Article No 3 (1907) STAN LAUREL IN CREWE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4- 9 Nov 1907 THE SLEEPING BEAUTY or - The Prince & the Golden Key Incl; Stanley Jefferson (Stan Laurel), Wee Georgie Wood & La Belle Annette (Solo Dancer) Mr & Mrs H.B. Levy & J.E Cardwell's Juvenile Pantomime Company See also feature below on tour (At the end of 1907) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STANLEY LAUREL .b. Arthur Stanley Jefferson 16 June 1890 He had joined the company as an assistant stage manager and by 1907 had moved up the ladder to actor. He made his debut with the company appearing in "Sleeping Beauty" where he rose from supporting roles to be the featured comedian during the run of the tour. He was later to join the Fred Karno Company where he toured America with Charlie Chaplin. He starred in Films with Oliver Hardy and became the film star we all know. Locally he also appeared at the Theatre Royal Hanley with his co-star Oliver Hardy on the 31 March 1952. .d. 23 February 1965 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEE GEORGIE WOOD .b.George Bramlett 17 December 1895 In 1903 he joined Will Elliot's concert company. Followed by Pierrot companies Cosgrove & Burns Merry Mascots. In 1904 he joined the Levy & Caldwell's Juveniles Company. In 1917 he started working with Dolly Harmer in various sketches including "Mrs Robinson & Her Son" until her death in 1956. They even toured the USA. .d. 1979 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SLEEPING BEAUTY Having first worked with his father and the family act the first outside show Stan Laurel appeared in was with the "Levy and Cardwell Juvenile Pantomime Company " during the 1907-8 season. It was in a production of the pantomime "Sleeping beauty". The production opened with a scene in a nursery. Comedian Wee Georgie Wood a twelve year old took the part of a small boy who was sitting up in bed, surrounded by several mechanical toys. He was being read the story "Sleeping Beauty" by his nurse. As the small boy fell asleep he dreams that the toys come to life. Stanley Jefferson (Stan Laurel) played a golliwog. As the show progressed round the theatres Stan would progress up the pantomime ladder rivalling Wee Georgie Wood's comedy routines with his own little spots. When the show appeared at His Majesty's theatre, Carlisle, "The Stage" newspaper wrote the following review of Stan Laurel's act; - Jack Adamson and Stanley Jefferson caused considerable laughter as the two Golliwogs 'Julius Caesar' and Ebeneezer'. Actress Trixie Wyatt, who was also in the cast, added "Stan was as daft off stage as on". The following information is how the tour was advertised round the various venues along with a list of the tour dates. H.B. LEVY'S and J.E. CARDWELL'S Celebrated JUVENILE Pantomime Company In the Gorgeous New and Original Fairy Spectacle "The Sleeping Beauty" Or, "The Prince With The Golden Key" Specialities by WEE GEORGIE WOOD Marvellous Boy Comedian and Mimic Little JEANNIE BRODIE Scotland's Premier Dancer Full Chorus of 60 Augmented Orchestra THREE GRAND BALLETS ___________________________________________ CHARACTERS Bertie Dalrymple Wee Georgie Wood The Queen J Armstrong Dame Asbestos G Armstrong Colonel Dreadnought Jack Graham Major Flashlight Benny Barron Prince Florizel Kitty Trewitt Sleeping Beauty Isa Gibson Queen Claribel Miss Flo Edwards Maligna (The Witch) Miss Bettie Townsend Sir Alphonso Miss Marie Lumberg Maid of Honour Trixie Wyatt King's Herald Daisy Thompson Wood King Fearnought Master Jack Harrison Julius Caesar (Golliwog 1) Master Jack Adamson Ebeneezer (Golliwog 2) Master Stanley Jefferson The Nurse Rose Paley Musical Director Arthur Silver TOUR DATES Dates THEATRE TOWN 30 Sept 1907 KINGS Sunderland 7 Oct 1907 ALEXANDRA Greenock, Scotland 14 Oct 1907 NEW CENTURY Motherwell, Scotland 21 Oct 1907 ROYAL Castleford 28 Oct 1907 QUEEN'S Swindon 4 - 9 Nov 1907 LYCEUM CREWE 11 Nov 1907 ROYAL Darwin 18 Nov 1907 Venue Not known 25 Nov 1907 ROYAL Tyldesley 2 Dec 1907 GRAND Rawtenstall 9 Dec 1907 PRINCE OF WALES Mexborough 16 Dec 1907 ALEXANDRA Widnes 23 Dec 1907 (2 Weeks) ROYAL Stockport 6 Jan 1908 (2 Weeks) REGENT Salford 20 Jan 1908 (2 Weeks) ROYAL Ashton -Under- Lyne 3 Feb 1908 (Sic) COLLESSEUM Oldham 10 Feb 1908 LYCEUM Stafford 17 Feb 1908 ROYAL OPERA HOUSE Dudley 24 Feb 1908 IRVING Seacombe 2 Mar 1908 NEW ROYAL Jarrow 9 Mar 1908 NEW ROYAL Seaham Harbour 16 Mar 1908 NEW ROYAL Blyth 23 Mar 1908 HIS MAJESTY'S Carlisle 30 Mar 1908 ROYAL North Shields 6 Apr 1908 NEW ROYAL Consett 13 Apr 1908 ROYAL West Stanley 20 Apr 1908 GRAND & OPERA HOUSE West Hartlepool ------------------------Article Ends--------------------------------------------