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his talent to the common people. He understood that there was a warm heart under a corduroy jacket, a vein of sentiment even in the lowly costermonger and he gave us the ballads which are now household words." The writer
Richard Anthony Baker highlighted the "snobbery" of some theatre critics who thought that music hall entertainment was "innately inferior to the legitimate theatre". However, Baker opined that although Chevalier was an "entertainer and lyricist of considerable talent", the sentimentality of his act would, when compared to modern entertainment, be thought of as outdated."
396:, a cockney comedian from the beginnings of the English music hall tradition. Chevalier also drew inspiration from the London characters of Charles Dickens, including Sam Weller, whom Chevalier had played unsuccessfully in a touring show. For the tour, he updated the character by modernising the dialogue and mixing it with the performance style used by mid-century cockney performers, including Vance. The changes resulted in Chevalier inventing a new, sentimental variation of Vance's "criminal coster", which was loosely based on a working-class Londoner.
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performed them alongside his characterisations. The characters included a country vicar in "Our Bazaar", a struggling actor in "A Fallen Star", and a west-country peasant in "E Can't Take a Roise out of oi". While none of these pieces earned the kind of success that his coster songs had achieved, Chevalier maintained a successful solo career performing them. His annual engagement at the Queen's Hall in London of twice-daily performances began in 1899 and ran in excess of 1000 performances.
22:
412:
382:, a staunch opposer of music hall entertainment, who had come to hear about Chevalier's debut through friends. Carroll had earlier been impressed by Chevalier's performances in the straight theatre. Writing in his memoirs, Carroll thought was "decidedly good as an actor; but as a comic singer (with considerable powers of pathos as well), he quite first rate."
499:, which Chevalier co-wrote with Arthur Shirley. The play was based on Chevalier's own song of the same name and had some success despite, according to the biographer Simon Featherstone, its by then "dated sentimentality". The play ran for over a year and Chevalier completed his last performance in November 1922.
547:
noted
Chevalier for his ability to interact with his audiences on a working class level and to modernise the music hall: "Albert Chevalier has had much – very much – to do with the wholesome reform of the modern music hall. An artist by instinct, he left the stage and, with laudable courage, he gave
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were unsuccessful and the company were forced to raise funds by staging small concerts in rundown theatres in nearby towns. It was
Chevalier's job to sing comic-songs, accompanied by a backdrop of classical music. They were booed and hissed from the audience who were leaving the hall rapidly. At the
51:
Born in London to a French father and Welsh mother, his name at birth was registered simply as "Albert
Chevalier", but he gained the unusual middle names "Onésime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis" during his career. He showed an interest in entertainment from an early age through his private performances
463:
who had developed a more complex and comical alternative to
Chevalier's. Instead, Chevalier decided to concentrate his time on creating comic characters which he used in one-man sketches which he called his "recitals". To keep within the audiences gaze, he still performed occasional coster songs and
458:
Upon his return from
America and Canada in 1896, Chevalier decided to reduce his music hall appearances owing to the unpredictability and inattentiveness of the genre's audiences, which he came to dislike. From the paying public's point of view, his style of humour had become common place within the
277:
in which he took the role of "Montrichard", a characterisation which Daley describes as being "inimitable". Through the summer of 1879 he undertook a series of small roles for the
Kendals in Liverpool. Towards the end of that year he was chosen by the Kendals to understudy for the main actors in the
196:
179:, this time to a paying audience. When he was 14 he joined a local amateur dramatics group called the Roscius Dramatic Club, where he adopted the stage name, Albert Knight. When he left education, and to pay his drama fees, Chevalier took up a position as a clerk in a newspaper office, and then as a
533:
Albert
Chevalier was in some ways an innovative popular performer who established the coster style of performance, wrote his own material, and exploited the commercial opportunities of the developing music-halls in the 1890s. He made commercial recordings of his songs, and appeared in several early
399:
Chevalier's failure in the theatre was instrumental in his decision to start performing in music hall. The move into music hall was considered by some critics to be unusual for an actor in legitimate theatre, but it was welcomed by music hall syndicates who were eager to appeal to as many different
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the following night, but the lead singer failed to show. Chevalier offered his services to van Biene and assumed the role with the added promise that he could make the show his own. During a break, Chevalier borrowed a box of props from the storeroom and went back on to impersonate the music hall
471:
who described her co-star as being "more skilful than actually talented". During the 1900s he became one of the highest paid music hall stars in London, earning up to ÂŁ450 per week. He played the title role in J. M. Barrie's
Pantaloon (1906) and in the same year appeared with the French chanteuse
96:
at the Lyceum
Theatre in 1920. The play was based on Chevalier's own song of the same name and had some success. The play ran for over a year and Chevalier completed his last performance in November 1922. He died aged 62 and was buried in Abney Park cemetery in the same plot as his son and
61:
Chevalier joined the music hall circuit in the 1880s and over the decade became very successful. His success meant that from the early 1890s he was able to choose which theatres to perform in and often performed at three or four halls each night. Together with his brother
446:
In 1893, Chevalier undertook managerial responsibilities at the Trocadero Music Hall; the venture proved disastrous, and left him with a ÂŁ10,000 debt. On 8 October 1894, he married Florence Isabel Leybourne (b. 1868/9) who was the daughter of the music hall performer
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last minute Chevalier stepped in and performed a short ditty as "Sammy Stammers" which, as the title suggests, was a character with a stutter who sang comic songs. The audience believed his affliction and ridiculed him as they left. Unperturbed, van Biene staged
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in which he took the small role of "Antoine"; midway through the tour, Chevalier decided to change his stage name to his real moniker. The provincial press were complimentary of the show and singled out Chevalier in particular for his role. A critic for the
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both of which he produced and starred in. In 1877 Chevalier was engaged as an actor under the Bancrofts in London, and for some years played "legitimate" parts at the Court theatre and elsewhere. Chevalier's first professional appearance was alongside
138:, and his Welsh wife, Ellen Louisa Mathews; he had five siblings, two of whom died in infancy. His surviving brothers were Bertram, who in later life became a freelance photographer, and Auguste, who was better known as
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in which he played the role of "Jones". The show opened on 6 January 1879 and was, according to Chavalier's biographer Brian Daley, "met with unquestioned success". The following month he took a minor part in
78:
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From the early 1890s Chevalier agreed to only work in the major London music-halls, which he did for over a seven-year period, often performing at three or four halls each night. Together with his brother
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A few months later Chevalier was recruited for a short tour of Scotland. Among the places he visited were Glasgow, Coatbridge and Greenock the latter in which he enjoyed much success in the burlesques
234:, London, on 29 September 1877; Chevalier appeared in the piece under his chosen stage name, Albert Knight. The following year the Kendals engaged him to play the part of "Sam Winkle" in the drama
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436:". As well as in London, Chevalier appeared in various concert halls throughout the English provinces, as he refused to appear in music halls outside of the capital.
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378:, an already established music hall singer in her own right and who formed part of the audience on his opening night. Also in the auditorium was a curious
374:. For his costume, Chevalier opted for a peaked cap, a check jacket, a necktie, and a pair of bell-bottomed trousers. In preparation, he sought advice from
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audiences as they could. Chevalier justified his move by arguing that audiences were ready for something different and benefitted from support by
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During the 1910s Chevalier moved from comedy into music composition for straight plays. With a deteriorating health his final appearance was in
48:
in London during the Victorian era. Owing to this and his ability to write songs, he became known to his audiences as the "costers' laureate".
429:
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74:". As well as in London, Chevalier became popular with audiences in the English provinces which he toured over the length of his career.
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58:, at the local Cornwall Hall. Soon after, he joined a local amateur dramatics group before changing his stage name to "Albert Knight".
252:'s introduction of him to the Kendals, the show's producers, Chevalier toured for the first time in the highly successful melodrama
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455:. Despite suffering stage fright, the appearance was a success for the comedian, and he was hailed as one of the city's idols.
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Chevalier continued to compose songs and perform in straight plays. His final appearance was at the Lyceum Theatre in 1920 in
346:. Throughout the 1880s he was a prolific writer of songs, including "Our 'armonic Club", which was written for the burlesque
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Chevalier remained until the end of the tour, after which he was engaged to appear at the Court Theatre, London in the comedy
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commented "The Parisian quaintness of Antoine, the "major domo of the Parisian ménage is exactly hit off by Mr. Chevalier."
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noted that although his part was small, "Mr. Chevalier's Antoine should be praised", while a theatre reviewer from the
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On 5 February 1891 Chevalier appeared for the first time on the music hall stage at the New London Pavilion,
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In February 1881 Chevalier was chosen to form part of a touring company headed by the cellist and composer
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on 13 July in the same plot as his son and father-in-law George Leybourne. He was survived by his wife.
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During the 1890s, Chevalier became a highly popular performer on the music hall stage, rivalled only by
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the following year. In 1889 he became the principal comedian at the Avenue Theatre, predominantly in
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653:
Featherstone, Simon (2004). "Chevalier, Albert Onésime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis (1861–1923)".
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451:; they had no children. Chevalier travelled to New York in 1896 where he repeated his success at
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to family and friends. He made his debut on the amateur stage when he was eight, performing in
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he wrote a number of highly successful coster songs to support his act including "
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Chevalier returned to America in 1906 for a six-week tour with the French singer
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142:, a composer of music hall songs. Chevalier was educated at Clanricarde College,
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Chevalier died on 10 July 1923 at his home, Lake House, at 38 Woodberry Down,
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716:, Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
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783:. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 113.
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183:. It was in that job that his father introduced him to the playwright
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who arranged for a friend to mentor Chevalier's start in the theatre.
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746:, Felbridge and District History Group. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
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In 1869 Chevalier made his amateur debut on the stage performing as
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432:", "The Future Mrs. 'Awkins", "Appy 'Ampstead", and the melodrama "
70:", "The Future Mrs. 'Awkins", "Appy 'Ampstead", and the melodrama "
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36:); (21 March 1861 – 10 July 1923), was an English
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he wrote a number of highly successful coster songs including "
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comedian, singer and musical theatre actor. He specialised in
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by Arthur Shirley and Albert Chevalier on Great War Theatre
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Comedians from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
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In 1876 Chevalier organised two amateur performances of
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Actors from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
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on a provincial tour of England. The classical plays,
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Chevalier's brother Charles played Squire O' Grady in
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Chevalier (left) and his brother, Auguste in the 1870s
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Albert Onésime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier
334:Chevalier was engaged to appear in Arthur Pinero's
707:"Part 1 – Celebrities who performed at the Kenton"
392:Chevalier based his act upon the performances of
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1028:. London: G. G. Harrap & Company, Limited.
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130:, London. The son of Jean Onésime Chevalier, a
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975:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
955:. South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword History.
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659:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
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154:for his family when he was eight years old.
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835:, 22 October 1878; taken from Daley, p. 36.
953:British Music Hall: An Illustrated History
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430:Wot Cher! Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road
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609:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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1007:Albert Chevalier: A Record by Himself
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248:The following January, and owing to
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459:music hall. His biggest rival was
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568:The Chevaliers counted the author
44:related humour based on life as a
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1026:The Song of My Life: My Memories
951:Baker, Richard, Anthony (2014).
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990:. London: This Fisher Unwin.
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543:The English theatre critic
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354:Introduction to music hall
84:Albert Chevalier singing "
1024:Guilbert, Yvette (1929).
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774:"Chevalier, Albert"
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232:Prince of Wales's Theatre
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402:George Bernard Shaw
744:"Albert Chevalier"
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338:in 1885 and
335:
333:
328:
324:
322:
313:Don Giovanni
312:
307:
303:
297:
287:
283:
279:
278:short plays
274:
269:
267:
262:
258:
253:
250:Arthur Cecil
247:
242:
235:
227:
220:Madge Kendal
214:
210:
208:
200:Madge Kendal
176:
173:Notting Hill
166:
159:Mark Anthony
156:
151:
121:
94:My Old Dutch
93:
91:
86:My Old Dutch
72:My Old Dutch
60:
53:
50:
46:costermonger
33:
29:
28:
18:
1091:1923 deaths
1086:1861 births
570:G. A. Henty
523:Blue plaque
419:" from 1892
376:Marie Lloyd
163:Shakespeare
1075:Categories
1034:B00085Y7GK
675:required.)
596:References
583:Handy Andy
344:burlesques
215:Handy Andy
110:Early life
38:music hall
971:cite book
484:Grave of
280:M. le Duc
254:Diplomacy
243:Checkmate
144:Bayswater
105:Biography
1065:postcard
710:Archived
461:Gus Elen
441:Dan Leno
148:Richmond
1050:at the
945:Sources
426:Charles
329:Peebles
230:at the
224:William
204:William
88:", 1912
42:cockney
1032:
1013:
994:
959:
669:
514:Legacy
364:coster
557:Notes
316:star
294:1880s
240:farce
1030:ASIN
1011:ISBN
992:ISBN
977:link
957:ISBN
306:and
286:and
213:and
661:doi
525:in
226:in
165:'s
161:in
134:at
1077::
973:}}
969:{{
894:^
777:.
751:^
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625:^
540:.
408:.
331:.
290:.
282:,
245:.
126:,
101:.
1036:.
1019:.
1000:.
979:)
965:.
667:.
663::
611:.
415:"
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