[Greville Poke, arts administrator with the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre.] Two Typed Letters, one Signed, as editor of ‘Everybody’s’ magazine, to W. Macqueen-Pope, one discussing an article on music hall, with carbons of 3 replies

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. Poke’s two letters are in good condition, lightly aged, the second with slight rust spotting from paperclip; the carbons of MP’s letters to Poke on aged, worn and discoloured cartridge paper. ONE: Poke to MP, 12 March 1951. 3pp, small 4to. Begins: ‘My dear Popie, / I was rather out of depth on this article - “It was top of the Bill” - so I sent it over to my Father, [Fleet Street magazine owner Frederick Robert Poke] who has been devoted to Music Halls from very early days; and the following are some notes which he sent me, which I think I would like to pass on to you fr, in the light of what he says, you can probably do some revisions on your article.’ A transcription of F. R. Poke’s notes follows. He finds MP’s proposed article ‘rather heavy going. It would be a big wad of stuff to publish, but I feel that you should accept it.’ He proceeds with specific points, with reference to the Brothers Horne (‘it was a very amusing boxing match’), R. G. Knowles, Kate Carney, Fred Russell, and especially Charlie Whittle (‘When he took London by storm, I remember his topping the bill over Marie Lloyd and doing four halls a night.’). Also: ‘I was one of the few people who ever saw Dan Leno dance - he had to give up dancing because of his health.’ The elder Poke continues by stating that he wantd to be a comedian himself. ‘Fred Burnell of the Gee family taught me ho to manipulate a drum-major’s wand. I will show you one day how to do it. And I also learned from some of these people trick-cycling. I could and can I think stand still on a bicycle and ride it backwards - both ways - and do a few other tricks on it.’ He concludes with practical suggests about cutting the article. TWO: Poke to MP, 22 May 1951. 1p, 4to. Proposing to discuss his ‘suggestions about HAMPTON COURT and the others’. Signed in his absence. ‘I am dictating this from home for, unfortunately, I’ve got what the Doctor tells me is a form of dysentery - most uncomfortable.’ THREE to FIVE: Unsigned carbons of letters to Poke from MP, each 1p, 4to. In the first he describes revisions he has made to the music hall article, in the second he proposes an article on ‘The Pageantry of Hampton Court’, and others on ‘Earls Court, The White City and such exhibit[s] of theh past’, in the third he condoles with Poke over his indisposition (‘I am not too well myself and very harrassed.’).