Understudy was Charlie Chaplin

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 956, 26 April 1930, Page 26

Understudy was Charlie Chaplin

POPULAR COMEDIAN’S DEATH Mr. Harry Weldon, the wellknown comedian, died in London recently, at the age of 48, after a long illness. Born in Liverpool, he began life as a shipping clerk, and afterward joined a touring sketch, making his first appearance on the stage at Barrow-, in 1900, and his first London appearance at the Marylebone Music Hall in November of the same year. Then he was selected by Mr. Karno to play the part of "Stiffy” the goalkeeper, in “The Football Match.” Charlie Chaplin, then unknown, was in the same company at 35s a week, and understudied Mr. Weldon. Mr. Weldon played “Stiffy” for years. Equally famous was his sketch, “The White Hope,” and “Tell ’Em What I did to Colin Bell,” is a part of vaudeville history. One night his stage challenge was responded to by an athletic man who turned out to be Bombardier Billy Wells. He had a manner entirely his own. and his version of the English language was entirely original. When he came on the stage to announce that he would “sing a sailor’s song,” he did so in a peculiar tone which suggested at once all the moods and expressions of protest, condescension, happy decision, and a certain dismal determination to do his best if he died for it. Harry Weldon was a great favourite with pantomime audiences.' He managed to produce a curious whistling effect in all words beginning with "s,” and this accomplishment was one of his great successes. His widow is also a well-known music hall artist, professionally known as Miss Hilda Glvder. Mr. F. Gatenby Bell, producer of “The Prince and Pauper” in Australia, says that English actors are at a premium in New York. Mr. Bell is a brother of Colonel Bell, who was producer in London and Sydney for Margaret Bannerman in “Our Betters.” He himself is English, the son of a clergyman, and he hails from Nottingham. He has figured in many stage parts, including “Aren’t We All?” with Cyril Maude; with Kathleen MacDonald in “On Approval,” and with Edna Best in “These Charming People.”