Will Fyffe
Will Fyffe, CBE (16 February 1885 – 14 December 1947) was a Scottish music hall and performing artist on stage and screen during the 1930s and 1940s.
He travelled extensively throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, playing the numerous music halls of the time, where he performed his sketches and sang his songs in an inimitable style.
His father was interested in theatrical entertainment and operated a Penny Geggy, in which Will gained experience as a character actor.
In his 20s, Fyffe joined Will Haggar Junior's Castle Theatre company, touring the South Wales Valleys from its base in Abergavenny.
[5] As a character actor, he was much in demand in Hollywood and Britain, starring and co-starring in dozens of productions, with Finlay Currie, Patricia Roc, John Laurie, Duncan MacRae, John Gielgud, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Margaret Lockwood and Charles Hawtrey.
As one local commentator put it: "...we are sure the lasting thrill for us all was the finale, Will Fyffe, a wonderful Scottish comedian, was top of the bill.
The artists all appeared around a rostrum in front of the orchestra, and we filled the stage, in Scout uniform complete with red scarf.
"For a period, Fyffe developed a successful stage partnership with Harry Gordon, playing with him in pantomime for many years, most notably at the famed Alhambra Theatre Glasgow.
According to Albert Mackie's The Scotch Comedians (1973),[10] Fyffe found the inspiration for the song from a drunk he met at Glasgow Central Station.
[13] According to theatre manager and historian, W. J. MacQueen-Pope: "Will Fyffe was a man of great honesty and integrity", and these traits comes across in his songs when heard today.
[15] Ah'm Feart for Mrs. McKie (1931) Clyde Built Corporal McDougall (1939) Daft Sandy (1930) Doctor McGregor (1926) Down in the Quarry Where the Bluebells Grow (1926) He's Been Oan the Bottle Since a Baby (1932) I Belong to Glasgow (1927) (Animated footage)[16] I'm 94 Today (1929) (Live footage)[17] I'm the Landlord of the Inn in Aberfoyle (1932) It Isn't the Hen That Cackles the Most McPherson's Wedding Breakfast (1930) Sailing Up the Clyde (1927) She Was the Belle of the Ball (1929) Sheila McKay (1929) The Skipper of the Mercantile Marine (1939) The Centenarian (1927) The Gamekeeper (1927) The Railway Guard (1930) The Spirit O the Man Fae Aberdeen (1931, Walsh & Fyffe) The Train That's Taking You Home (1929) The Waddin O Mary Maclean (1931, Martin & Fyffe) Twelve and a Tanner a Bottle (1929) (Live footage)[18] Uncle Mac (1931) Ye Can Come and See the Baby (1927) The 'Broomielaw' Sketch (1929) (Live footage)[19] The Scottish Screen Archive (includes the "Broomielaw" sketch and the song "Twelve and a Tanner a Bottle".
