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FOOTLIGHT NOTES
no. 570

updated
Saturday, 16 August 2008

FOOTLIGHT NOTES
images of theatre and other popular entertainment
1850s-1920s

song sheet cover for Albert de Courtville's 9th London Hippodrome revue,
Joy-Bells, produced on 25 March 1919
and featuring Frederick W. Chappelle's song, ''Wonderful Bird'' sung by Winnie Melville.
The two main characters on this cover are stylised portraits of the stars of the show,
George Robey and Shirley Kellogg.

(published by Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew Ltd, London, 1919;
artwork by Arthur Ferrier)

Joy-Bells was written by Albert de Courtville, Wal Pink and Thomas J. Gray, with music by Frederick W. Chappelle. The production, staged by Ned Wayburn, opened on 25 March 1919 for a run of 723 performances. Joy-Bells is noteworthy chiefly because during its run the Original Dixieland Jazz Band made a brief appearance. The band was so enthusiastically received by the audience that George Robey, the show's star, delivered to de Courville an ultimatum to the effect that he would resign unless they went. Thereafter the ODJB appeared elsewhere and on tour and subsequently settled in for a successful nine months' stay at the Palais de Danse in Hammersmith, west London. * * * * * * * *

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