Arthur Lloyd's 'Two Hours Genuine Fun'

 

Arthur Lloyd toured his 'Comic Concert' entitled 'Two Hours Genuine Fun' throughout the Provinces and London Music Halls and Theatres for many years.

You will find mentions of this Concert Production which included songs, sketches, and short plays by Arthur Lloyd and his family and friends all over the site but this page collates some of the more interesting material related to the Concert.

Right - A 'Second Class' Entrance Token for what appears to be one of Arthur Lloyd's Comic Concerts and is probably for 'Two Hours Genuine Fun'. Unfortunately there is no date or Venue mentioned on the Token but is a great find. Token Courtesy Paul Withers of Galata Print. - If you have any more information on this Token or can place which Theatre or Music Hall it was produced for please Contact me.

An advertisement for Arthur Lloyd's 'Two Hours' Genuine Fun' carried in the ERA of the 5th of December 1869

Mr. Arthur Lloyd - TWO HOURS' GENUINE FUN with Mr Arthur Lloyd and his Comic Company. Route for this week — Monday, 6th, EXETER; 7th, Taunton; 8th, Yeovil ; 9th, Frome; 10th, Bath ; 11th, Bristol ; commence again Christmas Eve, St. James's Hall, Liverpool, for Three Weeks. Immense Success Everywhere. Mr Arthur Lloyd's Company is now the Recognised Party. Aristocracy and Clergy patronise, and go away thoroughly satisfied, and not offended, as nothing vulgar is introduced "Two Hours' Genuine Fun " with Arthur Lloyd.

Tremendous Success in Wales. — The following from The Cambria Leader:- "Mr Arthur Lloyd and his talented company gave one of his interesting entertainments at the Athenaeum, Llanely, on Tuesday evening, to a crowded and enthusiastic audience. The entertainment was entitled "Two Hours' genuine Fun,' and we have no hesitation in saying that it was one of the best ever given at Llanelly. Were he to announce his intention of visiting this town next week again, he would, we doubt not, have a crowded house."

A Revue of 'Two Hours Genuine Fun' from the ERA of September the 24th 1871

With posters and Bills, and related material from the Arthur Lloyd Archive

 

'Mr. Arthur Lloyd truly announces his entertainment as Two Hours Genuine Fun, and certainly it is one of the best, if not the best, entertainment of the class now before the public. Mr Arthur Lloyd does not depend upon his own abilities, although a host in himself, and is not afraid to enroll amongst the members of his company those who, by their talent and artistic skill, can raise laughter and applause almost as long and loud as that extracted from the audiences by the celebrated comic vocalist himself.

Right - Back of a Bill from The Music Hall, Edinburgh advertising 'Two Hours Genuine Fun' with Arthur Lloyd performing with his wife Katty King and his father Horatio Lloyd 1872 - Courtesy Peter Charlton.

Mr. Arthur Lloyd has shown his skill as a caterer for the public's amusement by engaging Mr Frank Mordaunt, mimic and ventriloquist, who, although quite a young man, is even now a perfect master of the profession, and will bear comparison any one in his line. He creates roars of laughter by the clever management of his two little boys, the demure "Tommy" and the sharp and impudent "Joey."

Left - A Poster advertising 'Two Hours Fun' at the City Hall, Glasgow in 1887 - Click to Enlarge.

Miss Helen Brougharn has a capital voice, and in songs and selections where brilliant execution is necessary she proves herself a thorough artiste, particularly in "should he upbraid," which we really believe could not be sung better.

Left - A Notice from the ERA Almanack Advertiser of 1871 on the 'Comic Concert' pioneered by Arthur Lloyd - Courtesy Peter Charlton - Click for more information.

Right - A Poster advertising 'Two Hours Genuine Fun' at the Theatre Royal, Eastbourne in 1886 - Click to Enlarge.

Mr Denbigh Newton, the baritone, in several songs, shows how careful has been his musical education, for in no song could we detect an error. "The Blacksmith" and "Yeoman's Wedding" were excellently rendered.

In nine cases out of ten the pianist and accompanist is generally omitted, in noticing a concert or entertainment, but no one knows his importance and value more than the artiste or performer, who benefits by his talent and skill; and we must say that Mr Mozart Wilson conbutes in no small degree to the success of the entertainment by his well played solos and neat and perfect accompaniments.

Left and Right - Two Songs featured in Two Hours Genuine Fun - Click to enlarge.

Mr Edwin Keene is quiet and unobtrusive in manner, and gains at once the favor of the spectators, his songs being generally well written and well rendered. In a duet in which he appears with Mr Arthur Lloyd, entitled "The Upper Ten and Lower Five," written and composed by Mr Lloyd, he shows to great advantage.

Left - An advertisment for 'Two Hours Of Genuine Fun' at the Harrogate Royal Spa Concert Rooms - Harrogate Herald - 3rd September 1879 - Courtesy Harrogate reference library - Click to go to the Harrogate page.

Of Mr Arthur Lloyd, who provides us with his talent and a most enjoyable evening, it will not be necessary to say much, as every one knows what he can do. He is a perfect artiste, and possesses a really splendid voice.

Left and Right - Two Songs featured in 'Two Hours Genuine Fun' - Click to enlarge.

He is also a gentleman both on and off the stage, and always carries out everything he undertakes in the most complete and perfect style. His make up as "Napoleon Third" could not be better, and really the spectator might almost believe that he is gazing on the unfortunate ex-Emporer of the French, so striking is the likeness. All his songs (which are written and composed by himself, with few exceptions) have the rare advantage of good words, clever points, and charming melodies, which never fail to catch the audience at once. In Scarborough, York, Harrogate &c, he has attracted large and fashionable audiences; and at Peterborough has been patronized by his Noble the Marquis and Marchioness of Huntly.

Altogether the entertainment is well worthy of patronage, for Mr Arthur Lloyd does not appeal to the ear alone, but has spared no expense as regards costumes and his elegant stage settings are the most complete we have seen, and certainly have a rich and most beautiful effect; no gaudy show, but a delicate blending of white lace and crimson damask curtains of the most expensive quality, with a garden scene in the back, and marble pillars supporting the elegant cornicing which runs round the entire length of the drawing-room, for such it appears.

Left and Right - Two Songs featured in 'Two Hours Genuine Fun' - Click to enlarge.

A green baize covering the stage serves to bring out the richness of colouring in the other parts of the set-up, and a row of neat and portable footlights not only assist the effect of the stage, but also shows off to advantage, the costumes of the various artistes.

Altogether we think that the trouble and expense Mr Arthur Lloyd has been at deserves that reward which seems everywhere to be bestowed on Two Hours' Genuine Fun.'

The above Review in quotes is from The ERA September 24 1871

Left - Song featured in 'Two Hours Genuine Fun' - Click to enlarge.

Above Right - An advertisement for the Morecambe Aquarium 1879 - Click for more information.

Horatio Lloyd, Arthur Lloyd's father, writes of his experience in Cambridge with his son and Mozart Wilson, performing 'Two Hours Genuine Fun' here.

Songs known to have been included in this 'entertainment' were:

Don't ask me to give up Flo
Dr. Gregory Bolus Squill : the quack doctor
Get Away
The Promenade Elastique
It makes me so awfully wild
My wife's relations
Take it Bob
Silly Billy
The twin brothers
The Blacksmith
The Yeoman's Wedding
Beautiful Forever
The Upper Ten and Lower Five
The Tragedian
Thomas's Sewing Machine
Ups and Downs
Tooral-ooral Loo
Dada
Baby Show
Bob Baker
American Drinks
Blighted Barber
I Sigh for her in vain
Oh Marigold
Roman Fall
Funny Mrs Jones
I think it looks very much like it
Napoleon Third
I'll Gang Tai Paisley
Sharps And Flats
The Royal Academy Beau
You Understand or At Least I Hope You Do

An Arthur Lloyd Recording?

Above - A Book of Arthur Lloyd songs performed in Two Hours Genuine Fun - Courtesy John Grice

"Merry Moments"

To the editor of the ERA

Sir, - Having noticed for some weeks past a controversy concerning the title of an entertainment named Merry Moments, I write to inform you that more than two years ago, when on my Annual Tour of the Provinces, I met Mr Harry Liston at Hull. In the course of conversation he informed me that he was about to star with a concert party, and asked me what I thought he should christen his entertainment. After various titles had been suggested he decided on Merry Moments with Harry Liston, in contradistinction to mine, which is called Two Hours Genuine Fun with Arthur Lloyd. Soon after I noticed his bills with the title he had fixed on in several towns I visited. I travel all over the country and never heard of any one using it (but Mr. Liston) till now.

Yours truly, Arthur Lloyd.

From The ERA, 24th July 1870 - Kindly sent in by Emmi Birch.

Harry Liston, the famous Stockport comedian, also toured with Arthur Lloyd during the early days of 'Two Hours Genuine Fun'

JOE HOLBROOKE

Two Hours Of Fun

Extract from... JOE HOLBROOKE - BRITISH COMPOSER by Rob Barnett.

In June 1896 he made his solo piano debut at St. James' Hall and later the same year joined various music troupes touring the United Kingdom.

Right - Joeseph Holbrooke. And The Arthur Lloyd Song Book detailing songs in the concert and reviews by the press. A Repertoire of the Legitimate, Veritable, and Popular Comic Songs, sung by Arthur Lloyd before His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales, The Nobility, and Gentry at St. James's Hall, & his popular concerts throughout Great Britain and Ireland, kindly sent in by Pat Wheatley - Click for details.

He was an adaptable 'jack of all trades': pianist and music director of fit-up 'orchestras' with as few as three players. One of these tours took him to Scotland in Arthur Lloyd's entertainment: 'Two Hours of Fun.'

This ended disastrously when the tour manager made off with the takings leaving Holbrooke stranded. Making his way South he settled in Haringey as music teacher and composer - Thanks to Dr Len Mullenger for the use of this extract and Joe Holbrooke image.

A Bill for Arthur Lloyd and his 'Two Hours' Genuine Fun' at the St. James's Hall, Liverpool

Above - A Bill for Arthur Lloyd and his 'Two Hours' Genuine Fun' at the St. James's Hall, Liverpool - From the Liverpool Mercury of 1870.

The Evening News, December 27, 1873

MR ARTHUR LLOYD'S CONCERT PARTY will make a return visit to the Temperance Hall, and two hours' genuine fun are sure to be obtained, for he must be a misanthrope indeed who cannot enjoy a laugh at Mr Lloyd's inimitable songs and impersonations.

The posters on this page are from a large collection of original Lloyd / King Posters collected since the mid 1800s by members of the family and found recently after being lost for 50 years. For more posters see the Posters Index.

Archive newspaper reports on this page were collated and kindly sent in for inclusion by B.F.