He noticed that this impression gained him great applause, and when Tinney returned to the United States, Watson gave thought to a different style of act based on a black-faced personality.

Opportunity for this came about in the early 1930s in Leeds, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, which boasted two variety theatres, run by two rival organisations.

The scene dock doors backstage were partly open and the two halves read "No Smo" & "king".

The stage act of Nosmo King & Hubert developed when his son Jack Watson joined him as straight man directly from school.

During World War II, Nosmo King reverted to going solo, the reason being that his son, playing "Hubert," had joined up.