This week, I came upon this little bundle of photos. An actor. Professional? Amateur, I suspect. But the name sounded vaguely familiar, so ...
Fred Grove. Of course, that wasn't his name at all. But he became a professional actor.
Date? 1870s-80s, maybe, when he was only an occasional professional?
Photographer? Richard Upjohn. Mostly a jeweller and watchmaker.
So no clues there. But there were others. One of which was a long and close association between Fred and the celebrated Thorne family ... and then a little, casual mention in the Era newspaper ... and an address ..
For, you see, Fred was active under two (almost three) names. I just had to discover that, and then meld the three together (or not). And I did.
Frederick Grove PALMER (b St Giles 1851; d St Thomas's Hospital, Surrey 31 January 1927) was the son of brass-founder David Palmer (employing 3 men and 2 boys) and his wife Mary née Grove, and was brought up as assistant to his father. In 1877 (24 June) he married Emily Bignall (d 50 Gresham Rd, Brixton 14 December 1924), by whom he would have two sons, Frederick and Mervyn.
Fred continued to found brass through the 1870s, but at some stage -- and I know not which was the cause of tother -- he both became close friends with George Thorne, and he got into the theatre and writing. Bits for the funny papers. Anything. I catch a glimpse of him in 1875. He and Emily advertise readings, lectures (a rather feeble Paris) and an entertainment (Wails from Wales) of his writing. And in 1879 (24 October) when George Thorne takes a Benefit at Astley's a little comedy by Thorne and G W Browne was played 'with Fred Grove as Lothario Spooner'.
In 1881 he and Thorne collaborated on a pantomime script Robin Hood which was played at Maidstone. Fred was credited as 'F Grove Palmer'. And thus it would remain: he was 'Grove' as an actor, and 'Palmer' as a panto author. And we know the are one and the same man, because they both live at 6 Carlisle Street, Soho! The two friends would collaborate successfully on pantomime scripts for over a decade (Sadler's Wells etc).
He seemingly favoured his writing 'career' over his performing on through much of the 1880s, until the Thorne family again took a hand. Tom Thorne was the manager of the Vaudeville Theatre, and Fred and Emily Grove were hired as part of the company. In the 1890s, Fred would become stage director for Thorne. Now he was no longer founding brass, even part-time, but listed himself as 'actor'.
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| Tom Thorne |
Fred had a career of more than thirty years as a senior and character actor, notably with Martin Harvey and was still working at his death at the age of 75.
So, now. When did he play the roles in which he is portrayed in these photos? Surely this is amateur? Try 'Mr F Grove' ...
YES!!!! A third nomenclature. Sigh. 3 December 1872 ... aged 21 ....
And there he is doing a little bit in The Steeplechase at St Georges Hall in 1870.
And 6 June 1871 ...
And here is George Thorne. And maybe a professional engagement? 1874.
How long this company existed I am not sure, but in early 1875 he is back with the amateurs (Mr J W Boughton's Company) at the Bijou, Bayswater where the repertoire includes The Children in the Wood (see photo) written by 'an opéra-buffer' who, I would guess, was Fred. At Greenwich, the company played Blue Beard with Fred as Shacabac (see photo) ('made a decided hit, his comic singing and grotesque dancing causing screams of delight'). Then followed various appearances with 'Miss Sarah Thorne's Company', 'Miss Maud Dudley's Company' (Miss Dudley was the leading lady of the amateurs) which played Plot and Passion (see photo) ... then, over the next five years, odd appearance with Miss Thorne, and the occasional appearance as Mr Palmer ...
Soon after, the collaboration/friendship with the Thornes blossomed into the main part of Fred's career. In September 1884 I see him at Greenwich, with Tom Thorne in Saints and Sinners ...
Our photos, undeniably, come from those days in the 1870s when Fred Grove/Mr F Grove/Fred Grove Palmer was a prominent amateur player ... I imagine the Upjohn snaps were all taken at one sitting ...
Well, that's what I wanted to know!
And now I do.
Although it would be good to pin down the performances of The Puritan's Daughter, The Honeymoon and Catherine Howard. Mr Boughton's Company, I would guess.
YES!!! Bijou Bayswater March 1875. The Puritan's Daughter. A new play by a Mr W Lavington. 'Miss Dudley acts prettily but with the exception of Mr Groves's King James, there was really nothing else deserving of the slightest praise'. Ouch.
PS John Waters Boughton (b Kennington, 12 November 1846; d Cosham 18 January 1914) went from being a solicitor's clerk, organising amateurs to become long-time manager of the Theatre Royal, Landport.
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TRIOMPHE!!!! Within 24 hours Fred's great-great-granddaughter read this wee piece and the photos and their tale will hopefully find their way home!
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