Ida Barr (singer)


Ida Barr was an English music hall singer.

Life and career

Barr was born at Regent's Park Barracks, London on 17 January 1882. Her father, William Barlow, is believed to have been a soldier, although Maud described him as a retired civil servant on her marriage certificate.
She made her stage debut in 1898 as a chorus girl at the Theatre Royal, Belfast. Initially calling herself Maud Laverne, she first used the stage-name Ida Barr in 1908 at London's Bedford Theatre.
Barr married comedian Samuel 'Gus' Harris, but the marriage failed within a few years, with Maud soon sailing to New York. Achieving some success in America, Barr returned to England a premier singer of ragtime songs, popularising in Britain the songs "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" and "Everybody's Doing It".
She toured worldwide, earning good money, but was over-generous and failed to save. She became in her old age reliant on welfare benefits, living in a small flat off the Charing Cross Road in London. Writer and broadcaster Daniel Farson, a music hall enthusiast, took it upon himself to extend a helping hand, bringing Barr to a new audience on record and television. It was through Farson, too, that variety entertainer Danny La Rue arranged a benefit concert for Barr.

Death

Ida Barr died on 17 December 1967 in London.

Film and TV credits

Barr's screen credits span the years 1936 to 1966.

Film credits

TV credits

Trivia