30th Jun, 2025 10:00
BRITISH COMEDY, TV & FILM INC. DOCTOR WHO - LIVE - BRISTOLCLOSED
80
VAUDEVILLE / THEATRE - NECKLACE ENGRAVED WITH THEATRE MANAGERS
Vaudeville / Music Hall / Theatre Interest - an unusual late 19th / early 20th century charm necklace featuring twenty-two engraved shillings and quarter-dollars. Each engraved with the name of a theatre owner in England, Scotland, Ireland or the USA, the theatre they ran, and its location. Each appears to be engraved by the same hand. Includes:
PA Lennon - Empire, Bradford, England
LC Livermore - Eng & Scot
HJ Hitchens - Empire, Leicester Square, London.
CJ Cawood - Empire, Edinburgh, Scot
William Barrow - Empire, S. Shields, Eng.
WH Howard - Empire, Glasgow, Scot.
CM Jones - Palace, Cork & Lyric, Dublin, Ire.
T. Gerald Molton, Empire, Leeds, Eng.
O. Stoll - Stoll Tour, Eng & Wales.
J. Thornborrow - Empire, Newcastle, Eng.
EJ Barnes - Collins MH, London, Eng.
AW Young - Empire, Sheffield, Eng.
F. Allen - Moss Tour, Eng, Ire, Scot.
Burke & Chase - Grand, Washington, USA.
A. Graham - Palace, Hull, Eng.
Hyde & Behman - Brooklyn, NY, USA.
AA Harshim - Grand, Phila. Pa. USA.
FV Walford - Palace, Sunderland, Eng.
Tony Pastor - NY City, USA.
FA Burland - Palace, Blackburn, Eng.
E. Sheldon - Palace, Aberdeen & Dundee, Scot.
It is believed that this belonged to a well-known entertainer from the period (1890s-1910s) - although it is unknown who. Several of the theatres mentioned entertained popular acts from the time, from Harry Houdini to Charlie Chaplin, Fred Karno and more. Many of the theatre owners engraved upon each token did employ the aforementioned acts during the period. This necklace appears to represent a UK to USA tour, with theatres noted all over England, Scotland, Ireland and then New York. Theatre owner names appear to date this to c1908-1910. Each coin engraved to the reverse, holed to the top and affixed to a white metal chain. 123.53g total weight. A fascinating and unique piece of theatre history.
ADDED 20/6/25 - it is believed that this necklace may have been made for / owned by Vesta Tilley - an English music hall performer, one of the best-known male impersonators of her era. Her career lasted from 1869 until 1920 and she toured Britain and America several times. Many of the theatres noted on the necklace match up with venues she was known to perform, and she was known to have mixed in circles with many of those managers / owners mentioned.
Sold for £400
Auction: BRITISH COMEDY, TV & FILM INC. DOCTOR WHO - LIVE - BRISTOLCLOSED, 30th Jun, 2025
Our world-famous British Comedy, TV & Film auction returns!
Featuring scripts, props and memorabilia from British sitcoms, British actors and pop-culture icons. Items of note include a very special necklace worn alongside Elvis Presley in Paradise, Hawaiian Style, several original Only Fools & Horses scripts including Roger Lloyd-Pack's personal script from the famous Heroes & Villains special, and a set of signed Harry Potter novels. This sale also features a large collection of screen used props and production items from Doctor Who and it's various spin-off series.
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