The star performers in music hall were usually character singers
and comedians. Speciality acts were interspersed between the
songs to provide a contrast. At the height of music hall there
were so many inventive and weird acts that it is very hard to
classify them. They included ventriloquists, aerial acts, one-legged
dancers, adagio acts, jugglers, magicians, cyclists, sword swallowers,
acts involving electricity, animal acts, slapstick sketches
and illusionists. Many of the acts which we would today associate
with circus were originally performed in the music halls.
While many of the great singers of music hall and their songs
are still remembered, many speciality acts are forgotten, although
they were very famous in their day. One of the biggest stars
was Paul Cinquevalli,
‘King of the Jugglers’, who could catch a cannon ball on his
neck. He first performed in England in 1885 and became so popular
that he topped the bill above Marie Lloyd. His ‘Human Billiard
Table’ act was a favourite with King George V and it was included
in the first Royal Variety Performance in 1912.
Character Songs
Aerial Acts
