Mark Sheridan (11 September 1864 – 15 January 1918), born Frederick Shaw, was an English

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

comedian and singer. He became a popular performer of lusty seaside songs and originated the J. Glover-Kind classic, "

I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside "I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside" is a popular British music hall song. It was written in 1907 by John H. Glover-Kind (18801918) and made famous by music hall singer Mark Sheridan, who first recorded it in 1909. It speaks of the singer's love ...

" in 1909. He recorded more than fifty songs during a ten-year period, including "One of the Bhoys" (1910), "

Belgium Put the Kibosh on the Kaiser "Belgium Put the Kibosh on the Kaiser" was a popular British patriotic song of the First World War. It was first recorded on 6 October 1914 by Mark Sheridan. The song refers to the 1914 campaign in Belgium when the small British Expeditionary Forc ...

" (1914) and "I'd Like to Shake Shakespeare" (1915). He was also a major presence in

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...

productions throughout the British Isles during his later career. Sheridan was born in

Hendon, Sunderland Hendon is an eastern area of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, North East England, the location of much heavy industry and Victorian terraces and three high-rise residential tower blocks. The area is commonly referred to as the East End of Sunderland ...

, County Durham, and initially worked on the

Sunderland Sunderland () is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is a port at the mouth of the River Wear on the North Sea, approximately south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is the most p ...

docks before being employed at the

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

Theatre, where he took up amateur dramatics. To progress his stage career, he secured engagements in Europe and South Africa in 1890, and performed in Australia two years later. In 1895 he returned to London and entered the vibrant scene of English music hall and became a leading performer on the circuit. In 1909 he first performed what was to become his most famous song "I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside", which he later recorded. In 1917, Sheridan wrote and composed the musical burlesque, ''Gay Paree'', which he performed with a London theatre company and later toured the northern provinces including Scotland. His career took a decline in later years and he suffered severe depression, as a result. He died by suicide in

Kelvingrove Park Kelvingrove Park is a public park located on the River Kelvin in the West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, containing the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. History Kelvingrove Park was originally created as the West End Park in 1852, a ...

, Glasgow in 1918 aged 53. He is buried in

Cathcart Cemetery Cathcart Cemetery is a cemetery in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, which was opened in 1876 . It is named after the nearby neighbourhood of Cathcart, Glasgow, Cathcart on the southern outskirts of Glasgow, but does not actually fall within the city ...

, near Glasgow.

Biography

Early life and career

Sheridan was born Frederick Shaw to Scottish-Irish parents in

, County Durham and began working with his father, a sail maker, on the

docks. He progressed from there to working in the back offices of the

Theatre for four years between 1877 and 1881. There, he became interested in performing and took up amateur dramatics. Sheridan decided to shorten his name to Fred as this was a popular name on the music hall circuit.Mark Sheridan
Laing, Allan ''The Caledonian Mercury'', The Caledonian Press online edition, 20 March 2010, accessed 12 December 2011 He later changed his name again when he moved from amateur dramatics to the professional theatre and decided upon Mark Sheridan. He took the first name from the American writer and humorist

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Fau ...

and used his Irish mother's maiden surname, Sheridan. His early experiences in variety shows were mainly in Europe, followed by performances in South Africa in 1890, where he went after his marriage to Ethel Maude Davenport. Two years later, he travelled to Australia and appeared on the Harry Rickards circuit, where he started a double act with his wife called "The Sheridans". He arrived back in London with his wife in 1895 but dissolved the double act with her. He was engaged to appear at the Standard Music Hall,

Pimlico Pimlico () is a district in Central London, in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension to neighbouring Belgravia. It is known for its garden squares and distinctive Regency architecture. Pimlico is demarcated to the north by Lon ...

, the same year. From there he became a regular on the London

circuit, and quickly built up a reputation as one of the most popular music hall comedians of the time. Sheridan made frequent appearances on the same bill as

Marie Lloyd Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922), professionally known as Marie Lloyd (), was an English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress. She was best known for her performances of songs such as "The Boy ...

Little Tich Harry Relph (21 July 186710 February 1928),Russell, Dav"Relph, Harry (1867–1928)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, online edition, January 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2013 professionally known as Littl ...

Dan Leno George Wild Galvin (20 December 1860 – 31 October 1904), better known by the stage name Dan Leno, was a leading English music hall comedian and musical theatre actor during the late Victorian era. He was best known, aside from his music hall a ...

and

George Robey Sir George Edward Wade, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (20 September 1869 – 29 November 1954),James Harding (music writer), Harding, James"Robey, George" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University P ...

. As well as his comedy sketches, he became a successful singer and enjoyed his biggest success in 1909 with "

". This led to performances as a

principal boy In pantomime, a principal boy role is the young male protagonist of the play, traditionally played by a young actress in boy's clothes. The earliest example is Miss Ellington who in 1852 appeared in ''The Good Woman in the Wood'' by James Planc ...

in countless

s across the country and further recordings, including "One of the Bhoys" (1910), "

" (1914), "Here We Are Again" (1914) and "I'd Like to Shake Shakespeare" (1915).

Later career and death

In 1915, Sheridan starred in the comic

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...

''Winkles'', which later toured the northern provinces. As music hall was on the decline with audiences, Sheridan concentrated on revue. During his later years, he believed that his popularity was waning and was plagued by deep insecurities and depression. In 1917, Sheridan returned to

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

where he had enjoyed some of his earliest successes. He wrote and personally financed ''Gay Paree'', a musical burlesque show based on

W. G. Wills William Gorman Wills (28 January 182813 December 1891), usually known as W. G. Wills, was an Irish dramatist, novelist and painter. Early life and career Wills was born at Blackwell lodge in Kilmurry, near Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Thomasto ...

West End favourite, ''A Royal Divorce''. It cost Sheridan £2,000 and had a London company of 40 people, including two of his children, Billy and Fred."Mark Sheridan's Obituary", ''The Era'', 23 January 1918, p. 13 On 14 January 1918, ''Gay Paree'' opened at the Coliseum in Glasgow, in which Sheridan played the part of

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

. ''Gay Paree'' received negative reviews from both its audiences and newspaper critics. Sheridan's performance was considered by critics to be less successful than his earlier music hall performances. Devastated by the critics' reviews for ''Gay Paree'', Sheridan entered

on 15 January 1918 and killed himself with a single gunshot to the head."Mark Sheridan Found Shot at Glasgow", ''Western Times'', 16 January 1918, p. 4 The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide, since the gun found had belonged to Sheridan. He was buried in

on 18 January 1918, leaving his wife Maude, their three sons Billy, Fred and Jack, and two daughters Francis and Freda. He is commemorated by a pink granite gravestone.

Selected recordings

*At The Football Match Last Saturday – 14 September 1905 *They All Come Out in the Summertime – 14 September 1905 *Josser Cricketer – October 1909 *

I Do Like To be Beside the Seaside "I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside" is a popular British music hall song. It was written in 1907 by John H. Glover-Kind (18801918) and made famous by music hall singer Mark Sheridan, who first recorded it in 1909. It speaks of the singer's love ...

– October 1909 *Story From the Chestnut Tree – October 1909 *When the lights are low – 19 April 1910 *Hear What the Crowds Say – 19 April 1910 *One of the B'hoys – 25 October 1910 *By the Sea – 25 October 1910 *Fancy Meeting You at the Isle of Man – 25 October 1910 *Who's Who – 25 November 1910 *I Met Everybody I knew – 25 May 1911 *Prison Up to Date – 25 May 1911 *Let's all go home together – 27 September 1911 *The Esplanade – 27 September 1911 *The Three Trees – 27 September 1911 *I Wanted a Wife – 25 November 1911 *They All Walk the Wibbly-Wobbly Walk – November 1912 *Who Were You With Last Night? – November 1912 *The Mother and the Child Were There – November 1912 *

– October 1914 *Pack Up Your Troubles – January 1915 *I'd Like To Shake Shakespeare – March 1915 *It's Girls That Make The Seaside – March 1915

References

Sources

External links

Mark Sheridan on Youtube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheridan, Mark British music hall performers English male comedians 19th-century British male singers 1864 births 1918 suicides Burials at Cathcart Cemetery Suicides by firearm in Scotland 1918 deaths