Beerbohm (cat): Difference between revisions
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Beerbohm was born in the [[Gielgud Theatre|Globe Theatre]] (later renamed the Gielgud theatre after actor and director [[John Gielgud]]) in London's [[West End of London|West End]] in the 1970s.<ref name=fur>{{cite news |last1=Hankins |first1=Justine |title=My fur lady |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/sep/01/weekend.justinehankins |accessdate=28 August 2018 |work=the Guardian |date=1 September 2001 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bates |first1=Dianne (Di) |title=Awesome Animals Cats: fun facts and amazing stories |date=2015 |publisher=Big Sky Publishing |isbn=9781925275407 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ijdIDAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref name=bell>{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Bethan |title=Whiskers in the workplace: More cats with careers |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42737193 |accessdate=28 August 2018 |work=BBC News |date=3 February 2018}}</ref> Theatres historically maintained cats on the premesis as a means of killing vermin, but their role increased over time as actors came to see them as good luck charms and a means of reducing stress.<ref name=quirk>{{cite book |last1=Stall |first1=Sam |title=100 Cats Who Changed Civilization: History's Most Influential Felines |date=2007 |publisher=Quirk Books |isbn=9781594741630 |page=86 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=coXIF8WbEKEC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alistair |title=Exclusive: Cats to return to West End {{!}} News {{!}} The Stage |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2009/exclusive-cats-to-return-to-west-end/ |accessdate=3 September 2018 |work=The Stage |date=8 July 2009}}</ref> Beerbohm, a tabby cat, was named after [[Herbert Beerbohm Tree]] an actor and theatre manager.<ref name=quirk/><ref name=art/> |
Beerbohm was born in the [[Gielgud Theatre|Globe Theatre]] (later renamed the Gielgud theatre after actor and director [[John Gielgud]]) in London's [[West End of London|West End]] in the 1970s.<ref name=fur>{{cite news |last1=Hankins |first1=Justine |title=My fur lady |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/sep/01/weekend.justinehankins |accessdate=28 August 2018 |work=the Guardian |date=1 September 2001 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bates |first1=Dianne (Di) |title=Awesome Animals Cats: fun facts and amazing stories |date=2015 |publisher=Big Sky Publishing |isbn=9781925275407 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ijdIDAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref name=bell>{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Bethan |title=Whiskers in the workplace: More cats with careers |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42737193 |accessdate=28 August 2018 |work=BBC News |date=3 February 2018}}</ref> Theatres historically maintained cats on the premesis as a means of killing vermin, but their role increased over time as actors came to see them as good luck charms and a means of reducing stress.<ref name=quirk>{{cite book |last1=Stall |first1=Sam |title=100 Cats Who Changed Civilization: History's Most Influential Felines |date=2007 |publisher=Quirk Books |isbn=9781594741630 |page=86 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=coXIF8WbEKEC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alistair |title=Exclusive: Cats to return to West End {{!}} News {{!}} The Stage |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2009/exclusive-cats-to-return-to-west-end/ |accessdate=3 September 2018 |work=The Stage |date=8 July 2009}}</ref> Beerbohm, a tabby cat, was named after [[Herbert Beerbohm Tree]] an actor and theatre manager.<ref name=quirk/><ref name=art/> |
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Beerbohm the cat soon gained a reputation for wandering into dressing rooms and attacking feathered hats and stuffed birds used as props.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Home |first1=Battersea Dogs & Cats |last2=Hankins |first2=Justine |title=Catopedia: A fascinating collection of feline curiosities |date=2016 |publisher=Headline |isbn=9781472224798 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=erugCwAAQBAJ |accessdate=28 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref |
Beerbohm the cat soon gained a reputation for wandering into dressing rooms and attacking feathered hats and stuffed birds used as props.<ref name=bell/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Home |first1=Battersea Dogs & Cats |last2=Hankins |first2=Justine |title=Catopedia: A fascinating collection of feline curiosities |date=2016 |publisher=Headline |isbn=9781472224798 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=erugCwAAQBAJ |accessdate=28 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref> He came to public attention when he began a habit of wandering across the stage in the middle of productions. Beerbohm's first appearance was during a performance of the ''[[Hinge and Bracket|Hinge and Bracket Review]]'' in 1978.<ref name=bell/> He became known as one of the most famous of all theatre cats and counted [[Paul Eddington]] and [[Penelope Keith]] as amongst his biggest fans.<ref name=bell/> He is also said to have enjoyed entering the dressing rooms of [[Michael Gambon]] and [[Peter Bowles]].<ref name=art>{{cite web |last1=Levy |first1=Jan |title=50 Shades of Grey: A Contemporary Study of London’s Most Historic Theatres |url=http://www.londonartgallery.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/50-shades-of-Grey.pdf |website=London Art Gallery |accessdate=28 August 2018}}</ref> As a result of his popularity amongst actors he was mentioned several times on the BBC Radio programme ''[[Desert Island Discs]]''.<ref name=art/> |
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Beerbohm is said to have once been addicted to chocolate (a dependence he successfully overcame) and to have survived being run over by a car on the streets of Soho.<ref name=bell/> He was said to have had a girlfiend at the [[Lyric Theatre, London|Lyric Theatre]] who he would rush off to see frequently.<ref name=fur/> Beerbohm's career at around 20 years is said to be the longest of any modern-day theatre cat and lasted until his retirement in the early 1990s when he went to live with Tony Ramsey, the theatre's master carpenter, in [[Beckenham]].<ref name=bell/><ref name=quirk/><ref name=bell/> |
Beerbohm is said to have once been addicted to chocolate (a dependence he successfully overcame) and to have survived being run over by a car on the streets of Soho.<ref name=bell/> He was said to have had a girlfiend at the [[Lyric Theatre, London|Lyric Theatre]] who he would rush off to see frequently.<ref name=fur/> Beerbohm's career at around 20 years is said to be the longest of any modern-day theatre cat and lasted until his retirement in the early 1990s when he went to live with Tony Ramsey, the theatre's master carpenter, in [[Beckenham]].<ref name=bell/><ref name=quirk/><ref name=bell/> |
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Revision as of 17:03, 4 September 2018
| Species | Felis catus |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | c. 1975 Globe Theatre, London |
| Died | March 1995 |
| Owner | Gielgud Theatre |
Beerbohm (1970s - March 1995) was a cat that resided at the Gielgud Theatre in London. He was born in the theatre, which was then named the Globe, and was named after actor and theatre manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree. He became renowned for attacking props and wandering into the actors' dressing rooms. Beerbohm came to public attention when he wandered across the stage during a 1978 performance by Hinge and Bracket, a trick he repeated throughout his life. Beerbohm retired in the early 1990s and went to live with the theatre's master carpenter in Beckenham. After his death in March 1995 the news was carried in many national newspapers and he became the first (and so far only) cat to receive a front page obituary in The Stage.
Biography
Beerbohm was born in the Globe Theatre (later renamed the Gielgud theatre after actor and director John Gielgud) in London's West End in the 1970s.[1][2][3] Theatres historically maintained cats on the premesis as a means of killing vermin, but their role increased over time as actors came to see them as good luck charms and a means of reducing stress.[4][5] Beerbohm, a tabby cat, was named after Herbert Beerbohm Tree an actor and theatre manager.[4][6]
Beerbohm the cat soon gained a reputation for wandering into dressing rooms and attacking feathered hats and stuffed birds used as props.[3][7] He came to public attention when he began a habit of wandering across the stage in the middle of productions. Beerbohm's first appearance was during a performance of the Hinge and Bracket Review in 1978.[3] He became known as one of the most famous of all theatre cats and counted Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith as amongst his biggest fans.[3] He is also said to have enjoyed entering the dressing rooms of Michael Gambon and Peter Bowles.[6] As a result of his popularity amongst actors he was mentioned several times on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs.[6]
Beerbohm is said to have once been addicted to chocolate (a dependence he successfully overcame) and to have survived being run over by a car on the streets of Soho.[3] He was said to have had a girlfiend at the Lyric Theatre who he would rush off to see frequently.[1] Beerbohm's career at around 20 years is said to be the longest of any modern-day theatre cat and lasted until his retirement in the early 1990s when he went to live with Tony Ramsey, the theatre's master carpenter, in Beckenham.[3][4][3]
Beerbohm died in March 1995 and became the only cat to have ever received a front-page obituary in The Stage.[4][3] In addition to Hinge & Bracket, Eddington and Keith actress Beryl Reid also contributed anecdotes to his obituary.[1] His passing was covered by most national newspapers of the time including the Daily Telegraph which reported that "he never married".[1] His portrait hangs in the foyer of the Gielgud Theatre and he has been the subject of a painting by Frances Broomfield.[4][8]
References
- ^ a b c d Hankins, Justine (1 September 2001). "My fur lady". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ Bates, Dianne (Di) (2015). Awesome Animals Cats: fun facts and amazing stories. Big Sky Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 9781925275407.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bell, Bethan (3 February 2018). "Whiskers in the workplace: More cats with careers". BBC News. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Stall, Sam (2007). 100 Cats Who Changed Civilization: History's Most Influential Felines. Quirk Books. p. 86. ISBN 9781594741630.
- ^ Smith, Alistair (8 July 2009). "Exclusive: Cats to return to West End | News | The Stage". The Stage. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Levy, Jan. "50 Shades of Grey: A Contemporary Study of London's Most Historic Theatres" (PDF). London Art Gallery. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ Home, Battersea Dogs & Cats; Hankins, Justine (2016). Catopedia: A fascinating collection of feline curiosities. Headline. ISBN 9781472224798. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Beerbohm, The Theatre Cat Oil & Tempera On Panel by Frances Broomfield". Fine Art America. Retrieved 28 August 2018.