Notes

Note N8 Index

Birth Registration Ashton Volume 8d page 777 December Quarter 1920

Notes

Note N9 Index

Birth Registration Ashton Volume 8d page 819 September quarter 1913

Notes

Note N11 Index

Notes

Note N13 Index

Death Registration Ashton Volume 8d page 373 December quarter 1900

Notes

Note N14 Index

Death Registration Prestwich Volume 8d page 318

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Note N15 Index

Copy of Droylsden Cemetry Receipt show 1 Pound 15 shillings and 6 pence for the Dissenter plot and headstone foundation. Grave number e88. Paid by Elizabeth Taylor - wife.

Notes

Note N16 Index

Possible marriage to John McKie or James Fitz-Gerald - Ashton District September quarter 1906 Volume 8d Page 1109

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Note N18 Index

Travelled with his brother Alfred Victor. Listed as 'Theatrical' on the RMS Niagara in April 1930 travelling from Auckland through British Columbia to the USA.

From the London Gazette 21 February 1941

I, Ernest William Arnley of Number 13 Ashton Road East Failsworth, Manchester in the County of Lancs, Actor, a natural born British subject, heretofore called and known by the name of Ernest William Symondson, herby give notice that I have renounced and abandoned the use of my said surname Symondson and assumed in lieu thereof the surnameof Arnley and further that such change of name is eveidenced by a deed poll dated 7th February 1941 duly executed by me and attested and enrolled in the Enrolment Department of the Central Office of the Royal Courts of Justice this 18th day of February 1941.

Ernest appeared in a number of British Television Comedy shows:

Bold as Brass in 1964 playing Mr. Thursby.
Steptoe and Son - Without Prejudice in 1970
Top of the Bill in 1971 a short film.

Notes

Note N19 Index

A Lizzie Ingham was listed in the 1881 census as the niece of a James Ingham born Lancashire abt 1839 - Lizzie was 15

Notes

Note N21 Index

Lois and her family came to America when she was 6 weeks old on the SS Arabic. Her father had a job in vaudeville. He was the original "Happy Hooligan" of stage.

Notes

Note N22 Index

As a performer, he took the stage name of "Harry Hearn"As a performer, he took the stage name of "Harry Hearn"

Ship manifest for 1915 shows Henry as being in US before maybe twice 1893 is handwritten over 1911, but the children were born after 1905. Maybe came early [age 16] then made a trip back to UK in 1911.

Employer Dinkins listed as 1403 Broadway, NY

During 1930s appeared as the Madcap players - the following is from the www.vpna.com website:

THEATRE IN A TENT - THE MADCAP PLAYERS

Today Dallas is a sophisticated, metropolitan city. It is hard to believe that during the forties, the citizens of our now worldly, wise municipality found the best entertainment in town in a tent That's right-a tent show-offered the finest in acting talent. The members of this theatrical troupe called themselves the Madcap Players, and they pitched their tent on Haskel Avenue. Every week they offered a new show. My family never missed a production.

In the summertime, the sides of the tent were rolled up so the cool breezes could come through, and in the winter, some sort of butane heater was set up to blow hot air on the patrons.

The Madcap Players pitched their first tent on East Grand, across the street from the Ford plant. Roy Collins told me that his father, W. M. Collins, owned and operated a service station on a part of the property. There was a space behind the station, so Mr. Collins rented that plot to the Madcap Players. It was here they pitched the first tent and performed. However, in 1931, a hailstorm blew in and destroyed the tent.

Ah, but the show must go on The Madcappers somehow managed to get another tent, and this time they rented space on North Haskell.

Every night at intermission they sold Cracker Jacks, and if you were lucky enough to get a coupon in your box, you could go up to the stage and claim a grand prizea set of cheap glasses, one of those ugly multicolored table scarves that were popular during the 1930s and 1940s, or a ghastly lamp

Organist Jackie Caldwell was always on hand to play before and after the shows. He also played at intermission while lucky coupon holders were claiming their prizes. Every night, just before the curtain went up, Jackie played "Happy Days Are Here Again." The house/tent lights would dim, stage lights up, curtain up, and the show would start. What fun

The troupe was managed by Neil Fletcher, his wife Minnie, Toby Gunn, and his wife Jeanie.

After World War II, it was all over for the Madcap Players. Air conditioning was preferred to breezes that really weren't too cool anyway, and the fire marshal looked askance at the butane heater. And by this time Neil Fletcher had invented the corny dog, so his time was spent out at the Fair Park frying those still ever delicious wieners.

Obituary:

HEARN -- Harry (Pa), 2518 North Haskell, died Saturday. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Minne (Ma) Hearn; four daughters, Mrs. L. O. Gunn, Mrs. Nell Fletcher, Mrs. Lois Leavell, Miss Mary Lou Hearn of Dallas. Services Monday, 2 p. m., Sparkman-Brand Chapel, Rev. Earl Anderson officiating. Interment Restland Memorial Park. Pallbearers: Sam Jones, Bruce Kershaw, D. P. Barker, T. L. Rippy, Dick Turner, Wayne Babb

NOTE: Stage Name was Harry [Pa] Hearn

Dallas Morning News Obit:

Final Rites Set
For Dallas Actor

Funeral services for Harry Hearn, 67, of 2518 North Haskell, actor who came to Dallas with the Madcap Players in 1931, will be held at 2 p. m. Monday at Sparkman-Brand Funeral Home, with the Rev. Earl Anderson, pastor of the Munger Street Baptist Church, officiating. He died Saturday at his home, 2518 North Haskell.
Survivors are his wife, four daughters, Mrs. Leon Gunn, Mrs. Nell Fletcher, Mrs. Lois Leavell and Mary Lou Hearn.
Creator of the Happy Hooligan character for the stage, Hearn was a Londoner who came to the United States in A Night at the Music Hall, the act which also brought Charlie Chaplin to this country. As an actor and one of the owners of the Madcap Players, he was active in the theatrical troupe until recently.

- October 29, 1944, The Dallas Morning News, Sec. II, p. 9, col. 7.