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{{Infobox person


[[File:arthur-lucan.jpg|thumb|right|Arthur Lucan]]
| image        = arthur-lucan.jpg
| alt          = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption      =
| birth_name    = Arthur Towle
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1885|09|16|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[w:Sibsey|Sibsey]], [[w:Lincolnshire|Lincolnshire]]
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1954|05|17|1885|09|16|df=y}}
| death_place  =
| other_names  = [[Old Mother Riley]]
| occupation    = Variety performer
| years_active  =
| known_for    =
| notable_works =
| spouse        = {{marriage|[[Kitty McShane]]|1913|1954}}
| children      = 1
}}


'''Arthur Lucan''' (born '''Arthur Towle'''; 16 September 1885 – 17 May 1954)<ref name=grave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17246922/arthur-lucan|title=Arthur Lucan (1885-1954) - Find a Grave Memorial|website=www.findagrave.com}}</ref> was an English actor who performed the drag act [[Old Mother Riley]] on stage, radio and screen, with a series of comedy films from the late 1930s to the early 1950s.
'''Arthur Lucan''' (born '''Arthur Towle'''; 16 September 1885 – 17 May 1954)<ref name=grave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17246922/arthur-lucan|title=Arthur Lucan (1885-1954) - Find a Grave Memorial|website=www.findagrave.com}}</ref> was an English actor who performed the drag act [[Old Mother Riley]] on stage, radio and screen, with a series of comedy films from the late 1930s to the early 1950s.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Lucan was born on 16 September 1885 in [[Sibsey]], [[Lincolnshire]], as Arthur Towle, the third of seven children born to Tom Towle, a groom, and his wife, Lucy Ann Mawer.<ref>{{cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-64573|title=Lucan, Arthur [real name Arthur Towle] (1885–1954), comedian|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/64573|isbn=978-0-19-861412-8|accessdate=7 February 2022}}</ref> When he was five years old, the family moved to nearby [[Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston]], [[Lincolnshire]], where Arthur later made his first acting appearance at the town's Shodfriars Hall. After leaving school, he left home to pursue a career in [[music hall]]. He gained a job with a family troupe called the ''Musical Cliftons'', and later as sidekick to a comedian called Will Pepper.
Lucan was born on 16 September 1885 in [[w:Sibsey|Sibsey]], [[w:Lincolnshire|Lincolnshire]], as Arthur Towle, the third of seven children born to Tom Towle, a groom, and his wife, Lucy Ann Mawer.<ref>{{cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-64573|title=Lucan, Arthur [real name Arthur Towle] (1885–1954), comedian|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/64573|isbn=978-0-19-861412-8|accessdate=7 February 2022}}</ref> When he was five years old, the family moved to nearby [[w:Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston]], [[w:Lincolnshire|Lincolnshire]], where Arthur later made his first acting appearance at the town's Shodfriars Hall. After leaving school, he left home to pursue a career in [[w:music hall|music hall]]. He gained a job with a family troupe called the ''Musical Cliftons'', and later as sidekick to a comedian called Will Pepper.


==Career and marriage==
==Career and marriage==
[[File: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'.]]
Arthur was appearing in [[Dublin]] when he met and married the 16-year-old [[Kitty McShane]] in 1913. The couple had one son, Donald Daniel Towle (b. 2 October 1915, Dublin &ndash;d. 1970), and became a successful [[double act]]. They achieved some success with a sketch called "Bridget's Night Out". For this he first wore [[drag (clothing)|drag]], and began to develop the character of Old Mother Riley. Whilst in Dublin, he changed his name to Lucan, and they continued to perform as 'Lucan and McShane'. The act was featured in the 1934 [[Royal Command Performance]] at the [[London Palladium]], the most prestigious engagement of its time.
Arthur was appearing in [[w:Dublin|Dublin]] when he met and married the 16-year-old [[Kitty McShane]] in 1913. The couple had one son, Donald Daniel Towle (b. 2 October 1915, Dublin &ndash;d. 1970), and became a successful [[w:double act|double act]]. They achieved some success with a sketch called "Bridget's Night Out". For this he first wore [[w:drag (clothing)|drag]], and began to develop the character of Old Mother Riley. Whilst in Dublin, he changed his name to Lucan, and they continued to perform as 'Lucan and McShane'. The act was featured in the 1934 [[w:Royal Command Performance|Royal Command Performance]] at the [[w:London Palladium|London Palladium]], the most prestigious engagement of its time.


After the Royal Command Performance, there followed a film career, a radio series and even a [[strip cartoon]] in the ''[[Radio Times]]'' and ''[[Film Fun]]''. In all, Arthur Lucan made 17 films as Old Mother Riley. In 1943, the ''[[Motion Picture Herald]]'' voted him the sixth biggest "money-making star" in British films.<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=13 September 2009 |access-date=3 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303172531/http://www.movietone-news.com/2009/09/1944-45-motion-picture-almanac.html |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, his marriage proved to be a volatile union, and Lucan and McShane separated in 1951.
After the Royal Command Performance, there followed a film career, a radio series and even a [[w:strip cartoon|strip cartoon]] in the ''[[w:Radio Times|Radio Times]]'' and ''[[w:Film Fun|Film Fun]]''. In all, Arthur Lucan made 17 films as Old Mother Riley. In 1943, the ''[[w:Motion Picture Herald|Motion Picture Herald]]'' voted him the sixth biggest "money-making star" in British films.<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=13 September 2009 |access-date=3 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303172531/http://www.movietone-news.com/2009/09/1944-45-motion-picture-almanac.html |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, his marriage proved to be a volatile union, and Lucan and McShane separated in 1951.


==Death==
==Death==
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Following his death, Lucan's understudy [[Roy Rolland]] took on the role of Old Mother Riley, performing with Kitty McShane until her death in 1964, before then performing solo in cabaret, pantomime, theatre variety shows and summer seasons, until the 1980s when he retired.
Following his death, Lucan's understudy [[Roy Rolland]] took on the role of Old Mother Riley, performing with Kitty McShane until her death in 1964, before then performing solo in cabaret, pantomime, theatre variety shows and summer seasons, until the 1980s when he retired.


In 1982, [[Alan Plater]] wrote a play, ''[[On Your Way, Riley]]'', about the life of Arthur Lucan, with songs by [[Alex Glasgow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queens-theatre.co.uk/archive/onyourwayriley1983.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040507220538/http://queens-theatre.co.uk/archive/onyourwayriley1983.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 May 2004 |title=On Your Way, Riley |year=1983 |type=playbill and details |publisher=The Queen's Theatre |access-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> This was also broadcast on [[ITV Network|ITV]] in 1985 with [[Brian Murphy (actor)|Brian Murphy]] and [[Maureen Lipman]] in the leading roles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1339338/|title=On Your Way Riley|date=2 January 1985|via=IMDb}}</ref>
In 1982, [[w:Alan Plater|Alan Plater]] wrote a play, ''[[w:On Your Way, Riley|On Your Way]]'', about the life of Arthur Lucan, with songs by [[w:Alex Glasgow|Alex Glasgow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queens-theatre.co.uk/archive/onyourwayriley1983.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040507220538/http://queens-theatre.co.uk/archive/onyourwayriley1983.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 May 2004 |title=On Your Way, Riley |year=1983 |type=playbill and details |publisher=The Queen's Theatre |access-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> This was also broadcast on [[ITV Network|ITV]] in 1985 with [[Brian Murphy (actor)|Brian Murphy]] and [[w:Maureen Lipman|Maureen Lipman]] in the leading roles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1339338/|title=On Your Way Riley|date=2 January 1985|via=IMDb}}</ref>


A [[Greater London Council]] [[blue plaque]], unveiled in 1978, commemorates Lucan at his home, 11 Forty Lane in [[Wembley]].<ref name='EngHet'>{{cite web| url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/lucan-arthur-1887-1954-a.k.a.-arthur-towle-old-mother-riley|title=LUCAN, ARTHUR (1887-1954)|publisher=English Heritage| access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref>
A [[w:Greater London Council|Greater London Council]] [[w:blue plaque|blue plaque]], unveiled in 1978, commemorates Lucan at his home, 11 Forty Lane in [[w:Wembley|Wembley]].<ref name='EngHet'>{{cite web| url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/lucan-arthur-1887-1954-a.k.a.-arthur-towle-old-mother-riley|title=LUCAN, ARTHUR (1887-1954)|publisher=English Heritage| access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref>


Lucan was a member of the [[Savage Club]]. In recent years, the club has held ''Old Mother Riley'' evenings, as a tribute to Lucan's talent.
Lucan was a member of the [[w:Savage Club|Savage Club]]. In recent years, the club has held ''Old Mother Riley'' evenings, as a tribute to Lucan's talent.


There is a comedic line of descent from Old Mother Riley to [[Brendan O'Carroll]]'s character and programme ''[[Mrs. Brown's Boys]]'': "She was a larger than life character who's noisy, over the top, always getting into scrapes."<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> [[Berwick Kaler]]'s Dame in the [[York Theatre Royal]] pantomime has also been likened to Old Mother Riley.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}  
There is a comedic line of descent from Old Mother Riley to [[w:Brendan O'Carroll|Brendan O'Carroll]]'s character and programme ''[[w:Mrs. Brown's Boys|Mrs. Brown's Boys]]'': "She was a larger than life character who's noisy, over the top, always getting into scrapes."<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> [[w:Berwick Kaler|Berwick Kaler]]'s Dame in the [[w:York Theatre Royal|York Theatre Royal]] pantomime has also been likened to Old Mother Riley.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}  


==Filmography==
==Filmography==

Revision as of 12:36, 23 September 2022

Arthur Lucan
Arthur-lucan.jpg
Born
Arthur Towle

(1885-09-16)16 September 1885
Sibsey, Lincolnshire
Died17 May 1954(1954-05-17) (aged 68)
Other namesOld Mother Riley
OccupationVariety performer
Spouse
​
(m. 1913⁠–⁠1954)​
Children1

Arthur Lucan (born Arthur Towle; 16 September 1885 – 17 May 1954)[1] was an English actor who performed the drag act Old Mother Riley on stage, radio and screen, with a series of comedy films from the late 1930s to the early 1950s.

Early life

Lucan was born on 16 September 1885 in Sibsey, Lincolnshire, as Arthur Towle, the third of seven children born to Tom Towle, a groom, and his wife, Lucy Ann Mawer.[2] When he was five years old, the family moved to nearby Boston, Lincolnshire, where Arthur later made his first acting appearance at the town's Shodfriars Hall. After leaving school, he left home to pursue a career in music hall. He gained a job with a family troupe called the Musical Cliftons, and later as sidekick to a comedian called Will Pepper.

Career and marriage

Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane as Old Mother Riley and her daughter 'Kitty'.

Arthur was appearing in Dublin when he met and married the 16-year-old Kitty McShane in 1913. The couple had one son, Donald Daniel Towle (b. 2 October 1915, Dublin –d. 1970), and became a successful double act. They achieved some success with a sketch called "Bridget's Night Out". For this he first wore drag, and began to develop the character of Old Mother Riley. Whilst in Dublin, he changed his name to Lucan, and they continued to perform as 'Lucan and McShane'. The act was featured in the 1934 Royal Command Performance at the London Palladium, the most prestigious engagement of its time.

After the Royal Command Performance, there followed a film career, a radio series and even a strip cartoon in the Radio Times and Film Fun. In all, Arthur Lucan made 17 films as Old Mother Riley. In 1943, the Motion Picture Herald voted him the sixth biggest "money-making star" in British films.[3] However, his marriage proved to be a volatile union, and Lucan and McShane separated in 1951.

Death

Arthur Lucan's Headstone

Lucan, as 'Old Mother Riley' was last seen on stage at the Theatre Royal, Barnsley on 14 May 1954 in a stage adaptation of Old Mother Riley in Paris as part of his national theatre and music hall tour. Lucan died, aged 68, at the Tivoli Theatre, Hull on Monday, 17 May 1954. Ellis Aston was the first on stage to compere the forthcoming show. But Lucan had collapsed in the wings and died shortly afterwards in his dressing room.

Legacy

The site of his death now houses a bakery and cafe, where there is a memorial bust of Arthur Lucan, together with various memorabilia from his career. He is buried in Hull's Eastern Cemetery.[1]

Following his death, Lucan's understudy Roy Rolland took on the role of Old Mother Riley, performing with Kitty McShane until her death in 1964, before then performing solo in cabaret, pantomime, theatre variety shows and summer seasons, until the 1980s when he retired.

In 1982, Alan Plater wrote a play, On Your Way, about the life of Arthur Lucan, with songs by Alex Glasgow.[4] This was also broadcast on ITV in 1985 with Brian Murphy and Maureen Lipman in the leading roles.[5]

A Greater London Council blue plaque, unveiled in 1978, commemorates Lucan at his home, 11 Forty Lane in Wembley.[6]

Lucan was a member of the Savage Club. In recent years, the club has held Old Mother Riley evenings, as a tribute to Lucan's talent.

There is a comedic line of descent from Old Mother Riley to Brendan O'Carroll's character and programme Mrs. Brown's Boys: "She was a larger than life character who's noisy, over the top, always getting into scrapes."[7] Berwick Kaler's Dame in the York Theatre Royal pantomime has also been likened to Old Mother Riley.[citation needed]

Filmography

Actor (and writer where stated)[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Arthur Lucan (1885-1954) - Find a Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com.
  2. ^ "Lucan, Arthur [real name Arthur Towle] (1885–1954), comedian". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64573. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 7 February 2022. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ Matthew Coniam (13 September 2009). "The 1944-45 Motion Picture Almanac". Movietone News. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  4. ^ "On Your Way, Riley" (playbill and details). The Queen's Theatre. 1983. Archived from the original on 7 May 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  5. ^ "On Your Way Riley". 2 January 1985 – via IMDb.
  6. ^ "LUCAN, ARTHUR (1887-1954)". English Heritage. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  7. ^ McMullan, Thomas (24 December 2018). "How Mrs Brown's Boys became a critic-proof hit". BBC News. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Arthur Lucan: Filmography". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2021. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 28 January 2009 suggested (help)

External links

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