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After watching old stuff of him on YouTube, I told my friend with arrogant certainty that it was the banjo he played, not the ukulele. Further research proves us both right: it was a hybrid they called the "banjolele". A rather odd duck, this George Formby, though pretty talented in an old music hall sort of way. His father before him had been a VERY big music hall star, so I suppose it was no surprise. Americans call them "variety acts." George Formby video here.
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They both do seem to use the same hair cream. Brylcreem?
ReplyDeleteBerle Cream.
ReplyDelete"An annoying little man" he was once called. By whom? I can't remember. But I agree.
ReplyDeleteHe played on the image of a simple, even, perhaps, stupid working class idiot. Music halls, seaside shows, then the wonder of moving pictures, pablum for the masses, keep 'em working, keep em singing, keep em in their place.