[ Walter James Macqueen-Pope, theatre historian. ] Two Typed Drafts of article: 'It Was Top of the Bill | The Story of Music Hall.' One draft with autograph emendations. With copy of covering letter to Greville Poke, editor of 'Everybody's' magazine.

ONE: The earlier of the two drafts, titled 'It Was Top of the Bill | The Story of Music Hall. | by | W. Macqueen-Pope.' 14pp., 4to. Paginated 1-12, with two further pages carrying material to be inserted. With a few autograph emendations, including an addition to the ending. Macqueen-Pope writes knowledgeably and with a passion for his theme, which is that 'Music Hall reflected public taste even more accurately than did the "legitimate" Theatre because it was created by the people themselves. The basis of the Drama of the Theatre - was religion. The origin of Music Hall was the public house and the Tavern.' Among those discussed are Marie Lloyd, Herbert Campbell, Dan Leno, Harry Champion, George Robey. The article begins: 'Music Hall - real Music Hall - is dead. There is something called Variety which appears to flourish today, but it bears no more resemblance to true Music Hall than "Othello" bears to "Oklahoma". It takes place on a stage, it has a succession of "turns" but there the likeness ends.' TWO: Later version of the two drafts, incorporating the emendations in the first. Same title. The ending reads: 'And there, in the words of one of the remaining members of that class of real Londoners who made the Music Hall - the type that Chevalier, Alec Hurley and Gus Elen showed on the Music Hall stage is the chief reason today why Music Hall is dead. Yet, in a few artists it lingers on, like its melodies, refusing to die whilst there remains [sic] some individuals with their own style and not just truants from the Radio Studios - and there is still Gracie Fields . . . . she is Music Hall.' THREE: Typed carbon copy of letter to 'Dear Greville' from Macqueen-Pope: 'Here is the story of "Music Hall". It looks a bit long but it is a big subject and I hahve packed it full of stories. It is in a sense an epitome of my book "The Melodies Linger On" recently published by W. H. Allen Ltd - and so is in the news. I dont think anyone has told the real truth about Music Hall before - and why it died.' In a postscript he assures him that 'The bit about the bus conductor is the solemn truth.'