Tommy Rose, comedian
Hyfler/Rosner
spent the entire obit describing all the drag shows he was
in. There will always be an England.
The Times (London)
June 14, 2004, Monday
Tommy Rose, comedian, was born on September 27, 1916. He
died on May 15, 2004, aged 87.
Tommy Rose was one of the last surviving members of the
famous all-male forces revues that were popular during the
Second World War and into the 1950s -shows such as Soldiers
in Skirts, Forces in Petticoats, Showboat Express and
Misleading Ladies. Originally these shows were by and for
the troops, and they toured all over Europe, the Far East
and Canada. After the war they became something of a staple
fixture in variety theatres.
Most of the performers appeared in drag, and the shows
spawned a host of female impersonators including a young
Danny La Rue and variety and pantomime double acts including
Bartlett and Ross, and Ford and Sheen. Tommy Rose was a
leading member of the revue This Was The Army and later
Tokio Express.
Tommy Rose had begun his theatre career as a straight actor.
He made his first appearance at the Cambridge Theatre in
London and later appeared opposite Sybil Thorndike in
Constance Collier's Elizabeth of England. He then had minor
roles in several films made at Twickenham Studios before
being called up to serve in the Royal Navy in 1939.
In 1946 he was booked as a "leading lady" for Arthur Lane's
forces revue Tokio Express, orginally to be staged on board
HMS Agamemmon. The sketches were by Firth Shepherd and Noel
Coward, and music was provided by three pianos and a Royal
Marines band.
In 1949 Rose played "lead comedienne" in another all-male
revue, This Was The Army, in which he met Sonny Dawkes,
another female impersonator. Eventually, they formed a
successful double act, Dawkes and Rose, and they were much
in demand for further revues. and as ugly sisters in
pantomime. They worked together until the 1970s, when Rose
set up a theatrical costumiers in Llandudno.
Waterlou4
forces revue Tokio Express, orginally to be staged on board
HMS Agamemmon.<<
I am willing to assume that that is a typo.
Don Mackie
wate...@aol.com (Waterlou4) wrote:
I can see three candidates in the quoted text.
--
Just a smile. Just a glance.