society]]''. The ''[[Film Fun]]'' comic included an “Old Mother Riley” strip cartoon in the 1940s.		Old Mother Riley (full comedy name: ''Daphne Bluebell Snowdrop Riley'') is an Irish [[washerwoman]] and [[charwoman]] character, devised by Lucan (born Arthur Towle).<ref name="Obit"/><ref name=Brit>{{cite web\|title=Britmovie\|url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/2007/01/19/old-mother-riley-the-life-and-career-of-arthur-lucan/\|work=Old Mother Riley: The Life and Career of Arthur Lucan\|publisher=Britmovie\|access-date=13 June 2011}}</ref> His wife [[Kitty McShane]] played Old Mother Riley's daughter, Kitty.<ref name="Obit"/> It was essentially a [[drag act]] but also a [[double act]]. The couple played music halls, theatres, and broadcast on radio and appeared in films. Lucan was voted sixth biggest British box-office star by the ''[[Motion Picture Herald]]'' in 1943.<ref>{{cite web \|author=Matthew Coniam \|url=http://www.movietone-news.com/2009/09/1944-45-motion-picture-almanac.html \|title=The 1944-45 Motion Picture Almanac \|publisher=Movietone News \|date=2009-09-13 \|access-date=2014-03-03 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303172531/http://www.movietone-news.com/2009/09/1944-45-motion-picture-almanac.html \|archive-date=2014-03-03 \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.brent.gov.uk/media/7031206/Arthur%20Lucan%20-%20the%20man%20who%20was%20Old%20Mother%20Riley.pdf\|format=PDF\|title=Arthur Lucan – the man who was "Old Mother Riley"\|website=Brent.gov.uk\|access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref> In 1939, [[Jimmy Clitheroe]] appeared in an Old Mother Riley [[pantomime]] called ''The Old Woman who Lives in a Shoe'',<ref>{{cite web\|title=Vintage British Comedy\|url=http://www.vintagebritishcomedy.co.uk/#/old-mother-riley-theatre/4547927999\|work=Old Mother Riley\|access-date=13 June 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218172453/http://vintagebritishcomedy.co.uk/#/old-mother-riley-theatre/4547927999\|archive-date=18 December 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref> and then the following year had a part in the film, ''[[Old Mother Riley in Society]]''. The ''[[Film Fun]]'' comic included an “Old Mother Riley” strip cartoon in the 1940s.

	Old Mother Riley was the first and arguably the most influential drag act on stage and screen. Although nothing like the glamorous acts like [[Danny La Rue]], Old Mother Riley proved that drag could be a smash hit with audiences and make you a star. The Old Mother Riley films also proved that drag could be an acceptable part of comedy and storytelling. Previous to Old Mother Riley, drag was a mixture of singing acts and short comedy sketches in music halls across the UK.		Old Mother Riley was the first and arguably the most influential drag act on stage and screen. Although nothing like the glamorous acts like [[Danny La Rue]], Old Mother Riley proved that drag could be a smash hit with audiences and make you a star. The Old Mother Riley films also proved that drag could be an acceptable part of comedy and storytelling. Previous to Old Mother Riley, drag was a mixture of singing acts and short comedy sketches in music halls across the UK.

Kurt at 03:34, 28 August 2024

2024-08-28T03:34:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:34, 27 August 2024
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	\| children = Daughter: [[Kitty McShane\|Kitty]]		\| children = Daughter: [[Kitty McShane\|Kitty]]
	\| religion =		\| religion =
	\| nationality = [[Irish]]		\| nationality = [[Irish people\|Irish]]
	}}		}}

Kurt at 03:33, 28 August 2024

2024-08-28T03:33:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:33, 27 August 2024
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	~~[[File:~~lucan-mcshane.jpg\|~~thumb~~\|~~right~~\|[[Arthur Lucan]] ~~and~~ [[Kitty McShane]] ~~as Old Mother Riley and her daughter Kitty~~]]		{{Infobox character
			\| name = Old Mother Riley
			\| series = Old Mother Riley
			\| image = lucan-mcshane.jpg
			\| caption =
			\| first_major = ''[[Stars on Parade (1936 film)\|Stars on Parade]]''
			\| first_minor =
			\| first_date = 1934
			\| last_major = ''[[Mother Riley Meets the Vampire]]''
			\| last_minor =
			\| last_date = 1954
			\| creator = [[Arthur Lucan]]
			\| portrayer = [[Arthur Lucan]]
			\| nickname =
			\| alias = Daphne Bluebell Snowdrop Riley
			\| gender = Female
			\| title =
			\| occupation = Washerwoman
			\| family =
			\| spouse =
			\| significant_other =
			\| children = Daughter: [[Kitty McShane\|Kitty]]
			\| religion =
			\| nationality = [[Irish]]
			}}

	'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news\|last=Gifford\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary Roy Rolland\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html\|access-date=12 June 2011\|work=The Independent\|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|title=Old Mother Riley homepage \|access-date=2014-10-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|archive-date=2012-02-20 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>		'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news\|last=Gifford\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary Roy Rolland\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html\|access-date=12 June 2011\|work=The Independent\|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|title=Old Mother Riley homepage \|access-date=2014-10-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|archive-date=2012-02-20 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

Kurt at 03:24, 28 August 2024

2024-08-28T03:24:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:24, 27 August 2024
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	[[~~Image~~:lucan-mcshane.jpg\|thumb\|right\|[[Arthur Lucan]] and [[Kitty McShane]] as Old Mother Riley and her daughter Kitty]]		[[File:lucan-mcshane.jpg\|thumb\|right\|[[Arthur Lucan]] and [[Kitty McShane]] as Old Mother Riley and her daughter Kitty]]
	'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news\|last=Gifford\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary Roy Rolland\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html\|access-date=12 June 2011\|work=The Independent\|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|title=Old Mother Riley homepage \|access-date=2014-10-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|archive-date=2012-02-20 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>		'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news\|last=Gifford\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary Roy Rolland\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html\|access-date=12 June 2011\|work=The Independent\|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|title=Old Mother Riley homepage \|access-date=2014-10-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|archive-date=2012-02-20 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

Kurt: /* See also */

2022-12-19T19:02:29Z

Kurt at 16:04, 23 September 2022

2022-09-23T16:04:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:04, 23 September 2022
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	~~{{more citations needed\|paragraph\|date=August 2019}}~~
	[[Image:lucan-mcshane.jpg\|thumb\|right\|[[Arthur Lucan]] and [[Kitty McShane]] as Old Mother Riley and her daughter Kitty]]		[[Image:lucan-mcshane.jpg\|thumb\|right\|[[Arthur Lucan]] and [[Kitty McShane]] as Old Mother Riley and her daughter Kitty]]
	'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news\|last=Gifford\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary Roy Rolland\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html\|access-date=12 June 2011\|work=The Independent\|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|title=Old Mother Riley homepage \|access-date=2014-10-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|archive-date=2012-02-20 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>		'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news\|last=Gifford\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary Roy Rolland\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html\|access-date=12 June 2011\|work=The Independent\|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|title=Old Mother Riley homepage \|access-date=2014-10-04 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm \|archive-date=2012-02-20 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-09-23T15:54:03Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 10:54, 23 September 2022
(No difference)

en>Derek R Bullamore: Improved referencing

2022-03-24T15:30:11Z

Improved referencing

New page

{{more citations needed|paragraph|date=August 2019}}
[[Image:lucan-mcshane.jpg|thumb|right|[[Arthur Lucan]] and [[Kitty McShane]] as Old Mother Riley and her daughter Kitty]]
'''Old Mother Riley''' is a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by [[Arthur Lucan]] and from 1954 to the 1980s by [[Roy Rolland]] as part of a British [[music hall]] act.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news|last=Gifford|first=Denis|title=Obituary Roy Rolland|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-roy-rolland-1247384.html|access-date=12 June 2011|work=The Independent|date=26 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm |title=Old Mother Riley homepage |access-date=2014-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220091526/http://www.jimmyclitheroe.co.uk/lucan.htm |archive-date=2012-02-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Old Mother Riley (full comedy name: '''Daphne Bluebell Snowdrop Riley''') is an Irish [[washerwoman]] and [[charwoman]] character, devised by Lucan (born Arthur Towle).<ref name="Obit"/><ref name=Brit>{{cite web|title=Britmovie|url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/2007/01/19/old-mother-riley-the-life-and-career-of-arthur-lucan/|work=Old Mother Riley: The Life and Career of Arthur Lucan|publisher=Britmovie|access-date=13 June 2011}}</ref> His wife [[Kitty McShane]] played Old Mother Riley's daughter, Kitty.<ref name="Obit"/> It was essentially a [[drag act]] but also a [[double act]]. The couple played music halls, theatres, and broadcast on radio and appeared in films. Lucan was voted sixth biggest British box-office star by the ''[[Motion Picture Herald]]'' in 1943.<ref>{{cite web |author=Matthew Coniam |url=http://www.movietone-news.com/2009/09/1944-45-motion-picture-almanac.html |title=The 1944-45 Motion Picture Almanac |publisher=Movietone News |date=2009-09-13 |access-date=2014-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303172531/http://www.movietone-news.com/2009/09/1944-45-motion-picture-almanac.html |archive-date=2014-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brent.gov.uk/media/7031206/Arthur%20Lucan%20-%20the%20man%20who%20was%20Old%20Mother%20Riley.pdf|format=PDF|title=Arthur Lucan – the man who was "Old Mother Riley"|website=Brent.gov.uk|access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref> In 1939, [[Jimmy Clitheroe]] appeared in an Old Mother Riley [[pantomime]] called ''The Old Woman who Lives in a Shoe'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Vintage British Comedy|url=http://www.vintagebritishcomedy.co.uk/#/old-mother-riley-theatre/4547927999|work=Old Mother Riley|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218172453/http://vintagebritishcomedy.co.uk/#/old-mother-riley-theatre/4547927999|archive-date=18 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and then the following year had a part in the film, ''[[Old Mother Riley in Society]]''. The ''[[Film Fun]]'' comic included an “Old Mother Riley” strip cartoon in the 1940s.

Old Mother Riley was the first and arguably the most influential drag act on stage and screen. Although nothing like the glamorous acts like [[Danny La Rue]], Old Mother Riley proved that drag could be a smash hit with audiences and make you a star. The Old Mother Riley films also proved that drag could be an acceptable part of comedy and storytelling. Previous to Old Mother Riley, drag was a mixture of singing acts and short comedy sketches in music halls across the UK.

[[Roy Rolland]] was Lucan's understudy and stand-in, and after Lucan's death in 1954 he continued to play the Old Mother Riley character in pantomime, on television and in cabaret until the 1980s.<ref name="Obit"/>

The character and show exist in a comic lineage that extends to ''[[Mrs. Brown's Boys]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McMullan |first1=Thomas |title=How Mrs Brown's Boys became a critic-proof hit |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46619935 |access-date=24 December 2018 |work=BBC News |date=24 December 2018}}</ref>

==Old Mother Riley films==
Made on a minuscule budget, but extremely profitable, 16 of the 18 films made by Arthur Lucan featured him as Old Mother Riley:

* ''[[Stars on Parade (1936 film)|Stars on Parade]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Bridget's Night Out]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Kathleen Mavourneen (1937 film)|Kathleen Mavourneen]]'' (1937)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley (film)|Old Mother Riley]]'' (1937)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley in Paris]]'' (1938)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley, MP]]'' (1939)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley Joins Up]]'' (1940)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley in Society]]'' (1940)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley in Business]]'' (1941)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley's Circus]]'' (1941)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley's Ghosts]]'' (1941)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley Overseas]]'' (1943)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley Detective]]'' (1943)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley at Home]]'' (1945)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley's New Venture]]'' (1949)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley Headmistress]]'' (1950)
* ''[[Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure]]'' (1951)
* ''[[Mother Riley Meets the Vampire]]'' (1952) – co-stars [[Bela Lugosi]].

At the time of Lucan's death he was scheduled to film ''Old Mother Riley's Trip to Mars''.

== See also ==
* [[Drag queen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*Robert V Kenny, ''[https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Man-Who-Mother-Riley/dp/1593937717 The Man Who Was Old Mother Riley - The Lives and Films of Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane]'', BearManor Media, 2014, 428pp.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090828075825/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/features/wilkin/omr00.html "Old Mother Riley : The Life and Career of Arthur Lucan"]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, Old Mother}}
[[Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1934]]
[[Category:Female characters in film]]
[[Category:Fictional Irish people]]
[[Category:Drag (clothing)]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 19 December 2022
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	At the time of Lucan's death he was scheduled to film ''Old Mother Riley's Trip to Mars''.		At the time of Lucan's death he was scheduled to film ''Old Mother Riley's Trip to Mars''.

	~~== See also ==~~
	* [[Drag queen]]

	== References ==		== References ==