Lily Morris (born Lilles Mary Crosby; 30 September 1882 – 3 October 1952)[1] was an English music hall performer, who specialised in singing comedic songs, notably "Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid" and "Don't Have Any More, Missus Moore".
She was born in the Holborn area of London, the daughter of Maurice Crosby, a cigar maker and amateur songwriter. He directed her early career, which started in music halls in 1894, when she was 11 years old. Her first successful song, "Lardi-Doody-Day", written for her by Joseph Tabrar, brought her to the attention of promoter Augustus Harris, who cast her in a minor role in the annual pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Her reputation grew, and she continued to perform Tabrar songs in major London theatres, and around the country, over the next few years. In 1897, she took the lead role in Cinderella in the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.[2]
She made a successful transition from child to adult performer, and built a formidable and lengthy career. She developed a particularly strong reputation as a principal boy in pantomimes.[3] A review of her role in pantomime in Bristol in 1907 described her as having "plenty of spirit" and "the necessary amount of dash and 'go'."[4] Her most successful songs included "Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid", written for her in 1917 by Fred W. Leigh and Charles Collins, and "Don't Have Any More, Missus Moore", written in 1926 by Harry Castling and James Walsh. She made recordings of several of her songs, for various record labels including Columbia and Regal.
Her career included several successful international tours.[5] She had a particularly successful run at the Palace Theatre in New York City in 1928.[6] She also appeared in the musical revue film Elstree Calling (1930), co-directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Roger Wilmut wrote of Morris:
Her performance of "Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid" in Elstree Calling shows the sort of polish that could only be obtained by taking the same act round the halls for years, improving it, tightening it up, and producing a performance where every line has a suitable little visual gag or facial expression; it is one of the funniest pieces of film in existence.[7]
Morris appeared in the film Radio Parade of 1935 as a charlady alongside fellow music hall performer Nellie Wallace. In 1941 she appeared as the formidable "Lady Randall" in the Arthur Askey comedy I Thank You but reverts to type in the final scene where she gives a rendition of the old music hall standard "Waiting at the Church" at an impromptu concert in a tube station bomb shelter.[8] She retired from the stage in 1940, but briefly replaced Wallace in Don Ross's show Thanks for the Memory in 1948.[3][9] Ross had wanted to include both Morris and Wallace in the show, but the two women refused to appear on the same bill together.[1]
Morris married Archibald McDougall in 1907. She died in London in 1952,[3] six weeks after her husband's death.[1]
Music Hall star Lily Morris sings "Don't Have Any More Mrs Moore" on YouTube
April 25, 2024
lily, morris, born, lilles, mary, crosby, september, 1882, october, 1952, english, music, hall, performer, specialised, singing, comedic, songs, notably, always, bridesmaid, have, more, missus, moore, jack, jack, jill, prince, theatre, bristol, 1907, bornlille. Lily Morris born Lilles Mary Crosby 30 September 1882 3 October 1952 1 was an English music hall performer who specialised in singing comedic songs notably Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid and Don t Have Any More Missus Moore Lily MorrisLily Morris as Jack in Jack and Jill at the Prince s Theatre Bristol 1907 BornLilles Mary Crosby 1882 09 30 30 September 1882Holborn London EnglandDied3 October 1952 1952 10 03 aged 70 Golders Green London EnglandOccupation s Singer comic performer actorYears active1894 1948 Contents 1 Biography 2 Song hits 3 Selected filmography 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBiography editShe was born in the Holborn area of London the daughter of Maurice Crosby a cigar maker and amateur songwriter He directed her early career which started in music halls in 1894 when she was 11 years old Her first successful song Lardi Doody Day written for her by Joseph Tabrar brought her to the attention of promoter Augustus Harris who cast her in a minor role in the annual pantomime at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Her reputation grew and she continued to perform Tabrar songs in major London theatres and around the country over the next few years In 1897 she took the lead role in Cinderella in the Theatre Royal Nottingham 2 She made a successful transition from child to adult performer and built a formidable and lengthy career She developed a particularly strong reputation as a principal boy in pantomimes 3 A review of her role in pantomime in Bristol in 1907 described her as having plenty of spirit and the necessary amount of dash and go 4 Her most successful songs included Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid written for her in 1917 by Fred W Leigh and Charles Collins and Don t Have Any More Missus Moore written in 1926 by Harry Castling and James Walsh She made recordings of several of her songs for various record labels including Columbia and Regal Her career included several successful international tours 5 She had a particularly successful run at the Palace Theatre in New York City in 1928 6 She also appeared in the musical revue film Elstree Calling 1930 co directed by Alfred Hitchcock Roger Wilmut wrote of Morris Her performance of Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid in Elstree Calling shows the sort of polish that could only be obtained by taking the same act round the halls for years improving it tightening it up and producing a performance where every line has a suitable little visual gag or facial expression it is one of the funniest pieces of film in existence 7 Morris appeared in the film Radio Parade of 1935 as a charlady alongside fellow music hall performer Nellie Wallace In 1941 she appeared as the formidable Lady Randall in the Arthur Askey comedy I Thank You but reverts to type in the final scene where she gives a rendition of the old music hall standard Waiting at the Church at an impromptu concert in a tube station bomb shelter 8 She retired from the stage in 1940 but briefly replaced Wallace in Don Ross s show Thanks for the Memory in 1948 3 9 Ross had wanted to include both Morris and Wallace in the show but the two women refused to appear on the same bill together 1 Morris married Archibald McDougall in 1907 She died in London in 1952 3 six weeks after her husband s death 1 Song hits editLily Morris s most popular song hits include Because He Loves Me My Old Man Said Follow the Van original performer Marie Lloyd Don t Have Any More Missus Moore 1929 written by Harry Castling 10 He s Only a Working Man The Old Apple Tree Waiting at the Church Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid Never the Blushing Bride written 1917 Selected filmography editElstree Calling 1930 Variety 1935 References edit a b c Richard Anthony Baker British Music Hall an illustrated history Pen amp Sword 2014 ISBN 978 1 78383 118 0 pp 252 253 Baker Richard Anthony 2011 Lily Morris Child Performer Music Hall Studies 7 302 307 a b c Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson British Music Hall A story in pictures Studio Vista 1965 p 158 The Stage London Thursday 2 January 1908 pp 5e 6b reprinted at Footlight Notes Retrieved 9 February 2021 Music Hall Star Dies New York Times October 4 1952 via ProQuest British Artists Rule Palace Bill New York Times January 24 1928 via ProQuest Roger Wilmut Kindly Leave the Stage The Story of Variety 1919 1960 Methuen 1985 ISBN 0 413 48960 4 p 77 IMDb I Thank You Times obituary Lily Morris Don t Have any More Mrs Moore AllMusic 2013 Retrieved 28 October 2013 Further reading editSculthorpe Derek The Lost World of Music Hall 2021 Bear Manor Media ISBN 978 1 62933 802 6External links editLily Morris at IMDb Lily Morris discography at Discogs Music Hall star Lily Morris sings Don t Have Any More Mrs Moore on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lily Morris amp oldid 1170315907, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
