Sir Harry Lauder: "The Laird of The Music Hall."

[MacEanruig]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but if you're a fan of the old music hall sound, then you've probably known that Sir Harry Lauder was as the title states, "The Laird of The Music Hall." Many years ago I bought a few old pipe band albums. In with the group was a Harry Lauder album. Great stuff, in my opinion!

Sir Harry Lauder.jpg

[ThistleDown]

Yes, he was, Mark, and I have some of his 78s and music books that came down in my family. I remember him on radio and, although they also smiled along with the tinny laughter from everyone else, I recall my parents and grandparents casting side glances at each other. He was a bit of an embarrassment to the Scots of his day, because in the 20C he best typified the 'Scotch' character that was Punch's in the 19C.

No matter all that, my father met Sir Harry once and found him to be a fine gentleman off-stage. I suspect the fact they shared given names had something to do with it: one of the music books has penned on the title page 'To Sir Harry from Sir Harry'. I like to think that if there had been smilies then Sir Harry would have added one to his signature.

[MacEanruig]

Your father must have treasured that meeting and the signed music book. Thanks for sharing! I do not know for certain, but I would imagine that quite a bit of Harry's act was theatrically exaggerated, which is what made him great. Nonetheless, Winston Churchill called him the Ambassador of Scotland, and in my mind he was indeed.

[DyerStraits]

One of my dearest neighbors here in north suburban Chicago, Illinois, USA--a Scotsman on his mother and father's sides, and who both plays and composes for the Recorder--can recite, with a gleam in his eye, songs from memory as he saw and heard them (as a child) performed by Sir Harry on his annual concert visits to Chicago. As he has told me, Sir Harry was a showman par excellance, and bore the mantle of "Greatest Living Scotsman" long, long before Sir Sean Connnery...

[imrichmond]

He was a bit of an embarrassment to the Scots of his day, because in the 20C he best typified the 'Scotch' character that was Punch's in the 19C.

My Glaswegian father couldn't stand him for that very reason. He felt that Lauder demeaned the Scots of his generation by presenting to the world a comical, music hall image of his fellow Scots. I wasn't around to have first-hand knowledge of it, but my father always claimed that Harry Lauder was much less popular in Scotland than he was elsewhere. Mind you, I grew up listening to ex-pat Scots after a few whiskies singing Harry Lauder songs, such as "I Belong to Glasgow" and "Stop Yer Ticklin', Jock". Could be that Harry Lauder, by evoking a strong feeling of nostalgia, was more popular with ex-pats than with the Scots at home.

[CameronCat]

Many of his routines are on http://monologues.co.uk/index2.htm along with zillions more from others of the era. There is a search box in the upper right corner.

Fair warning: you can spend a LOT of time here. Do not ask me how I know this...

[MacEanruig]

Many of his routines are on http://monologues.co.uk/index2.htm along with zillions more from others of the era. There is a search box in the upper right corner.

Fair warning: you can spend a LOT of time here. Do not ask me how I know this...

Haha! I know how you can get completely lost in a dangerous link like this. Thanks for sharing!

[Jock Scot]

I understand Sir Harry was a very nice chap when off the stage, but his "cringe factor" when on the stage has left an everlasting scar on many a Scots memory, including mine.

[O'Callaghan]

My Glaswegian father couldn't stand him for that very reason. He felt that Lauder demeaned the Scots of his generation by presenting to the world a comical, music hall image of his fellow Scots. I wasn't around to have first-hand knowledge of it, but my father always claimed that Harry Lauder was much less popular in Scotland than he was elsewhere. Mind you, I grew up listening to ex-pat Scots after a few whiskies singing Harry Lauder songs, such as "I Belong to Glasgow" and "Stop Yer Ticklin', Jock". Could be that Harry Lauder, by evoking a strong feeling of nostalgia, was more popular with ex-pats than with the Scots at home.

I don't associate him with I Belong To Glasgow. That was written and performed by Will Fyfe. Here it is:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oww8HXLsxDw

(strange animation added to a still of Will Fyfe to make his lips move!)

[MacEanruig]

It has been interesting to learn the true feelings that many Scots had for Lauder. I found this post from 2000 that looks back on Harry's life:http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/...ormer-1.247353.