Billie Manders and members of the Quaintesques. Photographic postcard, 192-.

Date:
[between 1920 and 1929?]
Reference:
2044986i
Part of:
The James Gardiner Collection.
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Contains: 4 images

In copyright

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Credit

Billie Manders and members of the Quaintesques. Photographic postcard, 192-. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Description

A group photograph of Billie Manders and nine other members of his troupe, the Quaintesques, wearing suits; sitting in a group in front of a dark curtain. Manders was a popular Rhyl-based female impersonator: he and his troupe 'The Quaintesques' were concert party entertainers from the early 1920's right up to World War II. Billie was a performer from a very early age and a a pioneer of 'glamour drag', presenting a less exaggerated female appearance.

Publication/Creation

[Great Britain] : [publisher not identified], [between 1920 and 1929?]

Physical description

1 photographic postcard and 2 sheets of paper ; postcard 8.7 x 13.9 cm

Lettering

Billie Manders. "Famous Quaintesques" The first sheet lists members of the company: "Quaintesques 1929 - Rhyl (& B[irming]ham) Jimmy Wright comedian, Billy Humphreys pianist, Harold de Bere saxophonist etc., Frank Dwyer comedian, Alec Stewart comedian, Gwilym Williams baritone, Jack Brennan, Douglas Leonard ventriloquist, Leonard Leigh, Billie Manders fem. impersonater [sic], John Kerridge tenor". The other sheet provides a key identifying the people in the group portrait: from left to right, front row Gwilym Williams (baritone); John Kerridge (tenor). Second row, Douglas Leonard (vent[riloquist]); unidentified;Jimmy Wright (comic); Frank Dwyer (light comedian); Hal (?Blue). Back row: unidentified; Billie M[anders]; Billy Humphreys. Then a list of instruments played: "In band items:- Billy Humphreys - piano; Frank Dwyer - banjulele; Hal ? saxophone; Jimmy Wright - drums. All in ordinary clothes" Lettering printed in black ink on the bottom recto

Notes

This work is untitled: the title has been supplied by the cataloguer.

Reference

Wellcome Collection 2044986i

Languages

Where to find it

  • Photograph album labelled ‘Drag'

    LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

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