The real life Bertie Wooster? Plus some other cool stuff.

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

I imagine a lot of you probably know about this already, but a few years ago a Wodehouse scholar named Norman Murphy came out with the theory that Bertie Wooster was modeled on an actor/singer/producer/playwright/songwriter/all-around-talented guy named George Grossmith Jr. Grossmith played a lot of "dudes" and "mashers" on the musical comedy stage in the 1910s, and this was certainly the kind of character that Bertie was based on in his earliest form.



I have no idea how much truth there is to the direct Grossmith-Wooster connection . . . I need to dig up Murphy's book and read more about it. But I thought it was an interesting idea all the same. Anyway, I found some footage of Grossmith from a movie that he made in 1933, shortly before his death -- I wish I could find something earlier!

I enjoyed this song he recorded in 1915 even more. Not very Bertie-like sentiments ("I muuuuuurdered her last Tuesday, but I thought it would be best . . ."), but it's a ton of fun. Incidentally, the image used for the video is a photo of Grossmith playing a character called Bertie Boyd.

I happened upon Grossmith while I was looking around for other possible Bertie Wooster inspirations. It seems that the name Bertie was already associated with dapper, upper-class gents well before Bertie Wooster was born, and I'm sure that Wodehouse was influenced, directly or otherwise, by earlier uses of the name.



I've found a snippet of some lyrics from the 1880s from a song called "Bertie the Masher" (a "masher" was a well-dressed chap who "mashed" the girls with his style and charm) -- unfortunately, I haven't been able to find the whole thing anywhere. More famous is Burlington Bertie, a swanky cove who was played by the male impersonator Vesta Tilley in the very early 1900s. Sadly, like "Bertie the Masher," the original "Burlington Bertie" song has proven very difficult to find. I'm still searching for a recording or even the complete lyrics.

The fame of the original Burlington Bertie was completely overshadowed by a parody written in 1915, "Burlington Bertie from Bow." This more famous Bertie was a lower-class fellow who put on airs and pretended to be a toff. B. B. from B. was also performed by a male impersonator, Ella Shields. I am delighted to say that I found some footage of Ella performing the song, as well as a sound recording with more of the lyrics:

I think she's rather corking.

Comments

[moojja.livejournal.com]

LOL, I've always thought Bertie Wooster would do well in musical theater, this is influenced by HL's version. But even in the books he had a lot of artistic/theater friends.

If Bertie had to make a living...now I imagining a AU, where Jeeves is a gentleman proposing an indecent arrangement to a musical hall performer.

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Bertie did a fair bit of singing in the books (although he couldn't play piano as far as I can tell, and was terrified of acting!), and both he and Jeeves had friends and family on the stage. Jeeves and Bertie in the music hall business would be interesting indeed.

[beatrice_otter]

Oh, now, that is an AU I would dearly love to read!

[ellex42.livejournal.com]

it was pretty common, up until radios became household appliances, for a performer "covering" someone else's song to make up their own lyrics or additional verses, which may explain why you're having difficulty finding a "complete" set of lyrics. For example, "Oh By Jingo" (which you may recall from an episode of Jeeves & Wooster), a popular song originally from a Broadway musical called "Linger Longer Letty" which ran in the winter of 1919-1920, has a ton of verses and variations.

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely familiar with that phenomenon -- for example, I know "Minnie the Moocher" was originally much, much longer than the standard version that's always performed. This is a bit of a different situation, though. I can't even find a whole chorus (let alone any verses!) for either the original "Burlington Bertie" (which is a totally different song from "Burlington Bertie from Bow") or "Bertie the Masher" . . . just a few excerpted lyrics here and there. Both seem to have fallen into obscurity. I know there is sheet-music for "Burlington Bertie" out there, but it's pretty rare. I'll have to see if I can snag it through ILL.

[ellex42.livejournal.com]

My library system has "101 Comical Songs for Buskers" which includes "Burlington Bertie from Bow". I'll see if I can get a hold of it, scan it, and e-mail it to you.

No sign of the other two Bertie songs, though.

[ellex42.livejournal.com]

You never know what you can find if you poke hard enough. I think I may have found Burlington Bertie (not from Bow).

Sheet music is a whole different kettle of fish, however.

BURLINGTON BERTIE
Harry B Norris (w & m) sung by Vesta Tilley
Frank Dean & Co.1900

Burlington Bertie's the latest young jay
He rents a swell flat somewhere Kensington way
He spends the good oof that his pater has made
Along with the Brandy and Soda Brigade.
A girl wants a brooch or a new diamond ring
And thinks a seal jacket is just now the thing
Or sees a new bonnet she likes oh! So much
Her simple remark is – 'Now who can I touch?'

(Chorus) What price Burlington Bertie,
the boy with the Hyde Park drawl,
What price Burlington Bertie,
the boy with the Bond Street crawl?
A nice little supper at the Savoy,
Oh! What a duck of a boy,
'So free' says she 'With LSD,
Burlington Bertie's the boy for me.'

When pretty young dancers are out of a shop;
When sweet little barmaids have just had to hop;
When singers cannot with their agents agree;
When trim little widows want someone for tea,
Who is it that turns up, the lonely girl's friend?
Who is it that nightly his club must attend?
Who is it drinks brandy and smokes strong cheroots?
Who is it that gets into bed with his boots?

(Chorus) What price Burlington Bertie,
the boy with the Hyde Park drawl,
What price Burlington Bertie,
the boy with the Bond Street crawl?
He drives from his club; what a lovely sight;
The cabby says ''Eres a wet night -
But free' says he 'With LSD
Burlington Bertie's the boy for me.'

When there are symptoms of warlike alarm
And Burlington Bertie sees his brothers in arms,
Altho' absent minded he does not forget
That Englishmen always must pay off a debt.
He drops all his pleasures, the polo, the hunt
And just like the rest he is off to the front;
Altho' he's a johnny, he'll fight in the ruck,
He's wealthy and foolish, but if you want pluck –

(Chorus) What price Burlington Bertie,
the boy with the Hyde Park drawl,
What price Burlington Bertie,
the boy with the Bond Street crawl?
He'll fight and he'll die like an Englishman.
Forgive all his folly we can;
Says old John Bull 'I plainly see
These Burlington boys are the boys for me!'

Note: 'oof = hoof = money;
Touch (vb) = wheedle money from
LSD = pounds, shillings and pence = money
Warlike alarms = a reference to the Boer War
Johnny = wealthy stage door hanger-on

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's it! How on earth did you find it? I must say, I am amused by this alternate meaning for LSD. That particular lyric sounds very strange to modern ears.

[ellex42.livejournal.com]

I found it on this website called Muppet Wiki. There was an old Muppet Show sketch in which a muppet sang "Burlington Bertie from Bow", prompting the discussion found at the following url. Scroll down and you'll find lyrics for "Burlington Bertie from Bow" as well as "Burlington Bertie" (not from Bow).

Thank Google. I just plugged in some search terms and followed some links and eventually hit on this.

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=16442#1160806

I will admit that the mention of LSD had me wondering if it was a modern version until I saw the bit about the prior meaning of LSD.

[ellex42.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking the bit about "oof=hoof=money" sheds some light on Oofy Prosser's nickname. I can never keep the Drones straight except for Gussie and his newts - was Oofy rich?

[hbomb90.livejournal.com]

Oofy is the Drones resident millionaire (well, one of them anyway ;D)

[ellex42.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really need to go back and read some of the books again (or just watch Fry and Laurie do their thing).