Arthur Roberts Looks Back

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 200, 12 November 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

Arthur Roberts Looks Back

How He “Pulled the Leg” of Gilbert A COMEDIAN’S STORIES In affectionate remembrance of the briliant stage years of Arthur Roberts, the veteran English comedian, a vast ; army of admirers will want to read j his book, “Fifty Years of Spoof,” which | has just been published in England. j Roberts has written these reminis- j cences at the suggestion of Augustus 1 John, the artist, who promised to “do” the comedian’s portrait for the frontis- ■ piece. In return Arthur extracted a ! promise from Mr. John that he also , would some day write his reminis- ; cences, and promised to paint John’s j portrait in return —although he has ' never yet painted anything. The book reveals that the author of j the song, “It’s a Kind of a Sort of u i Feeling”—which although never “published.” enjoyed great popularity when sung by Arthur Roberts—was Mr. Edgar Wallace, the novelist. One day—years ago—a private of the R.A.M.C. called at the theatre and asked to see Mr. Roberts. He was shown in. The private, with military movements, produced a manuscript and handed it to the comedian, who read it, found it to be a song, and began to feel that he wanted to sing it. He told the private that it was “all right.” “The soldier stood up and saluted again,” writes Roberts. “ ‘What do you want for it?’ I asked. ‘Ten shillings, sir.’ and the inevitable salute followed. ‘Ten shillings! Certainly not!’ I retorted. 'I should not think of giving you ten shillings for it.’ The man’s face was immobile. It was a strong* rather grave face, not used to giving way to emotions, but I felt somehow that his heart sank. ‘Xo. I will not give you ten shillings for it,’

I continued cheerfully, ‘but I will gi'C you ten pounds for it now.’ Lyes bright. Eyes right. He saluted again and marched briskly ,a way with ten pounds in his pocket.” Years afterwards W. H. Bcrr> whom he had never met before-toia Mr. Roberts that he had to thank him for giving him his start in life— -by a - lowing him to sing. "It’s a Kind o a Hurt of a Feeling” with a Pi e JT? 1 troupe at Broadstairs. George Kawardes heard Berry sing it, and from that day he prospered. Arthur Roberts’s first encounter witn Gilbert was at a charity matinee oi “Trial by Jury.” Gilbert treated tne music-hall comedian with “studied suit” at the rehearsal, and Roberts aetermined to have his revenge. . _ When the matinee took place. Defore “the most august and respectaoie audience in London,” Roberts er L. the jury box with a black bag. Tn • having closed the jury-box door, took off his boots—a “terrible pair, chosen for the occasion —ana piathem outside the door. Then, w chalk, he bent down and wrote on tne outside of the jury-box. “Call me ‘ seven.” The audience broke into uproar of laughter, while Gilbert glared. « Ah _ “If looks could kill,” says Mr. Ko» erts, “I should have died a sudden death in that jury box. ... I bad ' bert at my mercy. He was in a drea ful position for a man of his temperament. He could not swear. He ooll not storm. All he could do was i watch me and suffer, while he saw m muddy boots trampling on the sacr traditions of the Savoy and .*! cK _ the susceptibilities of his own iaios>.

crasies.” While Gilbert glared, Roberts opened his bag and began eating a whelks with a pin. Having the whelks, he twirled the plate on little stick, like a juggler. •ALJtrV.f.-v bert, speechless and white with - ’ sent on a stage hand to tell R«t>erU to leave the jury-box- The audi* which was shrieking with laugh • shrieked all the more. The opera held up. .j j* Roberts took out a coin, tossed » • exclaimed, “Heads I lose,” and as came down heads, ambled off the s b ’ carrying a beer mug which he 1 from his pocket. King Edward, when Prince of ’ was very kindlv disposed to ! and on one occasion visited him in I dressing-room at the Palace ! “Arthur’s” dresser, being fumbled with the key of a tanta__ and the Prince observed. t'o trouble, let me have some wnisk- . |of the bottle behind Mr. Bobe -■ , looking-glass”—a bottle which thur” thought he had hidden.