George Mozart (born David John Gillings; 15 February 1864 – 10 December 1947) was a British music hall comedian, actor and singer, with a career lasting over 70 years.
Biography
He was born in Great Yarmouth, and began his career at the age of nine playing side-drums at the Theatre Royal in the town. He trained with the Prince of Wales’ Own Norfolk
Artillery Band, and played clarinet and violin in local music hall orchestras, before joining a circus as a clown. He became a member of the Livermore Brothers Court Minstrels, as a violinist and comedian, and made his London debut in blackface in 1886.[1]
He formed a double act as 'Engist and Orsa - Musical Clowns', and then formed a comedy and musical duo, 'Warrington and Gillings' with Charles Warrington. They changed their name to 'The Mozarts', and first appeared together in London in 1891. They became successful, and had a 12-month season under Charles Morton at the Palace Theatre.[1]
In 1895, George Mozart was seen by Sir Augustus Harris, who offered him a part in a pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He agreed to become a solo performer, and began appearing in more pantomimes and variety shows. His career peaked between then and the outbreak of the First World War.[2] According to writer Roy Busby, he "became one of the finest character comedians and pantomime artistes, topping bills at all the major halls for nearly 30 years notably with the one-man sketches 'A Soldier and a Maid' and 'The Family Album'".[1]W. J. MacQueen-Pope described his "thumb-nail sketches" as "...high art and masterpieces of comic characterisation and observation..".[3]
He made several recordings of his routines, around and shortly after 1900. According to his accompanist Fred Gaisberg, he made his first recordings having changed into full costume and make-up, assuming he could also be seen by listeners.[4] He toured the United States vaudeville circuit in 1907. He had an interest in film making, appearing in, and directing, several short silent films including Coney as Peacemaker (1913).[5] In 1915, he made his first appearance in a revue, playing Queen Elizabeth in André Charlot's Now is the Time.[1]
^ abcdefBusby, Roy (1976). British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day. London: Paul Elek. p. 128-130. ISBN0 236 40053 3.
