George Dance (dramatist)

He married Grace Spong in 1898, and the couple produced two sons (Eric and James) and a daughter (Phyllis, later Mrs. Bertram Merritt).

[1] His son Eric, who died in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, contributed a large part of his inheritance towards the building of the Oxford Playhouse, which opened in 1938.

Some of his most famous songs were for the music hall, including "Girls are the Ruin of Men", one of Vesta Tilley's successes, "Come Where Me Booze is Cheaper", "Angels without Wings" (also sung by Tilly), and "His Lordship Winked at the Counsel" (sung by Harry Rickards).

His works included: Dance made a fortune on A Chinese Honeymoon and its historic run.

He then became one of the most successful theatrical managers in the United Kingdom, often having as many as 24 companies on tour at once.