Charles Coborn
Encyclopedia
Charles Coborn was a British
music hall
singer and comedian born in Stepney
, east London.
He was born Charles Whitton McCallum, and adopted his stage name from Coborn Road, near Mile End
. In a long career, Coborn was known largely for two comic songs: Two Lovely Black Eyes (which he adapted in 1886 from an existing song, and premièred at the Paragon Theatre, in the Mile End Road) and The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo
by Fred Gilbert, in 1892. The song was bought for £10, but the rights were finally sold for £600.
Coborn estimated that he had sung the latter song 250,000 times in the course of his career, and could sing it in 14 languages. Described as a 'literate man of high principles', he was never fully accepted by the music hall establishment, but continued to work until the end of his long life. Tracks that he recorded in his 80s can be found on Chairman's Choice - Music Hall Greats CD.
In other songs such as "Should husbands work?" he took up the music hall tradition of (normally conservative) social comment.
He appeared in the film Variety Jubilee (1943), at the age of 91, and continued to make occasional appearances, until his death in London
in 1945. He is buried with his wife in Brompton Cemetery
, London.
His eldest son, Major Duncan McCallum
, became MP
for Argyll
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
singer and comedian born in Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, east London.
He was born Charles Whitton McCallum, and adopted his stage name from Coborn Road, near Mile End
Mile End tube station
Mile End is a London Underground station in Tower Hamlets, East London, served by the Hammersmith & City, District and Central Lines. It is in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
. In a long career, Coborn was known largely for two comic songs: Two Lovely Black Eyes (which he adapted in 1886 from an existing song, and premièred at the Paragon Theatre, in the Mile End Road) and The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo
The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (song)
"The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" is a popular British music hall song of the 19th century, written in 1892 by Fred Gilbert. Gilbert confirmed that his inspiration was the gambler and confidence trickster Charles Wells, who won over a million francs at the Monte Carlo casino, using the...
by Fred Gilbert, in 1892. The song was bought for £10, but the rights were finally sold for £600.
Coborn estimated that he had sung the latter song 250,000 times in the course of his career, and could sing it in 14 languages. Described as a 'literate man of high principles', he was never fully accepted by the music hall establishment, but continued to work until the end of his long life. Tracks that he recorded in his 80s can be found on Chairman's Choice - Music Hall Greats CD.
In other songs such as "Should husbands work?" he took up the music hall tradition of (normally conservative) social comment.
He appeared in the film Variety Jubilee (1943), at the age of 91, and continued to make occasional appearances, until his death in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1945. He is buried with his wife in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
, London.
His eldest son, Major Duncan McCallum
Duncan McCallum
Sir Duncan McCallum was a Scottish Conservative politician.He was elected Member of Parliament for Argyllshire) at a 1940 by-election. McCallum remained as MP for the seat until his death in 1958.McCallum was born on November 24, 1888 in Fulham, London...
, became MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
.
Sources
- British Music Hall - an illustrated history by Richard Anthony Baker, Sutton Publishing, UK, 2005 ISBN 0-7509-3685-1
External links
- Charles Coborn - you can hear him singing 'The Man who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo', http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW6LCpHSh7I&feature=related