Ronald Frankau - Revision history

Kurt at 20:40, 24 August 2024

2024-08-24T20:40:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:40, 24 August 2024
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	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1951\|09\|11\|1894\|02\|22\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1951\|09\|11\|1894\|02\|22\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[Eastbourne\|Eastbourne]]		\| death_place = [[Eastbourne\|Eastbourne]]
	\| resting_place = [[~~Hampstead Cemetery\|~~Hampstead Cemetery]]		\| resting_place = [[Hampstead Cemetery]]
	\| other_names =		\| other_names =
	\| occupation =		\| occupation =
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	\| known_for =		\| known_for =
	\| notable_works =		\| notable_works =
	\| father = [[~~Arthur Frankau\|~~Arthur Frankau]]		\| father = [[Arthur Frankau]]
	\| mother = [[Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]]		\| mother = [[Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]]
	}}		}}
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	==Family==		==Family==
	Frankau was born in London, the third child of [[~~Arthur Frankau\|~~Arthur Frankau]], son of Joseph Frankau, a German [[Jew]] who came to London from [[Frankfurt]] in the late 1830s and started a cigar trading business.<ref>[[Todd Endelman\|Todd M. Endelman]], "The Frankaus of London: A Study in Radical Assimilation, 1837–1967", ''Jewish History'' Vol. 8 Nos 1–2, 1994</ref> His mother was [[Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]], who would later become a celebrated writer of satirical novels.<ref>Aryeh Newman, "From Exile to Exit: the Frankau Jewish Connection", ''Jewish Quarterly'' Vol. 34 no. 4 (128) 1987</ref> His mother's siblings included [[Henry Irving]]'s mistress [[Eliza Davis\|Eliza Aria]]<ref>[[Jeffrey Richards\|Richards, Jeffrey]], ''Sir Henry Irving: A Victorian Actor and his World'', Hambledon & London 2005 pp41,158</ref><ref>[[Gilbert Frankau]], ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp33-34</ref><ref>[[Eliza Davis\|Mrs Aria]], ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 Chh. VII-XI ''passim''</ref> and theatre critic and librettist [[Owen Hall]],<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 112–113</ref> whilst their sister Florette was married to architect [[Marcus Evelyn Collins\|Marcus Collins]], a brother of [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane Theatre]] manager [[Arthur Collins (theatre manager)\|Arthur Collins]].<ref>Mrs Aria, ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 pp. 15-22</ref><ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 41</ref> His brother [[Gilbert Frankau]], in his memoirs, states that it was "obscure" why their mother "tacked the stage-famous '[[Charles Wyndham (actor)\|Wyndham]]' onto the 'Ronald Hugh'" in Frankau's name.<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 33</ref>		Frankau was born in London, the third child of [[Arthur Frankau]], son of Joseph Frankau, a German [[Jew]] who came to London from [[Frankfurt]] in the late 1830s and started a cigar trading business.<ref>[[Todd Endelman\|Todd M. Endelman]], "The Frankaus of London: A Study in Radical Assimilation, 1837–1967", ''Jewish History'' Vol. 8 Nos 1–2, 1994</ref> His mother was [[Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]], who would later become a celebrated writer of satirical novels.<ref>Aryeh Newman, "From Exile to Exit: the Frankau Jewish Connection", ''Jewish Quarterly'' Vol. 34 no. 4 (128) 1987</ref> His mother's siblings included [[Henry Irving]]'s mistress [[Eliza Davis\|Eliza Aria]]<ref>[[Jeffrey Richards\|Richards, Jeffrey]], ''Sir Henry Irving: A Victorian Actor and his World'', Hambledon & London 2005 pp41,158</ref><ref>[[Gilbert Frankau]], ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp33-34</ref><ref>[[Eliza Davis\|Mrs Aria]], ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 Chh. VII-XI ''passim''</ref> and theatre critic and librettist [[Owen Hall]],<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 112–113</ref> whilst their sister Florette was married to architect [[Marcus Evelyn Collins\|Marcus Collins]], a brother of [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane Theatre]] manager [[Arthur Collins (theatre manager)\|Arthur Collins]].<ref>Mrs Aria, ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 pp. 15-22</ref><ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 41</ref> His brother [[Gilbert Frankau]], in his memoirs, states that it was "obscure" why their mother "tacked the stage-famous '[[Charles Wyndham (actor)\|Wyndham]]' onto the 'Ronald Hugh'" in Frankau's name.<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 33</ref>

	Frankau's siblings were Gilbert, Jack and [[Joan Bennett (literary scholar)\|Joan]]. Gilbert went into the family cigar business (living and working in Germany throughout 1902 to learn something of the trade)<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 66–75</ref> until the [[World War I\|Great War]], was a war poet and subsequently a novelist, while his daughter [[Pamela Frankau]] would also become a novelist. Jack was killed leading his platoon in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] in November 1917. Joan married the historian Henry Stanley Bennett<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 234</ref> and, as a [[University of Cambridge\|Cambridge]] [[University don\|don]] in her own right, Joan Bennett was one of the defence witnesses in the [[R v Penguin Books Ltd.\|Lady Chatterley trial]] of 1960.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1960/11/19/the-lady-at-the-old-bailey\|title="Lady Chatterley’s Lover" on Trial\|first=Mollie\|last=Panter-Downes\|date=12 November 1960\|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref>		Frankau's siblings were Gilbert, Jack and [[Joan Bennett (literary scholar)\|Joan]]. Gilbert went into the family cigar business (living and working in Germany throughout 1902 to learn something of the trade)<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 66–75</ref> until the [[World War I\|Great War]], was a war poet and subsequently a novelist, while his daughter [[Pamela Frankau]] would also become a novelist. Jack was killed leading his platoon in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] in November 1917. Joan married the historian Henry Stanley Bennett<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 234</ref> and, as a [[University of Cambridge\|Cambridge]] [[University don\|don]] in her own right, Joan Bennett was one of the defence witnesses in the [[R v Penguin Books Ltd.\|Lady Chatterley trial]] of 1960.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1960/11/19/the-lady-at-the-old-bailey\|title="Lady Chatterley’s Lover" on Trial\|first=Mollie\|last=Panter-Downes\|date=12 November 1960\|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref>
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	==Career==		==Career==
	Frankau worked as a chorus boy at [[Daly's Theatre]] in London in 1911 and joined the army in 1914 to fight in the Great War.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6792331/ronald-frankau\|title=Ronald Frankau (1894-1951) Find A Grave-herdenking}}</ref> During that time he continued his musical and comedy ambitions, organising his own concerts in Africa and the United Kingdom.~~{{citation needed\|date=June 2020}}~~		Frankau worked as a chorus boy at [[Daly's Theatre]] in London in 1911 and joined the army in 1914 to fight in the Great War.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6792331/ronald-frankau\|title=Ronald Frankau (1894-1951) Find A Grave-herdenking}}</ref> During that time he continued his musical and comedy ambitions, organising his own concerts in Africa and the United Kingdom.

	After the war he worked in night clubs and hotel lounges as an entertainer in both comical song and dance. It was here that he met performer Montë Crick, who became Frankau's		After the war he worked in night clubs and hotel lounges as an entertainer in both comical song and dance. It was here that he met performer Montë Crick, who became Frankau's
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	In 1925, he started broadcasting saucy jokes on the radio in an [[Etonian]] tone for the [[BBC]], but is perhaps better known today for what he was not allowed to broadcast. Frankau recorded a number of songs and skits on [[Parlophone]], some of which, like "Winnie the Worm" and "Everyone's Got Sex Appeal For Someone" (October 1933), were banned outright.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/various_artists_f2/listen_to_the_banned__20_risque_songs_of_the_20s_and_30s/\|title=Listen to the Banned: 20 Risqué Songs of the 20s & 30s by Various Artists\|via=rateyourmusic.com}}</ref> Despite, or because of, this flavour in his songs, Frankau sold over 100,000 records in 1932. In 1934, Frankau began a comedy duo with [[Tommy Handley]] called '[[Murgatroyd and Winterbottom]]'. The two had originally met performing in Liverpool before the Great War.<ref>Geoff J. Mellor, ''They Made Us Laugh'', George Kelsall 1982 p. 34</ref>		In 1925, he started broadcasting saucy jokes on the radio in an [[Etonian]] tone for the [[BBC]], but is perhaps better known today for what he was not allowed to broadcast. Frankau recorded a number of songs and skits on [[Parlophone]], some of which, like "Winnie the Worm" and "Everyone's Got Sex Appeal For Someone" (October 1933), were banned outright.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/various_artists_f2/listen_to_the_banned__20_risque_songs_of_the_20s_and_30s/\|title=Listen to the Banned: 20 Risqué Songs of the 20s & 30s by Various Artists\|via=rateyourmusic.com}}</ref> Despite, or because of, this flavour in his songs, Frankau sold over 100,000 records in 1932. In 1934, Frankau began a comedy duo with [[Tommy Handley]] called '[[Murgatroyd and Winterbottom]]'. The two had originally met performing in Liverpool before the Great War.<ref>Geoff J. Mellor, ''They Made Us Laugh'', George Kelsall 1982 p. 34</ref>

	Like many comedians, he passed comment on current events of the time, often in satire. March 1939 saw his heavily ironic recording ''There's Absolutely Nothing Wrong at All''. Among his many [[Second World War]] recordings were "Heil Hitler! Ja! Ja! Ja!" (October 1939), "Fanny's Been Evacuated Now" (October 1940) and "The Jap and the Wop and the Hun" (April 1942). Despite his risqué tone off air, he was able to keep his jokes clean enough for some of the toughest British broadcasting censors of the day, including [[Baron Reith]].~~{{citation needed\|date=June 2020}}~~		Like many comedians, he passed comment on current events of the time, often in satire. March 1939 saw his heavily ironic recording ''There's Absolutely Nothing Wrong at All''. Among his many [[Second World War]] recordings were "Heil Hitler! Ja! Ja! Ja!" (October 1939), "Fanny's Been Evacuated Now" (October 1940) and "The Jap and the Wop and the Hun" (April 1942). Despite his risqué tone off air, he was able to keep his jokes clean enough for some of the toughest British broadcasting censors of the day, including [[Baron Reith]].

	In 1994, [[Jeremy Nicholas (writer)\|Jeremy Nicholas]] presented a programme on [[BBC Radio 2]] to commemorate the centenary of Ronald Frankau's birth, which included an original July 1940 [[gramophone record]] of "Uncle Bill Has Much Improved", still bearing its BBC label: "NOT TO BE BROADCAST UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES".<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/95d5fbe9abe041a7bbd2b915e87b5082\|title=Ronald Frankau: the Blue Boy of Variety\|date=22 February 1994\|issue=3658\|page=102\|via=BBC Genome}}</ref> On 7 November 2006, [[BBC Radio 4]] broadcast a review of one of his acts – "Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom" – 'The story of Tommy Handley and Ronald Frankau, a comedy partnership which had its heyday in the 1930s world of radio.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/mrmurgatroydandmrwinterbottom\|title=BBC - (none) - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom\|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> There was no straight man, so the partnership was considered a rare one. Tommy was a fast talking Liverpudlian, while Ronald in contrast was upper class and Eton-educated.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010hncl\|title=BBC Radio 4 Extra - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom\|website=BBC}}</ref> Presented by [[Nicholas Frankau]], actor and grandson of Ronald.' [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/pip/cqry9/ BBC - (none) - Arts and Drama - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom]		In 1994, [[Jeremy Nicholas (writer)\|Jeremy Nicholas]] presented a programme on [[BBC Radio 2]] to commemorate the centenary of Ronald Frankau's birth, which included an original July 1940 [[gramophone record]] of "Uncle Bill Has Much Improved", still bearing its BBC label: "NOT TO BE BROADCAST UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES".<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/95d5fbe9abe041a7bbd2b915e87b5082\|title=Ronald Frankau: the Blue Boy of Variety\|date=22 February 1994\|issue=3658\|page=102\|via=BBC Genome}}</ref> On 7 November 2006, [[BBC Radio 4]] broadcast a review of one of his acts – "Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom" – 'The story of Tommy Handley and Ronald Frankau, a comedy partnership which had its heyday in the 1930s world of radio.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/mrmurgatroydandmrwinterbottom\|title=BBC - (none) - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom\|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> There was no straight man, so the partnership was considered a rare one. Tommy was a fast talking Liverpudlian, while Ronald in contrast was upper class and Eton-educated.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010hncl\|title=BBC Radio 4 Extra - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom\|website=BBC}}</ref> Presented by [[Nicholas Frankau]], actor and grandson of Ronald.' [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/pip/cqry9/ BBC - (none) - Arts and Drama - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom]

Kurt at 17:14, 18 February 2023

2023-02-18T17:14:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:14, 18 February 2023
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	~~{{Short description\|English comedian}}~~
	~~{{EngvarB\|date=November 2017}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2017}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| image = Ronald Frankau.jpg		\| image = Ronald Frankau.jpg
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	\| birth_place = London		\| birth_place = London
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1951\|09\|11\|1894\|02\|22\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1951\|09\|11\|1894\|02\|22\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[w:Eastbourne\|Eastbourne]]		\| death_place = [[Eastbourne\|Eastbourne]]
	\| resting_place = [[w:Hampstead Cemetery\|Hampstead Cemetery]]		\| resting_place = [[Hampstead Cemetery\|Hampstead Cemetery]]
	\| other_names =		\| other_names =
	\| occupation =		\| occupation =
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	\| known_for =		\| known_for =
	\| notable_works =		\| notable_works =
	\| father = [[w:Arthur Frankau\|Arthur Frankau]]		\| father = [[Arthur Frankau\|Arthur Frankau]]
	\| mother = [[w:Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]]		\| mother = [[Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]]
	}}		}}

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	==Family==		==Family==
	Frankau was born in London, the third child of [[w:Arthur Frankau\|Arthur Frankau]], son of Joseph Frankau, a German [[Jew]] who came to London from [[Frankfurt]] in the late 1830s and started a cigar trading business.<ref>[[Todd Endelman\|Todd M. Endelman]], "The Frankaus of London: A Study in Radical Assimilation, 1837–1967", ''Jewish History'' Vol. 8 Nos 1–2, 1994</ref> His mother was [[w:Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]], who would later become a celebrated writer of satirical novels.<ref>Aryeh Newman, "From Exile to Exit: the Frankau Jewish Connection", ''Jewish Quarterly'' Vol. 34 no. 4 (128) 1987</ref> His mother's siblings included [[Henry Irving]]'s mistress [[Eliza Davis\|Eliza Aria]]<ref>[[Jeffrey Richards\|Richards, Jeffrey]], ''Sir Henry Irving: A Victorian Actor and his World'', Hambledon & London 2005 pp41,158</ref><ref>[[Gilbert Frankau]], ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp33-34</ref><ref>[[Eliza Davis\|Mrs Aria]], ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 Chh. VII-XI ''passim''</ref> and theatre critic and librettist [[Owen Hall]],<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 112–113</ref> whilst their sister Florette was married to architect [[Marcus Evelyn Collins\|Marcus Collins]], a brother of [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane Theatre]] manager [[Arthur Collins (theatre manager)\|Arthur Collins]].<ref>Mrs Aria, ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 pp. 15-22</ref><ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 41</ref> His brother [[Gilbert Frankau]], in his memoirs, states that it was "obscure" why their mother "tacked the stage-famous '[[Charles Wyndham (actor)\|Wyndham]]' onto the 'Ronald Hugh'" in Frankau's name.<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 33</ref>		Frankau was born in London, the third child of [[Arthur Frankau\|Arthur Frankau]], son of Joseph Frankau, a German [[Jew]] who came to London from [[Frankfurt]] in the late 1830s and started a cigar trading business.<ref>[[Todd Endelman\|Todd M. Endelman]], "The Frankaus of London: A Study in Radical Assimilation, 1837–1967", ''Jewish History'' Vol. 8 Nos 1–2, 1994</ref> His mother was [[Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]], who would later become a celebrated writer of satirical novels.<ref>Aryeh Newman, "From Exile to Exit: the Frankau Jewish Connection", ''Jewish Quarterly'' Vol. 34 no. 4 (128) 1987</ref> His mother's siblings included [[Henry Irving]]'s mistress [[Eliza Davis\|Eliza Aria]]<ref>[[Jeffrey Richards\|Richards, Jeffrey]], ''Sir Henry Irving: A Victorian Actor and his World'', Hambledon & London 2005 pp41,158</ref><ref>[[Gilbert Frankau]], ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp33-34</ref><ref>[[Eliza Davis\|Mrs Aria]], ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 Chh. VII-XI ''passim''</ref> and theatre critic and librettist [[Owen Hall]],<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 112–113</ref> whilst their sister Florette was married to architect [[Marcus Evelyn Collins\|Marcus Collins]], a brother of [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane Theatre]] manager [[Arthur Collins (theatre manager)\|Arthur Collins]].<ref>Mrs Aria, ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 pp. 15-22</ref><ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 41</ref> His brother [[Gilbert Frankau]], in his memoirs, states that it was "obscure" why their mother "tacked the stage-famous '[[Charles Wyndham (actor)\|Wyndham]]' onto the 'Ronald Hugh'" in Frankau's name.<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 33</ref>

	Frankau's siblings were Gilbert, Jack and [[Joan Bennett (literary scholar)\|Joan]]. Gilbert went into the family cigar business (living and working in Germany throughout 1902 to learn something of the trade)<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 66–75</ref> until the [[World War I\|Great War]], was a war poet and subsequently a novelist, while his daughter [[Pamela Frankau]] would also become a novelist. Jack was killed leading his platoon in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] in November 1917. Joan married the historian Henry Stanley Bennett<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 234</ref> and, as a [[University of Cambridge\|Cambridge]] [[University don\|don]] in her own right, Joan Bennett was one of the defence witnesses in the [[R v Penguin Books Ltd.\|Lady Chatterley trial]] of 1960.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1960/11/19/the-lady-at-the-old-bailey\|title="Lady Chatterley’s Lover" on Trial\|first=Mollie\|last=Panter-Downes\|date=12 November 1960\|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref>		Frankau's siblings were Gilbert, Jack and [[Joan Bennett (literary scholar)\|Joan]]. Gilbert went into the family cigar business (living and working in Germany throughout 1902 to learn something of the trade)<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 66–75</ref> until the [[World War I\|Great War]], was a war poet and subsequently a novelist, while his daughter [[Pamela Frankau]] would also become a novelist. Jack was killed leading his platoon in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] in November 1917. Joan married the historian Henry Stanley Bennett<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 234</ref> and, as a [[University of Cambridge\|Cambridge]] [[University don\|don]] in her own right, Joan Bennett was one of the defence witnesses in the [[R v Penguin Books Ltd.\|Lady Chatterley trial]] of 1960.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1960/11/19/the-lady-at-the-old-bailey\|title="Lady Chatterley’s Lover" on Trial\|first=Mollie\|last=Panter-Downes\|date=12 November 1960\|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref>

Kurt: /* References */

2022-12-05T19:02:29Z

References

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 5 December 2022
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	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist\|2}}		{{reflist\|2}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Frankau, Ronald}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Frankau, Ronald}}

Kurt at 18:47, 1 October 2022

2022-10-01T18:47:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:47, 1 October 2022
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	\| image = Ronald Frankau.jpg		\| image = Ronald Frankau.jpg
	\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->		\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
	\| caption =		\| caption = Publicity photo of Frankau, dated 1949
	\| birth_name = Ronald Hugh Wyndham Frankau		\| birth_name = Ronald Hugh Wyndham Frankau
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1894\|02\|22\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1894\|02\|22\|df=y}}
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	}}		}}

	~~[[File:\|thumb\|right\|Publicity photo of Frankau, dated 1949]]~~
	'''Ronald Hugh Wyndham Frankau''' (22 February 1894 – 11 September 1951) was an English comedian who started in cabaret and made his way to radio and films.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4db93a\|title=Ronald Frankau\|website=BFI}}</ref>		'''Ronald Hugh Wyndham Frankau''' (22 February 1894 – 11 September 1951) was an English comedian who started in cabaret and made his way to radio and films.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4db93a\|title=Ronald Frankau\|website=BFI}}</ref>

Kurt at 18:46, 1 October 2022

2022-10-01T18:46:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:46, 1 October 2022
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	{{EngvarB\|date=November 2017}}		{{EngvarB\|date=November 2017}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2017}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2017}}
	{{~~COI~~\|date=~~January 2013~~}}		{{Infobox person
	[[File:~~Ronald_Frankau.jpg~~\|thumb\|right\|Publicity photo of Frankau, dated 1949]]		\| image = Ronald Frankau.jpg
			\| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
			\| caption =
			\| birth_name = Ronald Hugh Wyndham Frankau
			\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1894\|02\|22\|df=y}}
			\| birth_place = London
			\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1951\|09\|11\|1894\|02\|22\|df=y}}
			\| death_place = [[w:Eastbourne\|Eastbourne]]
			\| resting_place = [[w:Hampstead Cemetery\|Hampstead Cemetery]]
			\| other_names =
			\| occupation =
			\| years_active =
			\| known_for =
			\| notable_works =
			\| father = [[w:Arthur Frankau\|Arthur Frankau]]
			\| mother = [[w:Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]]
			}}

			[[File:\|thumb\|right\|Publicity photo of Frankau, dated 1949]]
	'''Ronald Hugh Wyndham Frankau''' (22 February 1894 – 11 September 1951) was an English comedian who started in cabaret and made his way to radio and films.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4db93a\|title=Ronald Frankau\|website=BFI}}</ref>		'''Ronald Hugh Wyndham Frankau''' (22 February 1894 – 11 September 1951) was an English comedian who started in cabaret and made his way to radio and films.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4db93a\|title=Ronald Frankau\|website=BFI}}</ref>

	==Family==		==Family==
	Frankau was born in London, the third child of [[Arthur Frankau]], son of Joseph Frankau, a German [[Jew]] who came to London from [[Frankfurt]] in the late 1830s and started a cigar trading business.<ref>[[Todd Endelman\|Todd M. Endelman]], "The Frankaus of London: A Study in Radical Assimilation, 1837–1967", ''Jewish History'' Vol. 8 Nos 1–2, 1994</ref> His mother was [[Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]], who would later become a celebrated writer of satirical novels.<ref>Aryeh Newman, "From Exile to Exit: the Frankau Jewish Connection", ''Jewish Quarterly'' Vol. 34 no. 4 (128) 1987</ref> His mother's siblings included [[Henry Irving]]'s mistress [[Eliza Davis\|Eliza Aria]]<ref>[[Jeffrey Richards\|Richards, Jeffrey]], ''Sir Henry Irving: A Victorian Actor and his World'', Hambledon & London 2005 pp41,158</ref><ref>[[Gilbert Frankau]], ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp33-34</ref><ref>[[Eliza Davis\|Mrs Aria]], ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 Chh. VII-XI ''passim''</ref> and theatre critic and librettist [[Owen Hall]],<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 112–113</ref> whilst their sister Florette was married to architect [[Marcus Evelyn Collins\|Marcus Collins]], a brother of [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane Theatre]] manager [[Arthur Collins (theatre manager)\|Arthur Collins]].<ref>Mrs Aria, ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 pp. 15-22</ref><ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 41</ref> His brother [[Gilbert Frankau]], in his memoirs, states that it was "obscure" why their mother "tacked the stage-famous '[[Charles Wyndham (actor)\|Wyndham]]' onto the 'Ronald Hugh'" in Frankau's name.<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 33</ref>		Frankau was born in London, the third child of [[w:Arthur Frankau\|Arthur Frankau]], son of Joseph Frankau, a German [[Jew]] who came to London from [[Frankfurt]] in the late 1830s and started a cigar trading business.<ref>[[Todd Endelman\|Todd M. Endelman]], "The Frankaus of London: A Study in Radical Assimilation, 1837–1967", ''Jewish History'' Vol. 8 Nos 1–2, 1994</ref> His mother was [[w:Julia Frankau\|Julia Davis Frankau]], who would later become a celebrated writer of satirical novels.<ref>Aryeh Newman, "From Exile to Exit: the Frankau Jewish Connection", ''Jewish Quarterly'' Vol. 34 no. 4 (128) 1987</ref> His mother's siblings included [[Henry Irving]]'s mistress [[Eliza Davis\|Eliza Aria]]<ref>[[Jeffrey Richards\|Richards, Jeffrey]], ''Sir Henry Irving: A Victorian Actor and his World'', Hambledon & London 2005 pp41,158</ref><ref>[[Gilbert Frankau]], ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp33-34</ref><ref>[[Eliza Davis\|Mrs Aria]], ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 Chh. VII-XI ''passim''</ref> and theatre critic and librettist [[Owen Hall]],<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 112–113</ref> whilst their sister Florette was married to architect [[Marcus Evelyn Collins\|Marcus Collins]], a brother of [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Drury Lane Theatre]] manager [[Arthur Collins (theatre manager)\|Arthur Collins]].<ref>Mrs Aria, ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 pp. 15-22</ref><ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 41</ref> His brother [[Gilbert Frankau]], in his memoirs, states that it was "obscure" why their mother "tacked the stage-famous '[[Charles Wyndham (actor)\|Wyndham]]' onto the 'Ronald Hugh'" in Frankau's name.<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 33</ref>

	Frankau's siblings were Gilbert, Jack and [[Joan Bennett (literary scholar)\|Joan]]. Gilbert went into the family cigar business (living and working in Germany throughout 1902 to learn something of the trade)<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 66–75</ref> until the [[World War I\|Great War]], was a war poet and subsequently a novelist, while his daughter [[Pamela Frankau]] would also become a novelist. Jack was killed leading his platoon in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] in November 1917. Joan married the historian Henry Stanley Bennett<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 234</ref> and, as a [[University of Cambridge\|Cambridge]] [[University don\|don]] in her own right, Joan Bennett was one of the defence witnesses in the [[R v Penguin Books Ltd.\|Lady Chatterley trial]] of 1960.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1960/11/19/the-lady-at-the-old-bailey\|title="Lady Chatterley’s Lover" on Trial\|first=Mollie\|last=Panter-Downes\|date=12 November 1960\|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref>		Frankau's siblings were Gilbert, Jack and [[Joan Bennett (literary scholar)\|Joan]]. Gilbert went into the family cigar business (living and working in Germany throughout 1902 to learn something of the trade)<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 66–75</ref> until the [[World War I\|Great War]], was a war poet and subsequently a novelist, while his daughter [[Pamela Frankau]] would also become a novelist. Jack was killed leading his platoon in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] in November 1917. Joan married the historian Henry Stanley Bennett<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 234</ref> and, as a [[University of Cambridge\|Cambridge]] [[University don\|don]] in her own right, Joan Bennett was one of the defence witnesses in the [[R v Penguin Books Ltd.\|Lady Chatterley trial]] of 1960.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1960/11/19/the-lady-at-the-old-bailey\|title="Lady Chatterley’s Lover" on Trial\|first=Mollie\|last=Panter-Downes\|date=12 November 1960\|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref>

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en>Simeon: Adding local short description: "English comedian", overriding Wikidata description "british Comedian" (Shortdesc helper)

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Adding local short description: "English comedian", overriding Wikidata description "british Comedian" (Shortdesc helper)

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{{Short description|English comedian}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{COI|date=January 2013}}
[[File:Ronald_Frankau.jpg|thumb|right|Publicity photo of Frankau, dated 1949]]
'''Ronald Hugh Wyndham Frankau''' (22 February 1894 – 11 September 1951) was an English comedian who started in cabaret and made his way to radio and films.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4db93a|title=Ronald Frankau|website=BFI}}</ref>

==Family==
Frankau was born in London, the third child of [[Arthur Frankau]], son of Joseph Frankau, a German [[Jew]] who came to London from [[Frankfurt]] in the late 1830s and started a cigar trading business.<ref>[[Todd Endelman|Todd M. Endelman]], "The Frankaus of London: A Study in Radical Assimilation, 1837–1967", ''Jewish History'' Vol. 8 Nos 1–2, 1994</ref> His mother was [[Julia Frankau|Julia Davis Frankau]], who would later become a celebrated writer of satirical novels.<ref>Aryeh Newman, "From Exile to Exit: the Frankau Jewish Connection", ''Jewish Quarterly'' Vol. 34 no. 4 (128) 1987</ref> His mother's siblings included [[Henry Irving]]'s mistress [[Eliza Davis|Eliza Aria]]<ref>[[Jeffrey Richards|Richards, Jeffrey]], ''Sir Henry Irving: A Victorian Actor and his World'', Hambledon & London 2005 pp41,158</ref><ref>[[Gilbert Frankau]], ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp33-34</ref><ref>[[Eliza Davis|Mrs Aria]], ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 Chh. VII-XI ''passim''</ref> and theatre critic and librettist [[Owen Hall]],<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 112–113</ref> whilst their sister Florette was married to architect [[Marcus Evelyn Collins|Marcus Collins]], a brother of [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane Theatre]] manager [[Arthur Collins (theatre manager)|Arthur Collins]].<ref>Mrs Aria, ''My Sentimental Self'', Chapman & Hall 1922 pp. 15-22</ref><ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 41</ref> His brother [[Gilbert Frankau]], in his memoirs, states that it was "obscure" why their mother "tacked the stage-famous '[[Charles Wyndham (actor)|Wyndham]]' onto the 'Ronald Hugh'" in Frankau's name.<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 33</ref>

Frankau's siblings were Gilbert, Jack and [[Joan Bennett (literary scholar)|Joan]]. Gilbert went into the family cigar business (living and working in Germany throughout 1902 to learn something of the trade)<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 pp. 66–75</ref> until the [[World War I|Great War]], was a war poet and subsequently a novelist, while his daughter [[Pamela Frankau]] would also become a novelist. Jack was killed leading his platoon in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] in November 1917. Joan married the historian Henry Stanley Bennett<ref>Gilbert Frankau, ''Self-Portrait'', Hutchinson 1940 p. 234</ref> and, as a [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] [[University don|don]] in her own right, Joan Bennett was one of the defence witnesses in the [[R v Penguin Books Ltd.|Lady Chatterley trial]] of 1960.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1960/11/19/the-lady-at-the-old-bailey|title="Lady Chatterley’s Lover" on Trial|first=Mollie|last=Panter-Downes|date=12 November 1960|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref>

Ronald Frankau had several children including TV producer John Frankau, father of [[Nicholas Frankau]]. He had two children with the actress [[Renee Roberts|Renée Roberts]] – Roberta and Rosemary. [[Rosemary Frankau]] pursued a career in acting, appearing in many series of the TV sitcom ''[[Terry and June]]'' as June's best friend Beattie.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/may/04/rosemary-frankau-obituary|title=Rosemary Frankau obituary|first=Sam|last=Bain|date=4 May 2017|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> Rosemary's son, [[Sam Bain]], became a comedy writer and co-created the Channel 4 sitcom [[Peep Show (British TV series)|Peep Show]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/peep-show-co-writer-sam-bain-to-publish-darkly-comic-novel-9041364.html|title=Peep Show co-writer Sam Bain to publish 'darkly comic novel'|date=6 January 2014|website=The Independent}}</ref>

The Frankau family monument in [[Hampstead Cemetery]] was Grade II listed by English Heritage in 1999; it commemorates Arthur and Julia Frankau and their three sons.<ref>Marianne Colloms and Dick Weindling, ''The Good Grave Guide to Hampstead Cemetery, Fortune Green'', Camden History Society 2000 pp. 17–19</ref>

==Career==
Frankau worked as a chorus boy at [[Daly's Theatre]] in London in 1911 and joined the army in 1914 to fight in the Great War.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6792331/ronald-frankau|title=Ronald Frankau (1894-1951) Find A Grave-herdenking}}</ref> During that time he continued his musical and comedy ambitions, organising his own concerts in Africa and the United Kingdom.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

After the war he worked in night clubs and hotel lounges as an entertainer in both comical song and dance. It was here that he met performer Montë Crick, who became Frankau's
pianist in many subsequent performances and recordings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishpathe.com/video/ronald-frankau-12|title=Ronald Frankau|first=British|last=Pathé|website=www.britishpathe.com}}</ref> Ronald Frankau formed various concert parties in the early 1920s, of which the most successful was ''The Cabaret Kittens''.<ref>Geoff J. Mellor, ''They Made Us Laugh'', George Kelsall 1982 p35</ref>

In 1925, he started broadcasting saucy jokes on the radio in an [[Etonian]] tone for the [[BBC]], but is perhaps better known today for what he was not allowed to broadcast. Frankau recorded a number of songs and skits on [[Parlophone]], some of which, like "Winnie the Worm" and "Everyone's Got Sex Appeal For Someone" (October 1933), were banned outright.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/various_artists_f2/listen_to_the_banned__20_risque_songs_of_the_20s_and_30s/|title=Listen to the Banned: 20 Risqué Songs of the 20s & 30s by Various Artists|via=rateyourmusic.com}}</ref> Despite, or because of, this flavour in his songs, Frankau sold over 100,000 records in 1932. In 1934, Frankau began a comedy duo with [[Tommy Handley]] called '[[Murgatroyd and Winterbottom]]'. The two had originally met performing in Liverpool before the Great War.<ref>Geoff J. Mellor, ''They Made Us Laugh'', George Kelsall 1982 p. 34</ref>

Like many comedians, he passed comment on current events of the time, often in satire. March 1939 saw his heavily ironic recording ''There's Absolutely Nothing Wrong at All''. Among his many [[Second World War]] recordings were "Heil Hitler! Ja! Ja! Ja!" (October 1939), "Fanny's Been Evacuated Now" (October 1940) and "The Jap and the Wop and the Hun" (April 1942). Despite his risqué tone off air, he was able to keep his jokes clean enough for some of the toughest British broadcasting censors of the day, including [[Baron Reith]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In 1994, [[Jeremy Nicholas (writer)|Jeremy Nicholas]] presented a programme on [[BBC Radio 2]] to commemorate the centenary of Ronald Frankau's birth, which included an original July 1940 [[gramophone record]] of "Uncle Bill Has Much Improved", still bearing its BBC label: "NOT TO BE BROADCAST UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/95d5fbe9abe041a7bbd2b915e87b5082|title=Ronald Frankau: the Blue Boy of Variety|date=22 February 1994|issue=3658|page=102|via=BBC Genome}}</ref> On 7 November 2006, [[BBC Radio 4]] broadcast a review of one of his acts – "Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom" – 'The story of Tommy Handley and Ronald Frankau, a comedy partnership which had its heyday in the 1930s world of radio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/mrmurgatroydandmrwinterbottom|title=BBC - (none) - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> There was no straight man, so the partnership was considered a rare one. Tommy was a fast talking Liverpudlian, while Ronald in contrast was upper class and Eton-educated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010hncl|title=BBC Radio 4 Extra - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom|website=BBC}}</ref> Presented by [[Nicholas Frankau]], actor and grandson of Ronald.' [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/pip/cqry9/ BBC - (none) - Arts and Drama - Mr Murgatroyd and Mr Winterbottom]

Ronald Frankau died at [[Eastbourne]] on the Sussex coast – as had his father half a century before.<ref name=bfi/><ref>1904 Register of Deaths (Fourth Quarter)</ref>

==Books==
Frankau published a children's book, ''Oh, Dear, Dear'' ([[Frederick Warne & Co.]], 1929), poems from which were also set to music by his pianist Montë Crick and released on Parlophone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2418642|title=Oh, dear, dear: poems and stories for real children|first1=Ronald|last1=Frankau|first2=Lola|last2=Onslow|date=14 October 1929|publisher=Frederick Warne & Co|via=National Library of Australia (new catalog)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/r682|title=78 Record: Ronald Frankau - Riots, Strikes And Revolutions (1930)|via=www.45worlds.com}}</ref>

"If you'd like to hear a story of many years ago,
Then gather round, good children, and I'll tell you all I know.
It's all about a princess who couldn't quite behave,
And how a naughty ogre took that princess to his cave,
And how the little princess was rescued by a prince,
And how they've been so very very happy ever since.

Extraordinary! Wonderful!
Fascinating! Queer!
Marvellous! Incredible!
Oh dear, dear!"

His other publications include ''Crazy Omnibus'' (Grayson & Grayson, 1933) and two Wartime books of morale-boosting humorous verse, both illustrated by Laurie Tayler and published in the early 1940s by [[Raphael Tuck & Sons]]: ''Diversion'' and ''He's a Perfect Little Gentleman, the Swine''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/author/ronald-frankau/|title=Ronald Frankau - AbeBooks|website=www.abebooks.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/hes-a-perfect-little-gentleman-the-swine/oclc/505979904|title=He's a perfect little gentleman, the swine!|date=14 October 1941|via=Open WorldCat}}</ref>

===Filmography===
* (1947) ''[[Dual Alibi]]''
* (1947) ''[[The Ghosts of Berkeley Square]]''
* (1945) ''What Do We Do Now?''
* (1942) ''[[Much Too Shy]]'' (credited as screenwriter)
* (1939) ''[[His Brother's Keeper (1940 film)|His Brother's Keeper]]''
* (1935) ''[[Radio Parade of 1935|Radio Follies]]'' a.k.a. ''Radio Parade of 1935''
* (1932) ''[[Bridegroom for Two]]'' a.k.a. ''Let's Love and Laugh''
* (1932) ''The Other Mrs. Phipps ''
* (1931) ''[[Potiphar's Wife (1931 film)|Potiphar's Wife]]''
* (1931) ''[[The Skin Game (1931 film)|The Skin Game]]''
* (1931) ''[[Let's Love and Laugh]]''

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0291129}}
* {{Find a Grave|6792331}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frankau, Ronald}}
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:British Jews]]
[[Category:1951 deaths]]
[[Category:1894 births]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Burials at Hampstead Cemetery]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:Frankau family]]