Dan Leno at the Tivoli

Pen and ink caricature drawing of Dan Leno, signed Thos and captioned 'Dan Leno at the Tivoli'. ca. 1891.

Dan Leno (1860-1904) was a star of the music halls in the 1880s and 1890s who became known as the 'Funniest Man on Earth'. Born George Galvin in London, the son of music hall performers, he started his career as a child performer, appearing with his brother and his uncle Johnny Danvers, dancing in public houses all over England. By the age of 18 Dan was a champion clog-dancer, and he and Danvers were engaged by George Conquest for pantomime at London's Surrey Theatre. In 1889 he went to Drury Lane Theatre where he excelled as pantomime Dame, returning for several years as Sister Anne, and Widow Twankey.