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THE EARLY YEARS (Continued) Treading The Boards Initially, the fame of Lucan and McShane did not go much beyond provincial variety theatres and music halls in Britain. In the 1920's, the pair were discovered by impresario Dennis J. Clarke, at the Argyle Theatre, Birkenhead and their careers began to take off. Argyle Theatre, Birkenhead Old Mother Riley Abroad Whilst touring the variety halls in 1923, the couple were invited by impressario, JC Williamson, to tour overseas. Their intinerary would take in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The tour commenced in Cape Town, South Africa, in November 1923.
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for more on this The couple turned down a pantomime season at the Alhambra, Bradford, in favour of the overseas tour. The famous
music hall artist, Jack Pleasants (pictured below), took their place, only to drop dead on stage during a performance!
Old Mother Riley Meet's Royalty
An appearance as Old Mother Riley and her daughter,
Bridget, in a sketch entitled ‘Bridget’s Night Out’, in the 1934
Royal Command Performance established their celebrity status.
There is a programme from this performance on display in Skeltons Back Cafe (formerly the site of the old Tivoli Theatre)
Kingston-upon-Hull. For more on this...
Click here Variety poster from 1934 featuring Lucan
and McShane.
Variety theatre performances continued, as well as radio
series, and comic strips in Radio Times and Film Fun magazines. On 9th April 1941 the Queens
Theatre, South Shields, was playing host to Arthur and
Kitty's show 'Old Mother Riley and her Daughter Kitty.' During the night
following the show, the town was subjected to a very heavy bombing
raid by German night bombers and the theatre was destroyed, along with
most of the couples props. This
site was created and is maintained by Martyn
Peter Wilkinson. Quotes and images not my own
remain in the copyright of the originator or
else in the public domain. The information
contained in this web site is intended for
entertainment, educational, historical, and
informational purposes only. All
rights Reserved Worldwide © 2001-2007 |
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A young Arthur Lucan, out of costume
A personal reminiscence of Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane... "My father, who lived in the back steets of Dublin-(Moore Street mostly) was a close friend of, and worked with, Arthur and Kitty at the Queen's Theatre in Dublin which was just round the corner from my father's home. We lived in Liverpool in the 1920s and 30s and would pay a visit to Arthur and Kitty when they were playing at the Liverpool Empire. I remember that Arthur gave me half a crown , a huge amount for a 7 or 8 year old at the time. I used to call them Uncle Arthur and Auntie Kitty. I think my father knew Kitty from early days in Dublin . He was born in 1893 in Moore Street. I think that he worked with Kitty in theatre in the early days." [Thanks to Eileen McGrane Morrison] 
Early picture of a young Arthur Lucan in costume 
Another picture of a young Arthur Lucan, out of costume
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