Genealogy Chat

Does anybody know VESTA VICTORIA'S real name. Music hall star 1873-1951.

My great great grandmother was an actress in the theatre, her real name was Elizabeth Ada Mansfield, but her stage name was Vida Varrell. I discovered that she took the surname of stage name from her grandmother, as she was called Mary Ann Varrell. So u may try looking to see if there is any victoria's around the same place, as she might be related. regards, Siobhan

Hi, The permutations for a name like this are in the thousands. Vesta was the name for a match or firelighter as in Swan Vestas. From this Victoria Swan is a possibility but I think your best chance is to keep posting the name on message boards and hope that someone knew her. Do you know where she performed? good hunting Dave

Her most famous song perhaps: "I love my little cat, I do With soft black silky hair It comes with me each day to school And sits upon the chair When teacher says "why do you bring That little pet of your's?" I tell her that I bring my cat Along with me because Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow! bow wow! Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow! bow wow! I've got a little cat And I'm very fond of that But I'd rather have a bow-wow Wow, wow, wow, wow" No double entendres, I hope.

Tried googling and can't find any other name for her. There is loads of pics and info about her though. VESTA VICTORIA 1873 – 1951 aged 77 The little lass from England was the highest paid vaudeville performer in the USA around the turn of the Twentieth Century. Like Alice Lloyd and Albert Chevalier, she was one of the stars of the British music-halls who became very successful in the former colonies. Vesta was born into a music-hall family and found fame as a child performer. Her métier was the comic song. As she grew from child star to adult and to older woman the songs she sang were chosen to suit her age rather than some fixed, timeless image. Her material was often salty: “Once we played truant just for fun But it didn’t matter, so to speak. For I learnt more from Billy on the day we stayed away Than teacher could have taught me in a week!” Christine

I'm googling her and so far I've found her father was called jOe Lawrence

there's a photo of her father jere: http://www.gabrielleray.150m(.)com/ArchivePressText2003/20030222.html

I'll keep going - stop me when you've had enough... Zoe "'Mr. Joe Lawrence is an Ethiopian with a strong Lancashire brogue. His topsy-turvy business is the best of its kind. We have heard this performer at other halls, and have thought that his songs savoured of coarseness. They have been modified, and a good job, too, for Middlesex audiences do not favour grossness.' (The Entr'acte, London, Saturday, 1 April 1882, p.11a) "

THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO.I HAVE FOLLOWED IT ALL UP.YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE JUST GREAT.

Try contacting Equity or Roy Hudd Via the Water rats. Roy is the definative mind on variaty and Equity if they cant help might put you on to some one in the know.

on imdb*com Vesta Victoria Date of birth (location) 26 November 1873 - Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK Date of death (details) 7 April 1951 - London, England, UK. Actress - filmography The Dance of Death (1938) .... Lady Lander The Schooner Gang (1937) .... Mrs. Truman The Broken Rosary (1934)... aka Her Song of Love (USA) .... Vesta