Nor Kiddie
Encyclopedia
Nor Kiddie was the stage name of the comedian
, actor
and juggler of the 1920s and 1930s, Norman Chilton Kiddie.
, Lancashire
1897.
Joseph (or 'J. Gar', b. 1864) was a locally successful music hall
artiste, writer, comedian, pantomime producer and promoter in the early years of the century. He had his own comic sketch company by 1907 when J. Gar Kiddie & Co. appeared at the Grand Theatre, Hanley with their "funny absurdity" 'The House of Tinn' which starred Kiddie himself. Another early triumph was his version of the "Little Bo-Peep" pantomime - featuring Walter Wade as the Baron - that he created and promoted. In 1904 he had taken his "merry burlesque", 'A Little Coquette' to the New Gaiety Theatre at Leith
. This play would later be filmed under the same title in 1909.
By the start of World War I
, Gar was the impressario of the local Alexandra Theatre at Widnes and had become associated with Bert Harding, who was a musician and conductor at that place before being called up for service. Throughout the early days of the war, Harding continued to write songs and tunes, including one with his old friend Gar. By 1915 the work, an Irish musical play, was finished and had been provisionally entitled 'Sheila'. Both Harding (a gunner with 115th Heavy Battery) and Kiddie were awaiting the end of the war in order to produce and tour the play. Sadly, Harding was seriously wounded by shell fragments on 15 October 1917 and died the next day. As far as can be ascertained, the play was never produced.
After the war, when Gar's son Norman came of age, he joined his father’s act, the two of them being billed as, "Nor and Gar Kiddie." The two worked hard at polishing their act and were rewarded when, in the Summer of 1923, they headlined in the play, "O.K." (billed as "a Magical Musical Comedy - you will laugh 'til you cry."), which toured the country.
The next year, Nor appeared solo in J.A. Tunbridge’s, "The Globe Trot" alongside the author, P.M. Turner, Arthur Reece, Clarice Chesney, Harry Wilkinson
and Marie Brayman. This play featured the songs, "I Shall Always Follow You", "I Must Have Some Novelette Love", "Send Her a Little Pansy", "Hawaiian Moon Maid" and "Hassan".
In the Winter Season of 1924/5, Nor appeared at the Prince's Theatre, Bradford
in their pantomime of Robinson Crusoe
alongside Cissie Sullivan, Dorothy Viggers, Marian Dawson and Naughton & Gold.
After this spate of performances, there's a gap in Nor's career until he begins to appear in films in the early 1930s, such as Fred Karno's 1932 film "The Bad Companions" where Nor appeared as Pip, the lead role.
Another couple of years followed before his second film, January 1936's rather more professionally produced, "(Mother) Don't Rush Me", in which he appeared as the smaller part of the Commissionaire. Again, this was another film that Fred Karno produced, but the direction was by the more renowned playwright, Norman Lee
.
Nor appeared in the New Palace, Plymouth for a week starting on January 20 1941 in 'Bonjour Paris' with the Two Brilliants; Billy Gold; the Bal Tabarin Girls; Costelo; the Bon Jour Damsels; Vera Walden; Freddie Cleef & Johnny Moroney.
Nor's father, Gar, died in 1943, aged 79 and was buried in his home town of Widnes. Nor continued with his career however such as 1946's pantomime season as the fourth billed Baron Taykall of Con West's adaption "Red Riding Hood". Con West was the writer of both of Kiddie's films (along with Fred Karno) that are mentioned above.
In the 1950s, Nor could still be found performing at Stockport
Hippodrome in a Bernard Delfont
production.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and juggler of the 1920s and 1930s, Norman Chilton Kiddie.
Life and career
Nor was born to Elizabeth and Joseph Garibaldi Kiddie in WidnesWidnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
1897.
Joseph (or 'J. Gar', b. 1864) was a locally successful 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...
artiste, writer, comedian, pantomime producer and promoter in the early years of the century. He had his own comic sketch company by 1907 when J. Gar Kiddie & Co. appeared at the Grand Theatre, Hanley with their "funny absurdity" 'The House of Tinn' which starred Kiddie himself. Another early triumph was his version of the "Little Bo-Peep" pantomime - featuring Walter Wade as the Baron - that he created and promoted. In 1904 he had taken his "merry burlesque", 'A Little Coquette' to the New Gaiety Theatre at Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
. This play would later be filmed under the same title in 1909.
By the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Gar was the impressario of the local Alexandra Theatre at Widnes and had become associated with Bert Harding, who was a musician and conductor at that place before being called up for service. Throughout the early days of the war, Harding continued to write songs and tunes, including one with his old friend Gar. By 1915 the work, an Irish musical play, was finished and had been provisionally entitled 'Sheila'. Both Harding (a gunner with 115th Heavy Battery) and Kiddie were awaiting the end of the war in order to produce and tour the play. Sadly, Harding was seriously wounded by shell fragments on 15 October 1917 and died the next day. As far as can be ascertained, the play was never produced.
After the war, when Gar's son Norman came of age, he joined his father’s act, the two of them being billed as, "Nor and Gar Kiddie." The two worked hard at polishing their act and were rewarded when, in the Summer of 1923, they headlined in the play, "O.K." (billed as "a Magical Musical Comedy - you will laugh 'til you cry."), which toured the country.
The next year, Nor appeared solo in J.A. Tunbridge’s, "The Globe Trot" alongside the author, P.M. Turner, Arthur Reece, Clarice Chesney, Harry Wilkinson
Harry Wilkinson
Henry "Harry" Wilkinson was an English footballer. His regular position was as a forward. He was born in Bury, Greater Manchester. He played for Newton Heath Athletic, Hull City, West Ham United, Haslingden, and Manchester United....
and Marie Brayman. This play featured the songs, "I Shall Always Follow You", "I Must Have Some Novelette Love", "Send Her a Little Pansy", "Hawaiian Moon Maid" and "Hassan".
In the Winter Season of 1924/5, Nor appeared at the Prince's Theatre, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
in their pantomime of Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe is a novel by Daniel Defoe that was first published in 1719. Epistolary, confessional, and didactic in form, the book is a fictional autobiography of the title character—a castaway who spends 28 years on a remote tropical island near Trinidad, encountering cannibals, captives, and...
alongside Cissie Sullivan, Dorothy Viggers, Marian Dawson and Naughton & Gold.
After this spate of performances, there's a gap in Nor's career until he begins to appear in films in the early 1930s, such as Fred Karno's 1932 film "The Bad Companions" where Nor appeared as Pip, the lead role.
Another couple of years followed before his second film, January 1936's rather more professionally produced, "(Mother) Don't Rush Me", in which he appeared as the smaller part of the Commissionaire. Again, this was another film that Fred Karno produced, but the direction was by the more renowned playwright, Norman Lee
Norman Lee
-Selected filmography:Director* The Streets of London * Strip, Strip, Hooray * The Pride of the Force * The Outcast * Doctor's Orders * Spring in the Air * A Political Party...
.
Nor appeared in the New Palace, Plymouth for a week starting on January 20 1941 in 'Bonjour Paris' with the Two Brilliants; Billy Gold; the Bal Tabarin Girls; Costelo; the Bon Jour Damsels; Vera Walden; Freddie Cleef & Johnny Moroney.
Nor's father, Gar, died in 1943, aged 79 and was buried in his home town of Widnes. Nor continued with his career however such as 1946's pantomime season as the fourth billed Baron Taykall of Con West's adaption "Red Riding Hood". Con West was the writer of both of Kiddie's films (along with Fred Karno) that are mentioned above.
In the 1950s, Nor could still be found performing at Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
Hippodrome in a Bernard Delfont
Bernard Delfont
Bernard Delfont, Baron Delfont , born Boris Winogradsky, was a leading Russian-born British theatrical impresario....
production.