BRITISH STAGE STARS IN ROTARY
Although most people will be aware that the music hall star, Sir
Harry Lauder, (see
separate entry) was a keen Rotarian, a member of the
Glasgow Club and a friend of Paul Harris, there were several
other artistes who became Rotarians. Naturally there were some
who were Honorary members but in addition there were those who
were full members. Many of them are no longer remembered, but in
their time, they were household names.
 Among them was R. G. Knowles, RC London, who was born in 1858
and died in1919. Richard Knowles's name is little known today
but from late Victorian days through the First World War, this
Canadian born artist was a popular and clever entertainer. He
was one of the early members of the Rotary Club of London, where
like Harry Lauder, in Glasgow, his classification was
'comedian', a description which was enhanced by his stage
appearances in a red wig, a battered opera hat, white ducks and
a frock coat. As a patter comedian, Knowles toured the Halls in
various parts of the Empire being especially well received in
Australia. A story is told of him that when the theatre cat
walked across the stage in one performance, he remarked that
"This is supposed to be a monologue not a catalogue.". He was
much in demand as a visiting speaker at the early British Rotary
clubs, and was a keen Rotarian, being the only British member to
attend the 1917 Convention in Atlanta. He died at the age of 60
in 1919.
  Another
member of the London Club between the wars was Arthur
Prince. Prince was born in 1881 in London and died in 1948. In
1918, he was listed among the London Rotary Club members as
number 354, Lieutenant Arthur Prince, classification, Variety
Artist, Ventriloquist. As a ventriloquist, his dummy was an able
seaman called Jim, so it is surprising, perhaps, that he starred
in early radio shows as well as in television. One of his shows
was 'Comedy Cabaret' in 1938. He is noted for being
 able to talk
as the dummy and drink a glass of water (or stronger) at the
same time. When he died, he was buried in Hampstead Cemetery
alongside his dummy 'Jim'.
 Harry
Tate, Senior, was another London Rotarian with the
classification of 'Comedian'. He was born in 1872 and died of
injuries received in an air raid in 1940. Despite his
classification, Tate also appeared in several films alongside
such distinguished actors as Henry Fonda and Vivien Leigh, but
it was neither as an actor nor a comedian that he hade his stage
debut.
Like Bransby Williams, (see below), he began his stage
career as an impressionist of such well known stars as Eugene
Stratton, Dan Leno and George Robey. His most famous sketch was
one about 'Motoring' and this was revived after his death, by
his son.
All three of the above performed on board at the launching of
the liner, the 'Aquitania' in 1914, in Liverpool, while Tate and
Prince were among the artistes, invited to take part in the very
first Royal Command Performance in 1912 . Harry Lauder was also
among those who performed in front of a very distinguished cast
at the Palace Theatre in London, before King George the Fifth
and Queen Mary, and many other members of royalty from both
Britain and abroad.
 Bransby Williams, a Londoner through and through, was born in
1871 and died in 1961. Although he started out as an
impressionist, impersonating Dan Leno, and even swopped places
with Leno on one occasion, it was as a monologuist that he made
his name. He was particularly noted for his impersonations of
characters in the novels of Charles Dickens. Williams performed
this act for over 50 years, heading the bill at the old
Parthenon Music Hall as early as 1897, and even appearing on
television into the 1950s. By 1918, he had become member number
298 of the London Rotary Club.
In an address to the club in September 1925, on the eve of a
visit to the United States, Williams commented that he had
travelled 52,000 miles through the British Empire and had spoken
to practically every Rotary Club in Canada, Australia, Africa
and New Zealand. He was proud of his association with Rotary and
always found Rotarians the same. With his reputation as both an
artiste and a speaker, he was invited to preach a sermon in a
Canadian church, as well as addressing both houses of the New
Zealand parliament. As a friend of King Edward the Seventh, he
had often been asked to impersonate some of the King's friends
and associates, including Lloyd George and Earl Beatty, at
special functions. At the end of his address, he expressed the
sincere hope that Rotary Clubs would go on and prosper, and not
become merely luncheon clubs. He prayed that the flag of Rotary
would be carried on until their eyes grew dim and their hands
were numbed, but they handed it on to those that were young who
would carry the flag with the same dignity.
 Gerald Walcan
Bright, though not strictly a stage star, can
perhaps be included here under the better known name of Geraldo,
the well known band leader. Born in London in 1904, Geraldo
started his career as a pianist playing for silent films. His
first band was 'The Gaucho Tango Orchestra' playing at the Savoy
Hotel in London and also on 2LO, and later still on various
other BBC stations. In 1945, by now at the top of his
profession, he joined the London Rotary Club. However, Geraldo
was one of the first to see the opportunities of the new cruise
ships and not only played, but also produced many of the
shipboard entertainments of the time. Geraldo died in 1974 and
curiously, his widow Manja later married a Rotarian, Morris
Leigh, who had been inducted on the same day as Geraldo. She too
became a Rotarian in London in 1997 and remained so until her
death in 2003.
Much of the above is based on material supplied by Rtn Ray
Wiggins, archivist of the London Rotary Club, to whom we are
grateful for his help.
 The
name of Sir Emile Littler, C.B.E. is perhaps not well known
outside the British Isles. Born in Ramsgate, Kent, in 1903,
into a theatrical family, Emile became an assistant stage
manager in 1925 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre,
becoming manager in 1931. Over the years he became a leading
producer of a wide variety of shows, though it is perhaps
for his pantomimes that he is best remembered. His influence
spread throughout the British theatre scene, and abroad.
During the 1930s, he visited America to work with the
Shubert brothers in New York and elsewhere. After the war,
he brought into the West End of London such shows as 'Annie
Get Your Gun'.
For his theatrical work and for his many
contributions to charity, Emile Littler was knighted in
1974. He died in 1985. He was a member of the Birmingham
Rotary Club for some years.
If anyone can add either more information about the Rotary
activities of these stars, or on other stars who should be
included, please use the "comment"
form.
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