Albert Chevalier

Albert Chevalier (March 21, 1861–July 10, 1923) was an English comedian and actor. In 1877 he was engaged as an actor under the Bancrofts in London, and for some years played legitimate parts at the Court Theatre and elsewhere. In 1891, however, he began a successful music hall career as a singer of coster songs of his own invention, a new type in which he had an immediate success, both in England and America. He subsequently organized an entertainment of his own, with sketches and songs, with which he went on tour, establishing a wide popularity as an original artist in his special line. Image File history File links Albert_Chevalier. ... Image File history File links Albert_Chevalier. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Sir Squire Bancroft (May 14, 1841 - April 19, 1926), English actor and manager, was born near London. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ...

Chevalier performed several sentimental songs in his act; the most popular of these was "My Old Dutch", about an old man's long happy marriage to his wife. The song's title is based on Cockney rhyming slang: in this case, "Dutch" is a shortening of the phrase "Dutch plate", which rhymes with "mate". The singer's "old dutch" is therefore his spouse. Chevalier also starred in a film titled "My Old Dutch". (In an American version of the film where cockney slang isn't well known it is explained as being short for "My Old Dutchess") Cockney rhyming slang is a form of English slang which originated in the East End of London. ...

Reference

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The Cockney rhyming slang for wife is "Duchess of Fife", whereas the Cockney rhyming slang for mate is "china plate", shortened to "china", just as "Duchess of Fife" is shortened to "Dutch". Your contributor clearly does not live within the sound of Bow Bells. Encyclopædia Britannica, the 11th edition The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...