Talbot O'Farrell

{{Short description|English music hall singer and film actor (1878–1952)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{use British English||date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Talbot O'Farrell | image = TalbotOFarrell.jpg | caption = Talbot O'Farrell, ready to go on stage at the 1948 Royal Variety Performance, in his characteristic dress with top hat, cane, and monocle | birth_name = William Parrott | birth_date = {{birth date|1878|07|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Hull, Yorkshire, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1952|9|2|1878|7|27|df=y}} | death_place = London, England | other_names = Will (or Jock) McIver | occupation = Singer, comic entertainer, film actor | years_active = 1902{{ndash}}1948 | known_for = | notable_works = }}

'''Talbot O'Farrell''' (born '''William Parrott''';<ref name=telegraph>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/832187855/ "Death of Talbot O'Farrell", ''Daily Telegraph'', 3 September 1952, p.7]</ref> 27 July 1878 – 2 September 1952) was an English music hall and variety show singer whose repertoire included both sentimental and comic songs. Early in his career he used the stage names '''Will''' (or '''Jock''') '''McIver''' (or '''McIvor''').

==Biography==

William Parrott was born in Hull, Yorkshire. He sang in clubs and small halls in the north of England from the age of ten, and then served in the Army during the Boer War. After leaving military service he worked as a policeman,<ref name="times">{{cite news |title=Mr. Talbot O'Farrell |work=The Times |page=6 |date= 3 September 1952}}</ref> but continued to perform and made his first stage appearance in London in 1902, billed as Jock McIver, "Scottish Comedian and Vocalist".<ref name=busby>{{cite book |last=Busby |first=Roy |year=1976 |title=British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day |location=London |publisher=Paul Elek |pages= 132–133|isbn=0 236 40053 3}}</ref> In 1906 he performed as Will McIvor {{sic}}.<ref>[https://sandbachwhatson.weebly.com/uploads/2/0/2/0/20204185/1881_to_1999_lyceum_crewe_history.pdf Stewart Green, "Lyceum Theatre, Crewe - A History", ''Sandbach What's On'']. Retrieved 9 February 2023</ref> In the 1911 census, he was recorded as Will McIvor, music hall artiste, lodging in Putney, London with Minnie Lindley. She had been born in Batley into a prominent West Riding family, the daughter of Ann and Joseph Talbot {{post-nominals|country=GBR|JP}}. According to press obituaries, she had been wedded to William Lindley, with three young daughters, before marrying O'Farrell, and they remained married for about forty years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mrs. Talbot O'Farrell |work=The Times |page=7 |date=25 August 1949 }}</ref>

After several years of modest success as Will (or Jock) McIver,<ref name=telegraph/> in about 1912 he adopted the name Talbot O'Farrell, taking part of his stage name from his wife's maiden name. He cultivated an Irish accent and sang Irish songs, but his persona was the opposite of a stereotypical stage Irishman. He dressed "with immaculate black coat, check trousers, waistcoat, white gloves, spats and grey silk topper, and was dubbed... 'The Irishman from Savile Row'".<ref name=busby/> He quickly became popular in London, singing mostly sentimental songs such as "That Old Fashioned Mother of Mine", and "The Lisp of a Baby's Prayer".<ref name=busby/> He held the record for most headlining appearances at the Victoria Palace Theatre, appeared in the 1925 Royal Variety Performance,<ref name=busby/> and toured in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16003387#pstart1238650 |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |title=TIVOLI – TALBOT O'FARRELL |date=20 May 1922 |accessdate=21 February 2016 }}</ref> At one point he was billed as "The greatest Irish entertainer of all time".<ref name=godfrey>[https://www.fredgodfreysongs.ca/Artists/OFarrell,%20Talbot.html Talbot O'Farrell, ''Fred Godfrey Songs'']. Retrieved 7 February 2023</ref>

From about 1920, he made many recordings, mostly for Imperial Records, including "That Old Fashioned Mother Of Mine" (1920), "My Mammy" (1924), and "Charmaine" (1927). He made his first radio broadcast in 1927, and appeared frequently on BBC radio variety shows in later years.<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=first&q=Talbot+O%27Farrell Talbot O'Farrell, ''BBC Genome'']. Retrieved 9 February 2023</ref> He made a successful living prior to 1928, when he was worth £10,000 ({{Inflation|UK|1800|1869|r=-3|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}), and in 1930 he served as 'King Rat' of the show business charity, the Grand Order of Water Rats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gowr.net/Members/pastkingrats.html |website=Grand Order of Water Rats |title=Our Past King Rats |accessdate=21 February 2016 }}</ref> The worldwide depression severely reduced his income from the theatre, and he was bankrupt by 1933.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mr. Talbot O'Farrell's Affairs – Depression in the Theatrical World |work=The Times |page=4 |date=2 December 1933 }}</ref> He acted in several films; notably, ''Born Lucky'' (1933), ''Rose of Tralee'' (two films, of 1937 and of 1942) and ''Little Dolly Daydream'' (1938). In 1938, he appeared in two episodes of the BBC Television live variety show ''Cabaret''.<ref name=IMDb >[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640992/ Talbot O'Farrell, IMDb]. Retrieved 9 February 2023</ref>

In 1939, he appeared with Hetty King, Harry Tate, G. H. Elliott and others in the show ''Their Names Made Variety'', first performed at the Holborn Empire which then toured nationally. During the Second World War, he worked for the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). After the end of the war, he again toured as part of a variety package of old-time music hall stars, in ''Thanks for the Memory'', produced by Don Ross.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |title=Mr. Talbot O'Farrell |work=The Guardian|page= 5 |date=3 September 1952 }}</ref> According to Richard Anthony Baker, O'Farrell insisted on top billing and the best dressing room, but after this was refused he toured nonetheless.<ref name=baker>Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, {{ISBN|978-1-78383-118-0}}, p.253</ref> As part of the show, O'Farrell performed in the 1948 Royal Variety Performance.<ref>[https://www.royalvarietycharity.org/royal-variety-performance/archive/detail/1948-london-palladium-#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20world's%20great,Ted%20Heath%20and%20his%20band. 1948, London Palladium, ''Royal Variety'']. Retrieved 9 February 2023</ref>

By the time of his wife's death in 1949, the two were living in a flat at Gordon Mansions, Fitzrovia. He died at University College Hospital, London, in 1952, aged 74.<ref name="guardian"/><ref name=telegraph/>

== Partial discography == * 1920{{snd}}"Who'll Take the Place of Mary?", cylinder Edison Blue Amberol 4064 <ref name=UCSB>{{cite web |url=http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=%40attr+1%3D1&query=O%27Farrell,%20Talbot. |website=UCSB Cylinder Audio Archive |title=Search Results for "O'Farrell, Talbot" |date=16 November 2005 |accessdate=21 February 2016 }}</ref> * 1920{{snd}}"I'd Just Paint the Leaf of the Shamrock", cylinder Edison Blue Amberol 4094 <ref name=UCSB /> * 1920{{snd}}"That Old Fashioned Mother of Mine", cylinder Edison Blue Amberol 4104 <ref name=UCSB /><ref>{{discogs release |release=4827630 |name=T. O'Farrell{{snd}}That Old Fashioned Mother Of Mine }}</ref> * 1920{{snd}}"The Kingdom Within Your Eyes", cylinder Edison Blue Amberol 4139 <ref name=UCSB /> * 1929{{snd}}"Afterwards May Be Too Late" / "My Inspiration Is You", 10" 78rpm single Piccadilly 134 <ref name=45worlds>{{cite web |url=http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/artist/talbot-ofarrell |title=Talbot O'Farrell – 78 RPM – Discography |accessdate=21 February 2016 }}</ref> * 1929{{snd}}"Smiling Irish Eyes", 7-inch 78 rpm single The Victory 150b <ref name=45worlds /> * 1929{{snd}}"This Is Heaven" / "Excuse Me, Lady", 10-inch 78 rpm single Imperial 2169 <ref name=45worlds /> * 1930{{snd}}"My Angel Mother", 7-inch 78 rpm single The Victory 271b <ref>{{discogs release |release=5203662 |name= Herbert Richards / Talbot O'Farrell{{snd}}Le Chiffon Classique / My Angel Mother }}</ref> * Before 1931{{snd}}"The More We Are Together (The Froth Blowers' Anthem)", 6-inch 78 rpm single Mimosa P106b <ref name=45worlds /> * Before 1931{{snd}}"Charmaine", 6-inch 78 rpm single Mimosa P177b <ref name=45worlds /> * 1931{{snd}}"When Your Hair Has Turned to Silver (I Will Love You Just the Same)", 8-inch 78 rpm single Eclipse 35b <ref name=45worlds /> * 1931{{snd}}"When the Moon Comes over the Mountain", 8-inch 78 rpm single Eclipse 103a <ref name=45worlds /> * 1931 or 1932{{snd}}"Love Letters In The Sand"/"Terence's Farewell To Kathleen", 8-inch 78 rpm single Eclipse 172

== Selected filmography == * ''Born Lucky'' (1933) * ''Rose of Tralee'' (1937) * ''Little Dolly Daydream'' (1938) * ''Lily of Laguna'' (1938) * ''Rose of Tralee'' (1942)

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{cite web |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2d4f0e3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311133133/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2d4f0e3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 March 2016 |website=British Film Institute |title=Talbot O'Farrell |accessdate=21 February 2016 }} * {{discogs artist |artist=1117194-Talbot-OFarrell |name=Talbot O'Farrell}} * {{IMDb name |id=nm0640992 |name=Talbot O'Farrell}} * {{cite web |url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/talbot-ofarrell |website=British Pathé |title=Talbot O'Farrell 1930 |accessdate=21 February 2016 }} A newsreel item * {{cite web |url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/talbot-ofarrell-1 |website=British Pathé |title=Talbot O'farrell (sic) 1938 |accessdate=21 February 2016 }} A newsreel item

{{DEFAULTSORT:OFarrell, Talbot}} Category:1878 births Category:Place of birth missing Category:1952 deaths Category:British music hall performers Category:English comedy musicians Category:English male film actors Category:Edison Records artists Category:Male actors from Kingston upon Hull