Music hall comedian, artist and singer, born George Edward Wade, who was known by audiences as the "Prime Minister of Mirth". His debut was made at the Royal Aquarium, as assistant to Professor Kennedy, a burlesque mesmerist, in 1891. In this act he sang songs, pretending to be under hypnosis. He was soon performing in his own act, and was booked at the Oxford Music Hall in June 1891. He was renowned for his double entendres, and ordering his audience to "Desist" and "Kindly temper your hilarity with a modicum of reserve", in the manner adopted by later comedians such as Frankie Howerd. During World War I, he was known for his enthusiastic participation in recruitment drives for the army. He appeared at the Alhambra Theatre in the musical/revue "The Bing Boys Are Here" in 1916. He was given the leading male part, Lucius Bing, opposite Violet Loraine as "Emma." It became one of the most popular musicals of the time. His duet with Loraine If You Were the Only Girl (in the World) became a "signature song" of the era and endured as a pop standard. He appeared in films, and among his most notable roles were Sancho Panza in both the 1923 film versions of Don Quixote, as Ali Baba in the 1934 film version of the musical comedy Chu Chin Chow, and as the dying Falstaff in Laurence Olivier's film version of Shakespeare's Henry V. He had a brief association with Chelsea Football Club. Following a friendly match involving the club, in which he played and scored, he was awarded an amateur contract.
Music hall comedian, artist and singer, born George Edward Wade, who was known by audiences as the "Prime Minister of Mirth". His debut was made at the Royal Aquarium, as assistant to Professor Kennedy, a burlesque mesmerist, in 1891. In this act he sang songs, pretending to be under hypnosis. He was soon performing in his own act, and was booked at the Oxford Music Hall in June 1891. He was renowned for his double entendres, and ordering his audience to "Desist" and "Kindly temper your hilarity with a modicum of reserve", in the manner adopted by later comedians such as Frankie Howerd. During World War I, he was known for his enthusiastic participation in recruitment drives for the army. He appeared at the Alhambra Theatre in the musical/revue "The Bing Boys Are Here" in 1916. He was given the leading male part, Lucius Bing, opposite Violet Loraine as "Emma." It became one of the most popular musicals of the time. His duet with Loraine If You Were the Only Girl (in the World) became a "signature song" of the era and endured as a pop standard. He appeared in films, and among his most notable roles were Sancho Panza in both the 1923 film versions of Don Quixote, as Ali Baba in the 1934 film version of the musical comedy Chu Chin Chow, and as the dying Falstaff in Laurence Olivier's film version of Shakespeare's Henry V. He had a brief association with Chelsea Football Club. Following a friendly match involving the club, in which he played and scored, he was awarded an amateur contract.
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