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{{Short description|English comedian and singer (1874–1924)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Jack Pleasants
| name = Jack Pleasants
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_name = Squire Pleasants
| birth_date = [[1875 in music|1875]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1874|8|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bradford]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England
| birth_place = [[Bradford]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England
| death_date = [[1924 in music|1924]] (aged 49)
| death_date = {{death date and age|1924|1|2|1874|8|27|df=y}}
| death_place = Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
| death_place = Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
| other_names =
| other_names =
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}}
}}


'''Jack Pleasants''' (1875–1924) was an English [[music hall]] comedian and singer.
'''Jack Pleasants''' (born '''Squire Pleasants'''; 27 August 1874 – 2 January 1924)<ref>Rainer E. Lotz, ''German Ragtime & Prehistory of Jazz'', 1965, p.292</ref> was an English [[music hall]] comedian and singer.


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Jack Pleasants was born in [[Bradford]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England in 1874. After entering a talent contest in [[Leeds]], he had his first music hall appearances there. He made his London debut in 1901, but was not an immediate success and returned to provincial theatres for several years, gradually increasing his popularity in the [[north of England]]. In 1907, he appeared with [[George Mozart]] in [[pantomime]] in [[Bradford]].<ref name=busby>{{cite book |last=Busby |first=Roy |year=1976 |title=British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day |location=London |publisher=Paul Elek |page= 139-140|isbn=0 236 40053 3}}</ref>
⚫
Jack Pleasants was born in [[Bradford]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England in 1875.<ref name="Discogs">{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2670638-Jack-Pleasants |title=Jack Pleasants |date=2018 |work= |publisher=[[Discogs]] website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref> He was popular in [[Northern England|Northern]] music halls in the early part of the twentieth century.<ref name="Discogs"/> Billed as “The Bashful Limit”,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://78manblog.wordpress.com/tag/george-formby/ |title=78man Presents . . . |date=2018 |work= |publisher=[[WordPress]] |accessdate=24 July 2018}}</ref> he typically played the part of a "bashful fool", whose ostensible lack of experience with women could turn out to reveal hidden purpose.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://monologues.co.uk/musichall/Jack-Pleasants.htm |title=Jack Pleasants (1874–1924) |date=2018 |work= |publisher=Monologues.co.uk website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref>


⚫
From then his status as one of the top Northern dialect comedians grew. [[Bill matter|Billed]] as “The Bashful Limit”,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://78manblog.wordpress.com/tag/george-formby/ |title=78man Presents . . . |date=2018 |publisher=[[WordPress]] |accessdate=24 July 2018}}</ref> he typically played the part of a "bashful fool", whose ostensible lack of experience with women could turn out to reveal hidden purpose.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://monologues.co.uk/musichall/Jack-Pleasants.htm |title=Jack Pleasants (1874–1924) |date=2018 |publisher=Monologues.co.uk website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref> He wore make-up, a black [[frock coat]], trousers, and a [[bowler hat]], and sported a large [[Garden marguerite|marguerite]] flower.<ref name=busby/>
⚫
He popularised the songs “I’m Twenty-One Today” and “I’m Shy, Mary Ellen, I’m Shy”, which remain the songs for which he is best remembered.<ref name="Prince's">{{cite web |url=http://www.its-behind-you.com/princesbristol.html |title=Prince's |date=2018 |work= |publisher=It's Behind You website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref>

⚫
He popularised the songs “I’m Twenty-One Today” and “I’m Shy, Mary Ellen, I’m Shy”, which remain the songs for which he is best remembered.<ref name="Prince's">{{cite web |url=http://www.its-behind-you.com/princesbristol.html |title=Prince's |date=2018 |publisher=It's Behind You website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Jack Pleasants died in 1924 aged forty-nine.<ref name="Prince's"/> He died of a [[Appendicitis|perforated appendix]] after an evening [[pantomime]] performance of ''[[Little Red Riding Hood]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.its-behind-you.com/bradfordpantos.html |title=Laidler Pantomimes: 1902–1955; Bradford & Elsewhere |date=2011 |work= |publisher=It's Behind You website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref> at the Prince's Theatre, Bradford.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/BradfordTheatres/PrincesTheatreBradford.htm |title=The Prince's Theatre, Manchester Road and Victoria Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire |date=2018 |work= |publisher=[[Arthur Lloyd (musician)|Arthur Lloyd]] website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref> One source suggests that Pleasants [[List of entertainers who died during a performance|dropped dead on stage]], and that he had been only "subbing" for [[Arthur Lucan]] and [[Kitty McShane]] of [[Old Mother Riley]] fame.
Jack Pleasants died in 1924 aged forty-nine.<ref name="Prince's"/> He died of a [[Appendicitis|perforated appendix]] after an evening [[pantomime]] performance of ''[[Little Red Riding Hood]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.its-behind-you.com/bradfordpantos.html |title=Laidler Pantomimes: 1902–1955; Bradford & Elsewhere |date=2011 |publisher=It's Behind You website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref> at the Prince's Theatre, Bradford.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/BradfordTheatres/PrincesTheatreBradford.htm |title=The Prince's Theatre, Manchester Road and Victoria Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire |date=2018 |publisher=[[Arthur Lloyd (musician)|Arthur Lloyd]] website |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref> One source suggests that Pleasants [[List of entertainers who died during a performance|dropped dead on stage]], and that he had been only "subbing" for [[Arthur Lucan]] and [[Kitty McShane]] of [[Old Mother Riley]] fame.


The pantomime began to seem [[jinx]]ed. The 7 February 1924 edition of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' carried the following report:
The pantomime began to seem [[jinx]]ed. The 7 February 1924 edition of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' carried the following report:
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
Both [[Will Fyffe]] and [[Sandy Powell (comedian)|Sandy Powell]] began their careers by doing impressions of Jack Pleasants and other music hall performers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Double |first=Oliver |date=1997 |title=Stand Up: On Being a Comedian |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TWtjAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=%22jack+pleasants%22+and+%22music+hall%22&source=bl&ots=kfoN_oPx3V&sig=4XsPNQnkXuzOHqjDQ0TrKJDmVV8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB3fzvl6TcAhWIbMAKHaeeBQo4HhDoAQg9MAc#v=onepage&q=%22jack%20pleasants%22%20and%20%22music%20hall%22&f=false |publisher=[[Methuen Publishing]] |page=42 |isbn=0413703207}}</ref>
Both [[Will Fyffe]] and [[Sandy Powell (comedian)|Sandy Powell]] began their careers by doing impressions of Jack Pleasants and other music hall performers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Double |first=Oliver |date=1997 |title=Stand Up: On Being a Comedian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TWtjAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22jack+pleasants%22+and+%22music+hall%22&pg=PA42 |publisher=[[Methuen Publishing]] |page=42 |isbn=0413703207}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pleasants, Jack}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pleasants, Jack}}
[[Category:1875 births]]
[[Category:1874 births]]
[[Category:1924 deaths]]
[[Category:1924 deaths]]
[[Category:Music hall performers]]
[[Category:Music hall performers]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:Comedians from Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Comedians from Bradford]]
[[Category:Musicians who died on stage]]
[[Category:Musicians who died on stage]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bradford]]

Latest revision as of 11:27, 11 November 2023

Jack Pleasants
Born
Squire Pleasants

(1874-08-27)27 August 1874
Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died2 January 1924(1924-01-02) (aged 49)
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Occupation(s)Music hall comedian and singer
Years active1901–1924
Known forI'm 21 Today
I'm Shy, Mary Ellen, I'm Shy
SpouseJessie (maiden name unknown) (?–1924, Pleasants's death)

Jack Pleasants (born Squire Pleasants; 27 August 1874 – 2 January 1924)[1] was an English music hall comedian and singer.

Life and career

[edit]

Jack Pleasants was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England in 1874. After entering a talent contest in Leeds, he had his first music hall appearances there. He made his London debut in 1901, but was not an immediate success and returned to provincial theatres for several years, gradually increasing his popularity in the north of England. In 1907, he appeared with George Mozart in pantomime in Bradford.[2]

From then his status as one of the top Northern dialect comedians grew. Billed as “The Bashful Limit”,[3] he typically played the part of a "bashful fool", whose ostensible lack of experience with women could turn out to reveal hidden purpose.[4] He wore make-up, a black frock coat, trousers, and a bowler hat, and sported a large marguerite flower.[2]

He popularised the songs “I’m Twenty-One Today” and “I’m Shy, Mary Ellen, I’m Shy”, which remain the songs for which he is best remembered.[5]

Death

[edit]

Jack Pleasants died in 1924 aged forty-nine.[5] He died of a perforated appendix after an evening pantomime performance of Little Red Riding Hood[6] at the Prince's Theatre, Bradford.[7] One source suggests that Pleasants dropped dead on stage, and that he had been only "subbing" for Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane of Old Mother Riley fame.

The pantomime began to seem jinxed. The 7 February 1924 edition of Variety carried the following report:

"Francis Laidler's[8] pantomime at Prince's Theatre, Bradford is having a particularly unhappy time. First, the principal comedian, Jack Pleasants, died shortly after the production opened, and now the principal girl, Winifred O'Connor, has been nearly burned to death. She was shampooing her hair with spirit mixture assisted by her mother when the stuff caught fire, setting the room ablaze. The screams of the two women brought their landlord to the room, and he flung a carpet over them. Winifred O'Connor was so seriously burned that it will be some time before she can return to work."[9]

Pleasants's widow, Jessie, lived in London and died just after World War II.

Trivia

[edit]

Both Will Fyffe and Sandy Powell began their careers by doing impressions of Jack Pleasants and other music hall performers.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rainer E. Lotz, German Ragtime & Prehistory of Jazz, 1965, p.292
  2. ^ a b Busby, Roy (1976). British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day. London: Paul Elek. p. 139-140. ISBN 0 236 40053 3.
  3. ^ "78man Presents . . ". WordPress. 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Jack Pleasants (1874–1924)". Monologues.co.uk website. 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Prince's". It's Behind You website. 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Laidler Pantomimes: 1902–1955; Bradford & Elsewhere". It's Behind You website. 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  7. ^ "The Prince's Theatre, Manchester Road and Victoria Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire". Arthur Lloyd website. 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  8. ^ "How impresario Francis Laidler built and developed a theatre that has seen a host of stars". Telegraph & Argus. 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Winifred O'Connor burned". Variety. 1924. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  10. ^ Double, Oliver (1997). Stand Up: On Being a Comedian. Methuen Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 0413703207.
[edit]
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