{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O85184"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O85184/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH2227/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH2227/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AH2227","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O85184/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O85184","accessionNumber":"S.392:46-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This caricature is of the ‘descriptive and character vocalist’ George Leyton. He was top of the bill at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 6 February 1905, with his act which featured a chorus of 20 local boys. They performed ‘Britannia’s Babes’ in naval training uniform, singing and performing naval drill. This was a return visit to Hanley for Leyton, who had appeared there the previous April with a chorus of 30 Potteries boys 'and the local Crimean veteran’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. \r\n\r\nBorn Henry Hackett in 1864, in New Orleans, USA, of an English father, Leyton made his first stage appearance in London in 1889 at the Princess’s Theatre, where he sang the title song in the play <i>True Heart</i>. His first appearance in music hall in 1890 at the Royal Music Hall was followed by engagements at the Trocadero and the Oxford. By 1916 he had appeared at every leading London Variety Theatre. He was well known for songs  including: ‘All Hands on Deck’, ‘Always Ready’ and ‘Boys of the Chelsea School’.","physicalDescription":"Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of George Leyton showing a large roundel of his head in profile, below which are two smaller figures, full-length, of a saluting soldier in red jacket and blue trousers and cap (left), and a sailor in a white sailor suit with blue-trimmed cap and collar (right).","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Cooke, George","id":"A10376"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Pen and ink","id":"x30618"},{"text":"Watercolour","id":"x33202"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Drawn","id":"x30545"},{"text":"Painted","id":"x30138"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink and wash on paper","categories":[{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AH2227"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES352333"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Hanley","id":"x32079"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1904","earliest":"1899-01-01","latest":"1908-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"approximately","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"18","unit":"cm","qualifier":"approximately","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"All good wishes Yours Sincerely George Leyton \"Boys of the Chelsea School\" and \"Britannia Babes\".","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"Pen and ink","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Signature","note":"Signature; Pen and ink"}],"objectHistory":"This caricature is of the music hall performer the 'character and descriptive vocalist' George Leyton.  Born Henry Hackett  in 1864 in New Orleans in the USA of an English father, he made his first stage appearance in 1889 at the Princess's Theatre in the play 'True Heart' singing the title song.  His first appearance in music hall in1890 at the Royal Music Hall was followed by engagements at the Trocadero and the Oxford.  By 1916 he had appeared at every leading London theatre and was well known for songs including 'All hands on Deck', 'Always Ready' and 'Boys of the Chelsea School'. They may have been a re-vamped version of The New Macs who were on the bill at the Middlesex Music Hall in 1887 and at the London Pavilion in 1891.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Caricature of the music hall performer the 'descriptive and character vocalist' George Leyton (1864-1948), from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. February 1905.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"1904 probably","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Leyton, George","id":"N8177"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.392:46-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"392","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-09","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-05","availableToBook":true}}