HUMPHREY BISHOP CO.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 7 April 1927, Page 5

HUMPHREY BISHOP CO.

REIURB VISIT TO WAIMATE. MONDAY, APRIL 11th. Apropos of George Ross, “Scratch er,” the well known London comedian; of the Humphrey Bishop Company, who commence a one night season at the Olympia Theatre on Monday, April 11th. next, the Lon- . don “Stage” says: “It is interesting. to note that Mr Ross assumed the character make-up as a joke originally, and hired himself out as a stage hand to a well known London ■manager. During the action of a certain revue there occurred a painful sta-ge wait, with the manager {frantically rushing about behind the for someone to fill the hiatus. ;Mr Ross saw his opportunity, and : volunteered to amuse the audience. ;Ih sheer desperation - the manager him before the footlights, ■and from that moment the stage 'character of ‘Scratcher,’ the stage ' hand, was born, and as nothing more 'humorous or novel was to be found ,in the revue, “Scratcher” ’ wan promoted from se'ene shifter to star. A 1 fortunate joke both for Mr Ross and 'the public.” His interpretietaon ot what the cowboys did-to his concert party in the wild and woolly west of North America, has made the name of “Scrateher,” a household word wherever he has appeared. He ts one of the three comedlims in the Humphrey Bishop Company. Plans are now open al Botten% Arcadia Tobacconist, where the slogan “Book before you, sleep” - may well beapplied.