Harry Randall(1857-1932)

Harry was born at 35 Little Queen St., High Holborn to parents George Arthur Randall, then a journeyman bootmaker, and Mary Ann Randall, formerly Bragger. He first appeared on stage, as a schoolboy extra, at the Royal Princess's Theatre in pantomime. He was an artistic youngster which led him to becoming an apprentice stone seal engraver. Whilst studying for this trade he progressed his singing abilities from choir boy to supplement his income by singing in the smaller halls. He made his professional debut at Deacon's Music Hall in 1883 and quickly established himself as a regular and popular performer in the Larger London Music Halls. The following year he embarked on his first provincial tour, at which point he sold up the engraving business which by then he had established. He was persuaded to give pantomime a try as leading comedian at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham for the Christmas season 1885/86 in Robinson Crusoe. He established himself as a leading entertainer in both Music Hall and pantomime until he lost heart and retired with the unexpected death of his beloved wife Annie in 1913. His proudest moment was surely when he shared the stage at Drury Lane with his great personal friends Dan Leno and Herbert Cambell in their last pantomime Humpty Dumpty in 1903/04, before their tragic deaths later in the year. He died on the 18 May 1932, shortly after publishing his autobiography "Harry Randall - Old Time Comedian" in 1930.