Solo Men

Ted Cowan 1874? - ?

Brother to Sam Mayo

Edward (Ted) Cowan's father, Lewis Cowan, was born in 1843 and married Clara Abrahams in 1869; they had eight children, Soloman, Maurice, Lydia, Edward, Julia, Samuel, Celia and Isaac.

 

Their first child, Soloman, was born in 1870 at 39, Wilmington Square, Clerkenwell, but he died in infancy. In 1874 the Cowans were living at 32, Wych Street, Strand where Maurice, Edward himself and Lydia were born. Six years later they moved to 25 Maiden Lane, Strand, where Julia was born and then, in 1881 they opened a second-hand shop at 5 Waterloo Road above which they lived and it was here that Sam, Celia and Isaac arrived to complete the family. All seven children attended the Borough Jewish School in Wansey Street, Walworth Road.

At that time Lewis Cowan was working part-time as a croupier in various London clubs one of which was 'The Adelphi' in Maiden Lane (next to the Adelphi Theatre stage door) owned by Jack Levy and Issey Abrahams.

Another of these clubs was 'The Sussex' in Mile End Road where the door-keeper was Joe Lyons who eventually became famous for the Lyons Corner House.

Living near the Cowan family in Waterloo Road was a professional Music Hall performer with whom Ted and Sam became acquainted and his influence was such that Ted, Sam and Maurice started singing in the pubs and clubs in their spare time. They had other part-time jobs; Maurice worked for a street Bookmaker named Toffee Thomas while Ted was working for the Star Newspaper collecting the papers from the Star Office in Fleet Street and delivering them on his bicycle to local newspaper sellers. Sam collected bets whilst working in the family shop.

Ted Cowan was the first in the family to become a professional Music Hall artiste; his name appears on the Tivoli Theatre bill of 1899 as 'Comic Vocalist and Dancer'. Subsequently he toured the Music Halls throughout Great Britain on his motor-cycle and side car for the rest of his working life, some sixty years in all, billed a 'Ted Cowan the Popular Quaint Comedian'. During his long career he covered all aspects of show business; music hall, pantomime musical comedy, revue, films and radio.

He was instrumental in getting Sam started in the profession. Whilst playing the Alhambra, Sandgate, Ted suggested to the Manager, Mr. Fisher, that Sam was an 'awfully good comic' and would he a suitable replacement for another artiste who was ill. Apparently Mr. Fisher did not favour the employment of relatives so Ted conjured up the name Mayo.

 Condenced from Sam Mayo and the Cowans by Leslie Baker

Ted Cowan appeared at the Poplar Hippodrome during the week 29/9/1913

Supplied by Colin Charman from his collection of 'Ens Dayne' playbills

Ted Cowan appeared at the Walthamstow Palace during the week 4th June 1904. His pay was £4.10.0 and his agent was Pacey & Reeves

From the Walthamstow Palace Commissions Book