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Old Glasgow Pubs by john gorevan

 

Entertainers.

Mr Pete and Miss Minnie Lee.

Glasgow pubs have always been well known for the fact that you can get a laugh a singalong and get entertained by the many different groups and entertainers. The Horseshoe Bar, Drury Street, the old Shipbank, Saltmarket and the old College on High Street have a wonderful singing talent and of them have made it to the top of the pops. Glasgow in 1900 had its fare share of talent too, like Pete and Miss Minnie Lee.

Black and White Specialty Artistes, Vocalists and Instrumentalists.
41 Eveline Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow.

Mr Pete Williamson, who takes the stage name of Lee, was a native of Yoker, but has received most of his education in Glasgow. It was at one time intended that he should enter the Church and become a minister, but found himself as a lad apprenticed to a firm of glass painters and embossers. Having a strong musical bias he always found time to devote himself to its study, and in this capacity was one of the originators of the popular Georgian Minstrels somewhere about 1890, in which combination he was also principal comedian and top-boot dancer. For this latter accomplishment he won a gold medal in a competition at Beith in 1893. A little over three years ago he left the minstrels troupe and decided on courting the verdict of public opinion as a solo performer, but meeting with Miss Lee they agreed to collaborate as duelists and musical and variety sketch artistes, with what conspicuous success is well known to the patrons of our concerts.

Pete and Minnie Lee

Mr Pete & Miss Minnie Lee. circa 1900.


Miss Minnie Lee was also born in Glasgow. After receiving a good and thorough education, including a lengthened course of music, with the intention of becoming a teacher of that art, her mother died, and with that resourcefulness which is characteristic of the lady, at once decided to discontinue her studies and joined the Theatre Royal Stock Company. For a time she also traveled with “For the Crown” company, and after having gained considerable experience, which her apt and receptive nature enabled her to pick up quickly started for herself as a coon singer, serio, mandolinist, and dancer. Her early training has qualified her admirably for a concert pianist, in which, as well as in the manipulation of many other instruments, her execution and proficiency are above the average.
As duelists they are equally at home with either banjo, mandolin, guitar, sleigh bells, musical glasses, etc., including the xylophone, which has been lately introduced into their entertainments. Since their appearance before the public they have met with phenomenal success. They give their annual concert in the Albert Halls in College Street on the 18th of February, at which many well known to both the public and the professional assisted.

J H Anthony,

Versatile Comedian, 27 Castle STreet, Glasgow.

J H Anthony

Mr J H Anthony. circa 1900.

Mr Anthony was a Free Mason of Lodge St George no.333 where he held the position of bard of that lodge. At their meeting place in the Masonic Temple 100 West Regent Street, brother Anthony's presence was always welcomed. He was born in Glasgow and became an instructor to the Toybee Hall Athletic Club when the University settlement Association met in Parson Street. In 1892 he elected to devote his talents to the musical and dramatic professions. During his first year of his professional studies he won a gold medal at a musical competition in the city and from that time he appeared at most of the principal concerts in Scotland.

He was also a member of the Heatherbell Court of the Foresters no 5599.

Mt Anthony was born in 1867 and found his way into the athletics world he was a distinguished footballer and played with Albion, Northern, Springburn, Carrington, and Waverley teams. He had successfully risen to captain in each of the clubs. In 1892 he was fortunate in winning the much coveted intercity cap in the match between Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

Mr R W Speed.

Tenor Vocalist.

135 Parson Street, Glasgow.

Mr R W Speed

Mr R W Speed.

Mr Speed was a talented Tenor and in 1898 filled the very successful engagement at the annual festival of the employees Benevolent Society of the Wine, Spirit and Beer trade where his performance gave unqualified satisfaction and received a hearty approval of the committee. Born in Glasgow in 1874, and completed a sound general education. In his spare time he devoted his time studying the art of singing.

For a time he was apprenticed to a warehouse in the dry- goods trade, Messrs. Sellars, Greenhill and Ferguson & Co; pass from there with the highest credentials to Messrs Wallace & Co, St Vincent Street, Glasgow. During this time being possessed of a fine voice he soon with considerable acumen and good sense, set about cultivating it and for this purpose placed himself under the able tuition of Mr James Johnston a well known basso, in his time, he rapidly made speedy progress in his art of singing.

Not yet content with what he had accomplished, he sought further perfection, and went again under the vocal training process this time with Mr James Threshie, the organist of Wishaw Parish Church and a very capable musician. He soon carried off the gold medal at the Campbell Musical Academy Competition in 1892. The Glasgow Harmonic Association's gold medal was also secured the following year.

Mr Speed tour Scotland with sellout concerts, he was in all the newspapers including the Dundee Telegraph and the Courier, North British Daily Mail, the Dundee Courier say's "Mr Speed is possessed with a good voice and sang in faultless style." Such a reputation by the press he was engaged in the tour and traveled with Madam Georgina Burns a prima donna of the Carl Rosa Opera Company.

Mr Speed was married in 1899 and gave his first concert in the Waterloo Rooms in Wellington Street on the 5th March.

Mr J A Cassels.

Scotch Comedian and Vocalist.

Mr J A Cassels

In 1899 Mr Cassels was engaged by the committee of the Glasgow Wine, Spirit and Beer Trade Association for their annual festival in the City Halls where he had a splendid reception. He was born in the south side of the city and a free mason of William Ewart Gladestone Lodge 1874 and also a benedict. He gave his annual concert in the Albion Halls. Mr Cassells lived at 124 Main Street, Gorbals facing the Royal Princess Theatre.

Miss Isa Stirling.

Soprano Vocalist.

Miss Isa Stirling

A gold medallist. the following quotation from the Daily Mail... "The feature of the evening was Miss Isa Stirling, who took the house by storm in her renderings from the Opera of Maritana, Scenes that are Brightest, and the Scottish Blue Bells, for which she was persistently applauded.," Miss Stirling appeared at the Royal Aquarium, Rothesay and on every occasion received the unstinted applause from a crowd and discriminating, not to say, critical audience. On a return visit to Clydebank a place associated with pleasant memories, having won the Gold Medal, her reception was one not soon to be forgotten and the comments of the local press at this time may be of interest; "We cannot refrain from making special mention of the efforts of Miss Isa Stirling. She possessed a soprano voice of great range and power, and its quality was heard to the greatest advantage in "Loch-na-ga" and "Scotland," the rendering of which showed that there is still greater musical honours in store for Miss Stirling than the Clydebank Gold Medal of which she was the winner in 1899."

She was a young well educated girl born in 1881 and lived at 73 Grove Street, Glasgow.

 

Mr J M Lonie.

Tenor Vocalist.

Born and educated in Glasgow this well known singer resided at 689 New City Road, he was well respected within the Wine, Spirit and Beer Trade festivals, he was an ardent Freemason and performed in numerous concert halls in and around Glasgow including the City Hall.

He made his first professional appearance at the Harmonic Association Concerts, along with Mr J B Oswald, in whose company he remained for a full season. In 1896 he went on tour with W F Frame's famous concert company appearing in all the principal halls throughout Scotland and England. In 1897 he was engaged to sing at the Caledonian Associations concert in Rotunda, Dublin, where he had a splendid reception.

Mrs Lonie got a lot a booking with the Freemasons he was a member of Lodge "St George", 333, a member of the free Gardeners and a member of the Musicians Benevolent Association. Being fond of all things musical he was associated with the Cambridge Street, United Church choir for well over 20 years.

 

Mr J C Lawrance.

Scotch Character, Comedian and Mimic.

Mr Lawrence was born in the east end of the city in 1874, he was educated in Tureen Street, Public School under the careful tutorage of Mr John Thomson.F.E.I.S. When his became an established entertainer he resided at 21 Parnie Street, Glasgow.

His first stage appearance was in 1895 as a Scotch Comedian. In 1897 he was engaged by William Grant a gentleman well known in Scottish musical halls, to take up the roll of the "Bailie" in Rob Roy, for a number of nights in the Waterloo Rooms, Glasgow. He fulfilled with much acceptance and as a result was retained to take leading parts in the performances of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" in the City Halls and in other principal halls in towns in Scotland.

As a Scotch Comedian his services were in frequent demand for local re-unions, for example, following upon his appearance at the Fleshers Soiree in Glasgow at the end of 1900, he was engaged for that of Paisley in January and was fully booked for the coming seasons.

 

Miss Helen Duncanson.

Soprano Vocalist.

23 Dunchatten Street, Glasgow.

A gold medallist, she was only 20 years of age and gained the highest honours at a competition in Airdrie Town Hall, on which occasion there were some 50 other competing for this valuable and meritorious award.

Miss Duncanson was born on the south side of the city in May 1880 and recieved her first lessons in singing from her father, who was well known as an accomplished tenor in his day and on this early training she attributed much of that success which she had so well earned in the years that followed.

 

Baby Violet MacFarlane.

The youngest Vocalist in the Country.

Baby Violet was born and educated in Glasgow she attended the High School, Garnethill. At the age of six, she was the youngest performer in Glasgow and appeared in many social functions in both Scotland and England. Baby Violet MacFarlane sang at the Scotch School annual in Manchester and made successful appearances in all the principal concert halls in the city.

End.

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