601:’ status as ex-servicemen meant that observers were much more likely to perceive the troupe’s shows as an informative and entertaining way to connect with life at the front than as a disconcerting display. However, as important as the troupe’s wartime service was to their appeal, the primary determinant behind
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evocation of patriotic motifs, and their skilful female impersonation. The troupe’s theatricals mostly involved typical revue fare such as song and dance numbers, and sketches featuring comedic patter. Some of the turns referred to life on the front, but this theme was not strictly adhered to...".
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used in publicity was "Every artiste a soldier and every soldier an artiste". In one review, it was said that the impersonations were "exceedingly realistic and dangerously alluring". Printed programmes "highlighted the main elements of their appeal: their commendable wartime service, their
448:
of the army, a black stripe between two red stripes. Although the troops were all men, it was decided to include a chorus of soldiers cross-dressing as women. According to one report, "the genuinely feminine appearance of the 'Beauty Chorus' meant that it did not come across as a
480:. The stars of the show were original members Hal Jones (1890–1976) as 'Splinter', who played most of the leading male roles, and Reg Stone (1897–1934) as 'Phil', the lead female impersonator. Stone was later described in
643:
671:
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605:’ success was the high quality of the performances, particularly the artists’ ability to project attractive renderings of femininity. Some dissenters, such as the
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together in order that they could continue to perform, and returned to
England. They re-formed as the Splinters troupe, under the onstage management of Captain
609:
and a few members of the press, expressed vague discomfort with female impersonation, but this controversy did not seriously impede the ensemble’s career.
444:(later Lord Horne), proposed setting up a concert party from among the troops, for entertainment. Formed in 1915, the troupe was named for the
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Much of the original troupe disbanded in 1924, but with revised personnel the show continued to tour, and in 1929 was made into a film,
286:
371:
568:, contained some of the original cast, but also genuine female performers, allowing "much comic business throughout." The
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was a recognised and popular brand, with an "ubiquitously cherished status in popular culture" in
Britain.
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During the First World War, the
British First Army fought in France and Belgium. Its commander,
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453:, but as a heterosexual concert party with an intriguing element." The show itself was entitled
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37:
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529:. This featured Hal Jones, Reg Stone, and Lew Lake, but starred established film comedians
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109:
8:
464:, where they continued to perform in the municipal theatre for several months. They were
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193:
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507:, and a nationwide tour that continued until 1924. Shows were initially presented by
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as "surely the best female impersonator that either stage or screen has ever known".
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magazine as "the most amusing female impersonator in
England", and by the
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British Music Hall: An
Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day
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The show was an immediate success, and led to appearances at the
472:, and in December 1918 made their first London appearance at the
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in the mid-1930s. By the late 1930s and the start of the
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were members of the troupe before establishing their own
676:: Cross-Dressing Ex-Servicemen on the Interwar Stage",
629:"Les Rouges et Noirs army troupe at the Savoy, 1919",
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that ran in several versions in
Britain between the
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590:In assessing the cultural significance of the
416:as women, and was originally developed in the
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594:shows, academic Jacob Broomfield concludes:
460:At the end of the war, the troupe were in
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287:Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries
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648:, Kennington Theatre, 15 September 1919,
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689:
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564:in the early 1930s. A new 1933 revue,
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702:
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694:"Famous War Revue Becomes a Talkie",
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680:, Volume 30, Issue 1, 2019, pp.1–28
583:, when the show finally disbanded,
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762:. London: Paul Elek. p. 59.
678:Twentieth Century British History
499:in 1919, a performance for King
432:was made in 1929, with sequels.
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717:
637:
1:
724:Poster: Les Rouges et Noirs,
644:Poster advertising the Revue
613:
560:The revue had a residency at
344:Social construction of gender
339:Causes of gender incongruence
408:and the 1930s. It featured
7:
313:She's Not The Man I Married
10:
815:
729:. Retrieved 9 January 2023
653:. Retrieved 9 January 2023
634:. Retrieved 9 January 2023
537:. The film was the first
435:
73:Travesti (gender identity)
511:, and from about 1921 by
476:'s Beaver Hut Theatre in
400:was a popular theatrical
31:History of cross-dressing
713:, 4 September 1930, p. 4
698:, 23 December 1929, p.17
799:Musicals set in England
741:London Revues 1915-1919
254:Hip and buttock padding
611:
545:, and was followed by
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388:Theatrical poster for
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548:Splinters in the Navy
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171:Transvestic fetishism
554:Splinters in the Air
410:female impersonators
320:The Boy in the Dress
249:Cleavage enhancement
758:Busby, Roy (1976).
745:Over the Footlights
672:Jacob Broomfield, "
566:Splinters 1914-1933
426:Les Rouges et Noirs
219:Stand-to-pee device
194:Crossplay (cosplay)
189:Cross-gender acting
138:Female queen (drag)
446:regimental colours
393:
68:Travesti (theatre)
390:Splinters of 1923
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237:Passing as female
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306:My Husband Betty
150:Sexual practices
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43:History of drag
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515:. One of the
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430:A film version
414:cross-dressing
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709:A. Atkinson,
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470:Eliot Makeham
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276:Organizations
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183:Other aspects
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63:Principal boy
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462:Valenciennes
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244:Breast forms
166:Petticoating
161:Feminization
118:Ball culture
96:Transvestism
85:Key elements
53:Casa Susanna
15:
696:Film Weekly
551:(1931) and
531:Nelson Keys
483:Film Weekly
466:demobilised
783:Categories
614:References
603:Les Rouges
599:Les Rouges
577:double act
562:Felixstowe
517:straplines
478:the Strand
418:First Army
412:, and men
133:Drag queen
38:In wartime
674:Splinters
646:Splinters
592:Splinters
585:Splinters
526:Splinters
455:Splinters
451:drag show
397:Splinters
123:Drag king
557:(1937).
513:Lew Lake
501:George V
333:Theories
726:V&A
650:V&A
436:History
282:Tri-Ess
259:Tucking
224:Packing
112:culture
108:Modern
91:Passing
789:Revues
766:
539:talkie
156:Femdom
420:by a
402:revue
299:Books
764:ISBN
533:and
474:YMCA
264:Gaff
110:drag
503:at
428:.
785::
743:,
686:^
658:^
621:^
424:,
772:.
373:e
366:t
359:v
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