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George Grossmith Jr.

George Grossmith (11 May 1874 – 6 June 1935), known until 1912 as George Grossmith Jr., was an English actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies and 1920s musicals. He was also an important innovator in bringing cabaret and revue to the London stage. Born in London, he took his first role on the musical stage at the age of 18 in Haste to the Wedding (1892), a West End collaboration between his songwriter and actor father and W. S. Gilbert.

Grossmith soon became an audience favourite playing "dude" roles – fashionable but unserious characters. Early appearances in musicals included George Edwardes's hit A Gaiety Girl in 1893, and Go-Bang and The Shop Girl in 1894. In 1895, Grossmith left the musical stage, instead appearing in straight comedies, but after a few years he returned to performing in musicals and Victorian burlesques. Early in the new century, he had a string of successes in musicals for Edwardes, including The Toreador (1901), The School Girl (1903), The Orchid (1903), The Spring Chicken (1905), The New Aladdin (1906), The Girls of Gottenberg (1907), Our Miss Gibbs (1909), Peggy (1911), The Sunshine Girl (1912) and The Girl on the Film (1913). The lanky Grossmith was often paired with the diminutive Edmund Payne. At the same time, he developed a reputation as a co-writer of musicals and revues, often adding jokes into others' librettos.

Grossmith established himself as a major producer, together with Edward Laurillard, of such hits as To-Night's the Night (1914), Theodore & Co (1916) and Yes, Uncle! (1917). He wrote the long-running revue series that began with The Bing Boys Are Here (1916), scheduling these projects around his naval service in the First World War. He produced, co-wrote, directed and sometimes starred in, Kissing Time (1919), A Night Out (1920), Sally (1921), The Cabaret Girl (1922), The Beauty Prize (1923) and Primrose (1924). He also continued to appear in other producers' shows, including The Naughty Princess (1920) and No, No, Nanette (1925).

Later he performed in such pieces as Princess Charming (1926) and began a film career in 1930, both as an actor and, from 1932, chairman of London Film Productions Ltd.

Birth and Death Data: Born London (capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom) , Died June 6, 1935 (London (capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1931

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, lyricist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-6717 10-in. 1/12/1909 Do you know Mr. Schneider? Ada Jones Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-8229 12-in. 9/16/1909 Gems from The dollar princess Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-8706 12-in. 3/14/1910 Ring o' roses Harry Macdonough ; Lucy Isabelle Marsh Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-10032 12-in. 3/7/1911 Gems from The pink lady Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 81775 10-in. 5/12/1924 Haste to the wedding Frank Quinn ; Frank Quinn Piano accordion solo and male vocal solo (humming), with piano composer  
Columbia 74207 12-in. approximately 11/30/1920 Etiquette Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; Amy Augarde ; George Grossmith Jr. Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74208 12-in. approximately 11/29/1920 Love quadrille duet Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; Ivy Connor ; George Grossmith Jr. Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74210 12-in. approximately 11/29/1920 What we'll do Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Strafford Moss Male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74211 12-in. approximately 11/29/1920 Hush! Hush! Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; George Grossmith Jr. Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74213 12-in. approximately 11/29/1920 Art Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; John Ansell ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Lily St. John Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74366 12-in. approximately 10/7/1921 The church 'round the corner John Ansell ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Heather Thatcher ; Winter Garden Theatre Orchestra Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74367 12-in. approximately 10/7/1921 The Lorelei John Ansell ; Seymour Beard ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Heather Thatcher ; Winter Garden Theatre Orchestra Vocal trio with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76478 12-in. either May or June 1919 The happy family Yvonne Arnaud ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Leslie Henson Vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76479 12-in. either May or June 1919 Desertion George Grossmith Jr. Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76480 12-in. either May or June 1919 I like it Yvonne Arnaud ; George Grossmith Jr. ; Leslie Henson Vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76483 12-in. either May or June 1919 Joan and Peter Phyllis Dare ; George Grossmith Jr. Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76484 12-in. either May or June 1919 There's a light in your eye Phyllis Dare ; George Grossmith Jr. Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia (U.K.) WAR587 10-in. 3/31/1931 Sur les vagues Barrel organ operator (unidentified; Columbia (U.K.) Records) Barrel organ solo composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Grossmith, George, Jr.," accessed January 5, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107401.

Grossmith, George, Jr.. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107401.

"Grossmith, George, Jr.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 5 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107401

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