Contemporary Publications
6. Cartoons of bands, personalities etc
this page first published by John Wright, 26 Mar 1999
last update 6 Apr 20069
vintage@jabw.demon.co.uk
Cartoonists working for magazines and newspapers often commented on the state of dance music and entertainment in their own special way. Bandleaders were a particularly favourite subject and the results often very inventive.
1. The cartoon below is by Sherriff, from a Radio Times of 1936, features the 'band leaders of the air', referring to their status as radio broadcasters
left to right:
Top Row: Maurice Winnick, Billy Cotton, Jack Jackson, Sydney Lipton, Lloyd Shakespeare, Marius B. Winter, Nat Gonella, Joe Loss, Lou Preager
Bottom Row: Bert Ambrose, Sidney Kyte, Jack Hylton, Carroll Gibbons, Roy Fox, Lew Stone, Herman Darewski, Harry Roy, Charlie Kunz, Geraldo
2. The Radio Times of 1 March 1935 featured a Sherriff cartoon of fifteen 'singers of popular melodies'.
Extreme left: Joe Crossman;
top three left to right: Brian Lawrance, Elsie Carlisle, Sam Costa;
below them: Gerry Fitzgerald, Les Allen, Harry Bentley, George Barclay;
front: Sam Browne, Harry Roy(with sax), Peggy Dell, Nat Gonella(with trumpet), Phyllis Robins;
Girvan Dundas stands behind the microphone and Peggy Cochrane is on the extreme right.
3. Cartoonist Newman worked for Punch magazine. This cartoon appeared in 1937.
The caption refers to a popular song recorded in 1937 by several British dance bands, and broadcast by the Ambrose Orchestra, with vocals by the Rhythm Brothers who included the two songwriters Clive Erard and Frank Trafford, and Jack Trafford. Some music critics of the time thought it was absurd that so many cowboy songs were popular, so popular that they were now being broadcast from the smart London hotels. But they couldn't argue with the fact that this particular song was a hit and was recorded by six top dance bands.
4. Lew Stone was a favourite target for the cartoonists, his sharp features catered well for their inventive skills.
Cartoon by Slade
Cartoon by ?
5. Examples of the work of cartoonist Mac:
this example features the Savoy Orpheans in 1926, one of the bands resident at the Savoy Hotel in London.
The leader's name was actually Ramon Newton, violinist and frequent vocalist on the Orpheans records, he was leader from late 1926 - Jan 1927.