Tom Woottwell, though he was a well-regarded music hall performer in his day, is largely forgotten now. This fate is undeserved, as this British Edison 2-minute cylinder shows. He started performing in the late 1890s with an acrobatic act, the
"Bruce Brothers", and about the turn of the century he went solo. He recorded several humerous Cockney songs up through 1912 (thanks to John Culme for the info). This song was
written in 1907 by Harry Leighton (also co-wrote "Every Dollar Carries Troubles of its Own") and George Everard (who also co-authored "Is Your Mother In, Molly Malone?"). The recording was made in London in July
of that year. The wicked humor, unlike much of what was recorded 100 years ago, doesn't sound dated. Despite the wear on the louder passages, and the editing work necesasry to tame a crack across 2/3 of the cylinder's surface, this is still a
delightful record. (Another recording of Mr. Woottwell's can be found at the Edison National Historic Site.)
