Mrs. Shufflewick (Rex Jameson), in drag character, holding a cup of tea. Photograph, ca. 1955.

Date:
[1955]
Reference:
2045296i
Part of:
The James Gardiner Collection.
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view Mrs. Shufflewick (Rex Jameson), in drag character, holding a cup of tea. Photograph, ca. 1955.

Contains: 2 images

In copyright

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Credit

Mrs. Shufflewick (Rex Jameson), in drag character, holding a cup of tea. Photograph, ca. 1955. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Description

Photograph of Rex Jameson posing with a comical expression. He is wearing a large feathered hat, fur trimmed jacket and light gloves, and is holding a spoon in one hand and a cup and saucer in the other.

Publication/Creation

[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [1955]

Physical description

1 photograph : print ; 13.6 x 8.6 cm

Lettering

Mrs Shufflewick (written in black ink, bottom recto) Bears number: 351 (written in pencil, verso)

Notes

The following description was provided by James Gardiner: "Rex (Coster) Jameson (1926-1983) in character as Mrs. Shufflewick, at the height of her national fame in the mid-1950s. 'Shuff' as she was popularly known started her career on radio in the the early 1950s, and graduated to many appearances on television, always in character. She starred in several seasons at the Windmill Theatre in London, but national fame and success ground to a halt when her drinking got out of hand, and by the 1960s her public appearances were limited to pub drag shows. However, in the post- gay liberation period of the 1970s and 1980s her career enjoyed a considerable revival, and she topped the bill at London gay pubs such as the The Vauxhall Tavern and The Black Cap. appearances. However, drink remained forever the demon, and she died of heart seizure (allegedly at a bus stop on Kentish Town Road on the way to the off-license) at the early age of fifty seven, but looking considerably older."
This work is untitled: the title has been supplied by the cataloguer.

Reference

Wellcome Collection 2045296i

Where to find it

  • Photograph album labelled ‘Drag'

    LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

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