{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O87123"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87123/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9314/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9314/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9314","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O87123","accessionNumber":"S.131:72-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Leslie Sarony and Leslie Holmes","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Leslie Sarony (1897-1985) and Leslie Holmes at the Oxford New Theatre on 16 March 1938. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.\r\n\r\nLeslie Sarony and Leslie Homes were known as the Two Leslies. Leslie Sarony made his first stage appearance in a music hall act in 1911 and worked in concert parties, musical comedy and pantomime before and after military service in the First World War.  He began song writing while convalescing from a war wound and wrote <i>Ain't It Grand To Be Blooming Well Dead</i> and his first real hit <i>If You Knew Susie</i>. The pianist and composer Leslie Holmes showed early musical talent and after serving in the First World War he joined Henry Hall's band and broadcast with them in 1925. During the 1930s and 1940s the Two Leslies toured together in their variety show and became well-known radio entertainers.  They recorded the wartime hit <i>Hang Out The Washing On The Siegfried Line</i> and appeared together in the 1947 film <i>When You Come Home</i>.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of Leslie Sarony and Leslie Holmes, New Theatre, Oxford, 16 March 1938. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sommerlad, Gilbert","id":"A5980"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil on paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AK9314"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356599"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Oxford","id":"x31203"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"16 March 1938","earliest":"1938-03-16","latest":"1938-03-16"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"19.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Two individual portraits have been cut out by Sommerlad and glued to one sheet.  The individual measurements are 9.1 x 4.5 cm for the portrait of Sarony, and 9 x 4.3 cm for the portrait of Holmes","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the New Theatre, Oxford when he drew this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Leslie Sarony and Leslie Holmes in the variety show, New Theatre Oxford, 16 March 1938.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Sarony, Leslie","id":"N3345"},{"text":"Holmes, Leslie","id":"N3346"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:72-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-12","availableToBook":true}}