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407:, unlike other acts. She had found her niche, performing as a male impersonator and working-class men adored her mockery of the upper classes. From the 1870s onwards, women also went to music halls and they revelled in Tilley's independence. By 1912, music hall entertainments had become so famous that a
297:
With her father's encouragement, she first appeared on stage at the age of three and, by six, she was appearing to sing songs dressed as a man. Known variously to begin as Tilley Ball or Little Tilley, she embarked on her professional career in 1869 and was to be on the stage until 1920. Her first
289:
May 1864. She was the second child out of a total of thirteen and shared her first name with her mother
Matilda Powles (née Broughton). Her father was William Henry Powles, known as Harry Ball. He was a musician and comic who in 1870 became manager and master of ceremonies at the Star Music Hall,
309:
entertainment was increasingly popular and Powles' fame grew as she became older. By 1872, her father had quit his job to manage her career full-time and she was supporting her family. In 1874, she did her first season in London, performing as the Great Little Tilley at three venues every night.
550:
for his services to the war effort, with Tilley becoming Lady de Frece. De Frece decided to stand for
Parliament and Tilley chose to end her stage career. Her farewell tour took a year to complete, between 1919 and 1920. All proceeds were given to a local children's hospital. She made her final
492:
and performed numbers written by her husband such as "Jolly Good Luck to the Girl Who Loves a
Soldier", "The Army of Today's All Right", "Six Days' Leave", and "Your King and Country Want You" (also known as "We Don't Want to Lose You but We Think You Ought to Go"). She was nicknamed "England’s
402:
Tilley was known for her painstaking attention to detail in preparing for her roles: she wore her hair tightly plaited and hidden under a wig; she took to wearing men's underwear so her appearance looked believable, since contemporary women's underclothing would have distorted her shape. Her
496:
However, Tilley was also prepared to question the carnage of war. In "I'm Glad I've Got a Bit of a
Blighty One", she sang about a soldier who was delighted to have been wounded in battle because it would allow him to go back to England
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greatest recruiting sergeant" since young men were sometimes asked to join the army during her show. Over the course of a week in
Hackney, she enlisted so many people they became known as "The Vesta Tilley Platoon".
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176:
of her era. Her career lasted from 1869 until 1920. Starting in provincial theatres with her father as manager, she performed her first season in London in 1874. She typically performed as a
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by performing his songs such as "The Anchor's
Weighed". She would later perform male roles exclusively, saying that "I felt that I could express myself better if I were dressed as a boy."
395:, a theatre impresario who owned music halls across Great Britain. Frece became her new manager and also began to write her songs. She toured extensively in Britain and also played the
322:, was concerned by the gender ambiguity of the performance name and suggested a change. Harry Ball decided upon Vesta Tilley. "Vesta" referred to both the Latin word for virgin and
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circuit in the United States on six separate visits. She had become the highest-earning woman in
England. One theatre in the US offered her a salary of $ 600 per week.
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By the 1890s, Tilley was
England's highest earning woman. She was also a star in the vaudeville circuit in the United States, touring a total of six times. She married
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in 1919, she decided to retire and made a year-long farewell tour from which all profits went to children's hospitals. Her last performance was in 1920 at the
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579:. In 1923, Tilley was presented at the royal court as Lady de Frece. Her husband served as an MP until 1931 and then the couple moved to
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called it a "wonderful night" and commented that at the end she was "gradually being submerged under the continuous stream of bouquets".
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By the 1890s, she was known as "the London Idol" and adored by her fans. Her father had died in 1888 and two years later she married
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was organised. Tilley sang a favourite song, "The
Piccadilly Johnny with the Little Glass Eye" wearing trousers as part of her act.
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began, Tilley's career was slowing down and the changing situation provided a chance for it to develop further. She and
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Tilley's success continued into the 1880s and she was able to command ever higher fees for her performances. As a
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she was known as "England’s greatest recruiting sergeant" since she sang patriotic songs dressed in khaki
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A Guide to War
Publications of the First and Second World War: From training guides to propaganda posters
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Gloucester. In 1872 he moved his family from Worcester to become manager of St George's Hall in
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Birth certificate via GRO Births: POWLES, Matilda Alice: Worcester District, Vol 6C, Page 323
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character of note was "Pocket Sims Reeves", spoofing the act of the then-famous opera singer
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334:. She was billed as Vesta Tilley for the first time in April 1878, when performing at the
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ran military recruitment drives and she sang at charity events. Tilley dressed in khaki
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The Vesta Tilley Collection: The Musical Hall Actress From Worcester (1864–1952)
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was scandalised to see a woman's legs and hid her face behind a programme.
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388:" although she also played other roles such as policemen and clergymen.
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After the war, music halls declined in popularity. Walter de Frece was
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and to develop and manage seven year old Tilley's life as a performer.
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195:, a theatre impresario who became her new manager and songwriter. At a
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555:, London on Saturday 5 June 1920 (at the age of 56). In its review,
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Publicity photograph of Vesta Tilley dressed as a foppish young man
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339:
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1200:"Male Impersonation in the Music Hall: the Case of Vesta Tilley"
933:"How Vesta Tilley inspired Winter Gardens audience to go to war"
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277:"Following a fellow with a face like me" by Vesta Tilley in 1908
184:, also playing other roles. She found additional success as a
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177:
1034:. National Fairground and Circus Archive. 30 November 2018.
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in Portsmouth. She was best known for her titular role in
222:, London. She then supported her husband when he became a
631:"Let's hear it for the city's other great musical talent"
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255:"It's part of a policeman's duty" by Vesta Tilley in 1907
230:. She died in 1952 on a visit to London and is buried at
181:
357:
Poster for Vesta Tilley performing as Burlington Bertie
598:. Her life story was commemorated in the 1957 film
266:"I'm the idol of the girls" by Vesta Tilley in 1908
234:. Her life story was commemorated in the 1957 film
16:English music hall performer and male impersonator
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1163:New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
211:like a soldier and promoted enlistment drives.
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281:Matilda Alice Powles was born at Beaver Row,
203:because she was wearing trousers. During the
967:. Worcester: Worcestershire County Council.
893:De Frece, Lady Matilda Alice Powles (1934).
886:
754:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
1058:"The Great War Interviews 2: Katie Morter"
951:
516:"I'm Glad I've Got a Bit of a Blighty One"
510:I'm glad I've got a bit of a blighty one!
1089:. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 94.
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583:for their retirement. Her autobiography,
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330:; "Tilley" was a diminutive of her name
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1185:University of California, Santa Barbara
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751:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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144: 1890; died 1935)
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1028:"Vesta Tilley – Research and Articles"
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853:"Register | British Newspaper Archive"
827:"Register | British Newspaper Archive"
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530:Grave of Vesta Tilley and her husband
168:performer. She adopted the stage name
1266:English impressionists (entertainers)
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829:. The Era. 13 March 1870. p. 12
807:from the original on 4 February 2020
855:. The Era. 12 June 1870. p. 13
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154:Matilda Alice Powles, Lady de Frece
13:
1336:19th-century British women singers
1231:20th-century English women singers
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1121:. London. 7 June 1920. p. 10.
1064:from the original on 21 March 2014
983:
14:
1352:
1172:National Portrait Gallery, London
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1038:from the original on 3 March 2021
971:from the original on 3 March 2021
897:. London: Hutchinson. p. 52.
548:1919 King's Birthday Honours List
508:Where I dare not stick my mug out
172:and became one of the best-known
1177:Vesta Tilley cylinder recordings
1117:"Miss Vesta Tilley's Farewell".
878:"Miss Vesta Tilley (Obituary)".
31:
1296:Burials at Putney Vale Cemetery
1133:"Vesta Tilley at 56 Tulse Hill"
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939:. Bournemouth. 17 December 2014
908:
467:
434:. At the age of 13, she played
376:, she typically performed as a
164:September 1952) was an English
141:
37:Cards of Tilley, performing in
1331:19th-century English actresses
1326:20th-century English comedians
1321:Actors from Worcester, England
1316:20th-century English actresses
917:, 7 April 1878, London, p. 20.
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698:"GLOUCESTER - Star Music Hall"
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672:"GLOUCESTER - Star Music Hall"
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650:. London: Virago. p. 14.
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418:Alongside other stars such as
243:
226:and later retired with him to
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1306:English expatriates in Monaco
1301:English vaudeville performers
1286:English silent film actresses
1261:Comedians from Worcestershire
1256:Actresses from Worcestershire
895:Recollections of Vesta Tilley
607:
585:Recollections of Vesta Tilley
521:
365:Vesta Tilley performing as a
1311:British women in World War I
1236:20th-century English singers
882:. London. 17 September 1952.
768:UK public library membership
506:When I think about my dugout
384:, a famous character being "
160:May 1864 – 16
7:
1181:UCSB Cylinder Audio Archive
1159:Photographs of Vesta Tilley
10:
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999:Victoria and Albert Museum
348:
1168:Portraits of Vesta Tilley
865:British Newspaper Archive
839:British Newspaper Archive
704:. 15 May 1870. p. 12
678:. 15 May 1870. p. 15
564:Walter de Frece became a
409:Royal Command Performance
403:performances were always
199:in 1912, she scandalised
197:Royal Command Performance
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98:
90:
71:
46:
30:
23:
961:Preece, Stephen (n.d.).
1276:English stage actresses
1271:English women comedians
1032:University of Sheffield
995:Theatre and Performance
644:Maitland, Sara (1986).
462:Theatre Royal, Brighton
1281:English film actresses
1198:Aston, Elaine (2008).
760:10.1093/ref:odnb/36523
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1291:Music hall performers
1207:New Theatre Quarterly
1083:Ward, Arthur (2015).
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316:Canterbury Music Hall
305:At the time, British
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596:Putney Vale Cemetery
569:Member of Parliament
536:Putney Vale Cemetery
451:Beauty and the Beast
232:Putney Vale Cemetery
224:Member of Parliament
51:Matilda Alice Powles
633:. 23 February 2009.
1251:British drag kings
748:"Tilley, Vesta ".
551:appearance at the
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370:
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174:male impersonators
65:Worcester, England
1096:978-1-78-383154-8
766:(Subscription or
657:978-0-86-068795-5
573:Ashton-under-Lyne
457:Sinbad the Sailor
440:New Theatre Royal
386:Burlington Bertie
374:male impersonator
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111:male impersonator
85:, London, England
75:16 September 1952
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430:in a number of
405:family-friendly
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1210:. Retrieved
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1150:Vesta Tilley
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1100:. Retrieved
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1007:. Retrieved
1003:the original
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863:– via
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77:(1952-09-16)
41:on the right
25:Vesta Tilley
18:
1246:1952 deaths
1241:1864 births
1179:, from the
1009:15 February
581:Monte Carlo
486:her husband
300:Sims Reeves
244:Early years
228:Monte Carlo
99:Occupations
61:13 May 1864
1225:Categories
770:required.)
608:References
592:St James's
522:Retirement
432:pantomimes
413:Queen Mary
397:vaudeville
342:, London.
324:Swan Vesta
307:music hall
292:Nottingham
201:Queen Mary
166:music hall
105:Music hall
83:St James's
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1119:The Times
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577:Blackpool
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1062:Archived
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1070:2014
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