Agents & agencies

Tom Pacey (1863 - 1946)

Agent and Song Writer

Born in 1863 he became one of the leading Music Hall/Variety agents from 1890 to 1940. He was adept at discovering unusual and novelty acts, his most famous artists were probably G.H.Elliott and Will Fyffe.

The Performer Annual of 1912 carried his one page advertisment as Pacey’s Vaudeville Agency and named as principles Tom Pacey and Fred Francis. Their base was 18 Charing Cross Road. They also had another office in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

The artists listed in the ad were:
The 6 Harlequinaders –2 ladies, 4 Gents and a piano,
Bert Terrell - Dutch Comedian,
Princess D’Arayaba and La Zafra – New dancing scena,
Fred Hastings – comedian,
Maie Dillon – the Jolly Dutch Girl,
Rob, Ivy and Lyn – In "A Garden of Music"
Jack Marks – Juvenile Comedian,
Ernie Mayne – The Simple One,
Ed. E Ford – The Australian Sundowner,
Harry Herbert,
Fred Land,
Lily Vine – The new Attraction,
Walter Stanley,
Emile Hayes –Vocal Comedian,
Mackinnon’s Scottish Meisters,
G.H Elliott – The Original Chocolate Coloured Coon,
Scholey and Scholey – in "Winning a Wager"
Little Ena Dayne – Drawing Room Entertainer.

He seemed to have a particularly strong relationship with Moss Empires. A glance at the bills at some of their halls around this time shows them virtually full of his artists.

His offices were in Oxford St. by the 1930’s.

He died on 19th December 1946 aged 83 and at the time believed to be the oldest agent in the country having been active almost to the end.

His wife, Dorothy, died aged 76 around the winter of 1973/4. She had had a very successful career in her own right as Dorothy Colson.

 Colin Charman

 

Examination of the Walthamstow Palace Commissions Book shows Tom Pacey as a regular supplier of acts including some of the above mentioned.

 Frederick Denny