The Roosters Concert Party Memorabilia
Autographs, flyers, programmes and other memorabilia & ephemera connected with The Roosters or its troupe members.
The War Years
Roosters postcard
1917
In 1917 the Roosters had a series of postcards made up of the troupe in costume to sell to the serving soldiers during shows.
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Here is one such postcard from 1917 of the troupe.
Roosters postcard
1917
In 1917 the Roosters had a series of postcards made up of the troupe in costume to sell to the serving soldiers during shows.
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Here is another of those early postcards.
Roosters postcard
1917
In 1917 the Roosters had a series of postcards made up of the troupe in costume to sell to the serving soldiers during shows.
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Here is another of those early postcards.
Roosters postcard
1917
In 1917 the Roosters had a series of postcards made up of the troupe in costume to sell to the serving soldiers during shows.
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Here is another of those early postcards, this one of Kenneth Lowndes, one of the Roosters' two 'leading ladies' during the early war years as Cinders in the army pantomime 'Cinderella, or the Army Boot'. This postcard is signed by Lowndes.
Roosters postcard
1917
In 1917 the Roosters had a series of postcards made up of the troupe in costume to sell to the serving soldiers during shows.
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Here is another of those early postcards, this one of comedian (Private) Charles William Harrison. This postcard is signed by Harrison.
Roosters photograph
1917
In 1917 the Roosters had a series of postcards and photographs made up of the troupe in costume to sell to the serving soldiers during shows.
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Here is one of those early photographs, this one of Kenneth Lowndes, one of the Roosters' two 'leading ladies' during the early war years. Lowndes was only in the Roosters during the First World War, on demobilisation he moved to Retford, Nottinghamshire where he ran a ladies hairdressers and beauty parlour but he did rejoin the Roosters for some of their later anniversary shows after the second world war. He died in 1959.
Roosters photograph
1917
Another 1917 photograph of Kenneth Lowndes, this time in his Lady de Bathe costume, one of his routines impersonating Lillie Langtry.
Roosters army programme
1917
An original typrewriter-produced programme for one of the Roosters' army concerts in 1917 (text copied below due to low quality scan of programme)
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60th Division Concert Party
The "Roosters"
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Under the direction of 2/Lt. H. H. Warren
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lay their " eggscellent " programme before you
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-COCKS-
"Algy" 2/Lt. H. H. Warren
"Claude" Pte. P. H. Merriman
"Billy" Pte. W. F. Copping
"Cyril" Sgt. A. R. Mackness
"Freddie" Rfn. S. W. Davis
"Charlie" Pte. W. H. Harrison
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-HENS-
"Stella" Sgr. F. E. Weldon
"Elsie" Pte. W. Mc.Clellan
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Cock O' the piano
"Harry" CQMS F.R.C. Barton
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Producer... Pte. W. Mc.Clellan
Stage Manager... L/C T. Hill
Ass't do... L/C H. J. Keenan
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Roosters army programme
January 1918
The quality of printed programme improved from a typewriter to access to a printing press once the Division and the concert party reached Jerusalem, thanks to the Greek Convent Press there.
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This programme is for the week of 12th January 1918.
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Palestine Pavilion, Jaffa Gate - 12th Jan 1918 (front cover)
Palestine Pavilion, Jaffa Gate - 12th Jan 1918 (inner left)
Palestine Pavilion, Jaffa Gate - 12th Jan 1918 (rear cover)
Palestine Pavilion, Jaffa Gate - 12th Jan 1918 (front cover)
Roosters army programme
January 1918
The quality of printed programme improved from a typewriter to access to a printing press once the Division and the concert party reached Jerusalem, thanks to the Greek Convent Press there.
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This programme is for the week of 24th January 1918.
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Palestine Pavilion, Jaffa Gate - 24th Jan 1918 (front cover)
Palestine Pavilion, Jaffa Gate - 24th Jan 1918 (inner left)
Palestine Pavilion, Jaffa Gate - 24th Jan 1918 (inner right)
Palestine Pavilion, Jaffa Gate - 24th Jan 1918 (front cover)
The Civilian Broadcasting Years
Roosters Radio Pictorial postcard
1934
This Radio Pictorial postcard of the Roosters Concert Party was released in 1934. (See Radio Pictorial advert for this postcard series in the 'Roosters in Print' section).
Roosters autographs
September 1935
Autograph page of the Roosters Concert Party dated Sept. 1935. "Best wishes from the Roosters'. Signed by Arthur Mackness, Frederick Pain, William Mack, Septimus Hunt, Percy Merriman and Wilfrid Liddiatt.
Roosters autographs
1935
Another 1935 autograph page of The Roosters Concert Party, again signed by Arthur Mackness, Frederick Pain, William Mack, Septimus Hunt, Percy Merriman and Wilfred Liddiatt.
Roosters autographs
undated, 1930s/1940s
Another autograph page of The Roosters, this one undated but containing the 30s/40s troupe members. The members were pretty constant during the 30s and 40s but sometimes a member or two could be absent for certain performances. The two 1935 pages above contain Wilfrid Liddiat but no Charles Harrison, who often went solo in a comedy career during the 30s. This one contains Charles Harrison's signature but no Wilfrid Liddiat although both appear from the early 30s till 1947 on and off.
