Bobby Howes
Charles Robert William Howes was a British entertainer who was a leading musical comedy performer in London's West End theatres in the 1930s and 1940s.
Biography
Born in Chelsea and raised in Battersea, Surrey, his parents were Robert William Howes and Rose Marie Butler. After leaving school, he started an apprenticeship as an electrical engineer, but in 1909 after auditioning at the Battersea Palace forfemale-impersonator Sable Fern, he made his professional debut the same day playing a boy scout. He remained with Fern for over a year before joining The Six White Boys and then the Gotham Quartet. His career was interrupted for the First World War where he soldiered on the Western Front. He suffered a German mustard gas attack but recovered and resumed his career when he got a part in the Seasoned To Taste revue at The Metropolitan Theatre. In 1923, he made his West End debut in The Little Revue at 9, followed by The Second Little Revue, both at The Little Theatre.
After a succession of parts in several plays, he gained a career break-through with the role-reversal comedy Mr. Cinders, based on the Cinderella pantomime, also featuring Binnie Hale, with whom he appeared on many occasions subsequently. He reprised his title role in Mr. Cinders in several different productions.
In the 1930s, he was with Van Phillips' Four Bright Sparks whose vocalists included Billy Milton.
Four Bright Sparks recorded at least 60 sides. He was a leading musical comedy performer on the West End in the 1930s and 1940s, appearing in productions including For the Love of Mike, Tell Her the Truth, Yes Madam?, and Please Teacher. In 1945 he made his pantomime debut, playing Buttons in Cinderella at the Victoria Palace.
He married Patricia Malone in March 1922. Together they had two children - actress/singer Sally Ann Howes and musician Peter Howes, before divorcing in 1948. He performed with his daughter in 1953 in the musical Paint Your Wagon.
He continued onstage, including Broadway, and in films and television until he retired in the late 1960s. One of his most acclaimed roles was as the eponymous lead in Finian's Rainbow when it was revived on Broadway in 1960.
In April 1964, he was fined £10 after admitting a charge of indecent exposure.
He died on 27 April 1972, aged 76, in London, England.
Filmography
Elixir do Diabo, O Watch It, Sailor! – as a Drunk The Good Companions – as Jimmy NunnHappy Go Lovely – as CharlieMurder in the Footlights The Trojan Brothers – as Benny CastelliBob's Your Uncle Men With Whips Yes, Madam? – as Bill QuintonSweet Devil – as Tony BrentPlease Teacher – as Tommy DeaconOver the Garden Wall – as Bunny42nd Street singing 'Shuffle off to Buffalo' with Ruby KeelerFor the Love of Mike – as Bobby SeymourLord Babs – as Lord Basil 'Babs' DrayfordThird Time Lucky – as Rev. Arthur FearThe Guns of Loos – as Danny- ''On with the Dance''
Television
Douglas Fairbanks Presents: "Point of View" – US airdate 14 May 1956 – episode 4.14 – Filmed at the British National Studios, Elstree, EnglandCurtains For Harry – as Harry Bates – single episode showOut of This World – Proposed series that had only one episode, 15 November 1950, Wed 8.30 pmSuch Is Life – played 'the little man struggling with his conscience' in this themed sketch series. 5 episodes, 30 mins each, 24 Apr-19 June 1950 – fortnightly Mon around 9 pmPaging You – episode No. 4Theatre
Do Re Me – Prince of Wales Theatre, London – Opened 12 October 1961Finian's Rainbow – Blackpool Opera House, UK – March/April 1961Finian's Rainbow – Broadway – 23 May 1960 – 1 June 1960The Geese Are Getting Fat – Phoenix Theatre – 1960Finian's Rainbow – New Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool – with Shani WallisHide and Seek – London Hippodrome – with Cicely CourtneidgeThe Entertainer – Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House – July 1958Start From Scratch – Q Theatre, Kew – with Glyn Dearman, Helen Christie; dir:Robert HendersonHarvey – Streatham Hill TheatrePaint Your Wagon – at Her Majesty's Theatre, The Haymarket – with daughter Sally Ann Howes – production ran for 18 monthsThe Yellow Mask – His Majesty's TheatreRoundabout – three weeks, with Pat KirkwoodFour, Five, Six – with Binnie HaleThe Man in the Street – St. James Theatre, October 1947Here Come The Boys – Saville Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue – with Jack HulbertCinderella – Winter GardenBy Jupiter – Palace Theatre, Manchester – show opened 25 July, closed quicklyLet's Face It! – – London Hippodrome – show opened 19 November – 348 performancesShepherd's Pie – Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House – April 1941, with Arthur Riscoe, Richard Hearne, Vera Pearce and Raymond NewellHalfway To Heaven – Shaftesbury Theatre – A New Play by Harry Segall. With Bobby Howes, Bryan Matheson, J H Roberts, Maxwell FosterBig Business – London HippodromeAll Clear – Queen's Theatre, London, with Beatrice Lillie – revue that opened on 20 December 1939Bobby Get Your Gun – Adelphi Theatre – Opened 7 October 1938Hide and Seek – London Hippodrome – show opened 14 October – with Cicely CourtneidgePlease Teacher – London HippodromeChristmas Mails 100 Years Ago – a comedic philatelic play by Nevile StockenYes Madam? – London Hippodrome – show opened 27 September – with Binnie HaleHe Wanted Adventure – Saville Theatre – 1933Tell Her The Truth – Saville Theatre – show opened 14 June 1932, 234 performancesFor The Love of Mike – Saville TheatreThe Song of the Drum – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – 1931Nippy – London Hippodrome – with Binnie Hale – 1930Sons O' Guns – London Hippodrome – show opened 26 June 1930.Mr. Cinders – Streatham Hill Theatre – April 1930Mr. Cinders – Adelphi Theatre, London – 528 performancesMr. Cinders – London Hippodrome – with Binnie Hale, Ruth Maitland, Arthur ChesneyThe Blue Train – Prince of Wales Theatre – 10 May 1927The Midnight Follies – Metropole – with Enid Stamp-Taylor and Eddie ChildsLittle Revues – West EndSeasoned To Taste – a burlesque written by Jack Hylton as a vehicle for Tommy Handley and Howes, which opened at the end of 1919 and ran until early 1920, at the Metropolitan, Edgware Road.Other live performances
- Royal Variety Command Performance – 7 November 1955, Victoria Palace
- A gala revue at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane to promote National Savings – 17 October 1948.
- R.A.F.A. Festival of Reunion – Sunday 22 September 1946 – Royal Albert Hall
Discography
Finian's Rainbow Paint Your Wagon She's My Lovely Yes, Madam – with Binnie Hale- "I'm a One-man Girl" – with Binnie Hale, 78 from Mr. CindersThe Blue Train Rudolf Friml in London – Derek Oldham, Edith Day, Ethel Levey, Bobby Howes, Roy Royston, Dennis Kings, et al., from 78s.