Minstrels
Harry Sutch 1857 - 1939
Harry, was born Henry Alfred Sutch, 14th June 1857 at 13 Avery Row, New Bond Street, London. He was the second son and sixth child of Henry Sutch, a bootmaker as had been his father and grandfather before him, and his wife Eliza nee Israel.
Harry was one of eight children, the other seven being Sarah, Ann, Ellen and Rachel, and four boys John James, George William, Henry Alfred and Alfred.
Around 1877 Harry Sutch and his brother George were appearing at the smaller Music Halls in London doing "Nigger Business". The 'act' was called THE BROTHERS SUTCH, billed as 'Negro Comedians, Clog Dancers etc., with their unrivalled Champion Soldier Dog'.
They were otherwise known as THE SUTCH NIGGER MINSTRELS AND PERFORMING DOG ACT.
Their contact address was their home, 10 Avery Row, New Bond Street and their Agent, Ambrose Maynard.
The dog was not an original part of the act but was aquired by a happy accident. One day, Harry, a keen fisherman, was hoping for a 'bite' in The Serpentine, when a small stray dog came along which eventually followed him home. They called the dog 'Prince' trained him to become part of the act. At the command 'Right Wheel' he turned right, at 'Left Wheel' he turned left, at 'stand and freeze' he sneezed, at 'Present, Fire' he died for his country.
At the end of their act the brothers did a 'big boot dance' and as the final bars of music were playing the little dog joined them marching round as they left the stage.
Whilst working as a speciality act in 'Babes in the Wood' at the Covent Garden Theatre in the 1870's they were conducted to to the Royal Box by Mr. Charles Harris, the brother of Sir Augustus Harris and presented to the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.
Harry Sutch was also a member of THE CELEBRATED I.D.K. MINSTRELS and when they appeared at the Brighton Aquarium, Harry was the Interlocutor and sang two songs, 'The Little Word, Yes' and 'Go to Sea'. The other members of the troupe were Warren Lawson, Arthur Wilkers, Herbert Norton, Sid and Will Gartelle and Percy Newport.
After the turn of the century, Harry worked as an accompanyist to various artistes rather than having an act himself. He had many and varied engagements, ranging from The Norfolk Angling Society to the …………….
He appeared at the Royal Command Performance, the Theatrical Garden Party of 1913 as accompanist to such stars as Marie Lloyd, Wilkie Bard, Gertie Gitana, George Robey, Charles Coborn and Clarice Mayne and J.W. Tate.
He also played the piano at the Bioscope and in about 1910 had an association with the 'Walturdaw Co. Ltd.'
Harry Sutch was also a composer of music and writer of songs, most of which were unpublished, but used by his children in their minstrel troupe, and by his son and daughter who did go 'on the Halls'.
The News Chronicle, 3rd January 1938, carried an article entitled "Seventy Three Old Music Hall Stagers do their Turns again". This was about the New Year Party given at Brinsworth House by the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund. It ends with the words. -Eighty-one year old Harry Sutch who used to appear with Vesta Tilley played the accompaninients---. Similarly there was a photograph in a 1937 issue of' The Daitv Sketch of the Brinsworth Annual Dinner in which Harry is pictured talking to Alice Leamar.
Harry married Jane Matilda Woodman at St. George's Church, Hanover Square on 15th July 1877. They had ten children and lived to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1927.
Jane Matilda died in 1936 and in June 1939 Harry passed away. There was a small Obituary in the local paper, it begins "Harry Sutch, South London pianist and accompanist to Sophie Tucker, Dan Leno, Chirgwin, Gracie Fields, and other famous names is to be buried today at Streatham Park Cemetery". It also says that he was pianist at Brinsworih House for the last thirty years and pianist at the Printers Saturday night concerts at 'The Horns' in Kennington as well as Fire Brigade and Police dinners and various concerts all over South London. Also that he was presented to Edward VII nearly seventy years ago when he was with the SUTCH NIGGER MINSTREL AND PERFORMING DOG ACT.
Grandad, (Harry) made twice-yearly visits to Letchworth to see the children of his daughter Alice Matilda who had died in 1917, used to call on local people to tune their pianos, this being his trade.
There was also the memorable occasion when the family went down to Kennington to see Gran and Grandad and within a very short space of time the pub where they were to meet was bursting at the seams with relations from all over South London. The 'bush telegraph' was certainly working that time!
Condenced from THE BRINSWORTH PIANIST by Jane Nickels.
The article first apperared in Call Boy, journal of the British Music Hall Society, Summer 1995
His offspring were also involved in entertainment from Music Hall to films and a record of their activities can be seen by following this link. (When it is done) Click Here