Morris and Cowley were English

variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a comp� ...

comedians, popular as a

double act A double act (also known as a comedy duo) is a form of comedy originating in the British music hall tradition, and American vaudeville, in which two comedians perform together as a single act, often highlighting differences in their characters' ...

in the 1930s and 1940s. They were brothers, Harry Birkenhead (George Harold Birkenhead; 26 December 1895 – 29 September 1972) and Frank Birkenhead (3 February 1898 – 11 August 1985).

Biography

The brothers were both born in

Darlaston Darlaston is an industrial town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall in the West Midlands of England. It is located near Bilston, Walsall, Wednesbury, Willenhall and Tipton. It was historically part of Staffordshire. Topography Darlaston i ...

, near

Walsall Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located ...

Staffordshire Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, ...

. They first performed with another brother, their mother, and two girls, at the Palace Theatre, Oldbury, in 1911. They toured as 'The Birkenhead Family' until 1914, when all three brothers joined the army. After the war, Harry and Frank Birkenhead formed a

, initially as 'The Vesta Brothers'. They changed their

stage name A stage name or professional name is a pseudonym used by performers, authors, and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. The equivalent concept among writers is called a ''nom de plume'' (pen name). Some performers ...

to 'Morris and Cowley' in 1923, after the car of that name. Described as "brilliant young comedians" when touring Australia in 1926,"The Whirligigs", ''The Daily News'', Perth, 6 September 1926, p.10
/ref> they became popular variety performers, and toured in Britain alongside

ventriloquist Ventriloquism or ventriloquy is an act of stagecraft in which a person (a ventriloquist) speaks in such a way that it seems like their voice is coming from a different location, usually through a puppet known as a "dummy". The act of ventrilo ...

Johnson Clark with their own show, ''The Squire's Party''. From the late 1930s, through and after the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, they appeared regularly on

BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927. The service provides national radio stations cove ...

on programmes such as '' The Happidrome'' and '' Palace of Varieties''. As part of their act, they appeared as ancient Chelsea Pensioners, reminiscing about their old days in the

Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic an ...

.Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, ''Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts'', Robson Books, 1998, , p.127 They retired around 1960. Harry Birkenhead ("Morris") died in

Camberwell Camberwell ( ) is an List of areas of London, area of South London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark, southeast of Charing Cross. Camberwell was first a village associated with the church of St Giles' Church, Camberwell, St Giles ...

, London, in 1972, aged 76, and Frank Birkenhead ("Cowley") died at

Brinsworth House Brinsworth House is a residential and nursing retirement home for theatre and entertainment professionals on Staines Road, Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. The house is owned and run by the Royal Variety Cha ...

Twickenham Twickenham ( ) is a suburban district of London, England, on the River Thames southwest of Charing Cross. Historic counties of England, Historically in Middlesex, since 1965 it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, who ...

, in 1985 at the age of 87.

References

People from Darlaston English comedy duos British musical duos Sibling musical duos Brother duos British music hall performers {{UK-comedian-stub