Bring back some good or bad memories


ADVERTISEMENT

June 17, 2018

A Perfect Classic Female Impersonator: 34 Amazing Pictures of Jimmy Slater During His Career

Jimmy Slater was born in 1898 in Yorkshire. He was a female impersonator, starting as a 14 year-old boy just before the First World War. During the war he honed his craft in military concert parties.

After the war he was recruited to the cast of 'Splinters', a smash hit revue made up of an ex-military concert party, which toured into the 1930s - possibly the longest running revue on the British stage.

Jimmy left Splinters some time in the 20s and went on to build himself a career in the north of England, producing revues, seaside shows and pantomimes, and continued performing well into the 1960s. By this time he had a thriving costume supply business, and continued in this field after retiring from the stage.

He lived to 100.

These amazing pictures from Sarah's mother who got to know him when she ran a vintage clothing shop and he called her and offered some of his old costumes for sale. They became good friends.

“When he died, mum went to the auction of his effects and bought a sackful of old publicity photos and press cuttings which she gave to me.”

Jimmy in Splinters, 1923

A coy Jimmy, mid-1920s

 Jimmy in a bead bodice dress, 1920s

Jimmy in a black dress, 1920s

 Jimmy in a lace dress, 1920s

Jimmy in Splinters, 1920s (signed to mum)

Modelling a divine lace gown, 1920s (Dedicated to my mum in 1987, when she became good friends with Jimmy and his sister Annie, and a regular visitor for tea, cakes and haggling over prices!)

 Jimmy billed himself as 'a perfect lady', 1926

Jimmy Slater in his civvies, circa 1926

 Jimmy in Splinters, 1927

Beautiful Jimmy in the 1930s

Beautiful Jimmy in the 1930s

Jimmy and friend, 1930s

 Jimmy goes Victorian with a curious ostrich feather bustle, 1930s

Jimmy in a gold shawl, 1930s

Jimmy knows how to work with those sequins, 1930s

Jimmy knows how to work with those sequins, 1930s

Jimmy loves Mae West, 1930s

Jimmy Slater in the 1930s

 Jimmy Slater the Incendiary Blonde, 1930s

Jimmy's colleague wears a dress given to him by the famous music hall singer Florrie Forde - the woman who launched the song 'Its a long way to Tipperary' during the WWI

One of Jimmy Slater's shows with a beautiful Art Deco set (he's third from the right at the front), 1930s

 Jimmy Slater's troupe of dancing girls, Super Follies, 1939

 Jimmy in another understated little ensemble, 1940s

Jimmy Slater and cast, 1940s

 Sparkling Jimmy, 1940s

Star-themed ensemble, full length, 1940s

 Jimmy gurning, 1950s

Jimmy in Splinters in the late 1950s

There's nothing like growing old gracefully, 1950s

Jimmy in tights, 1960s

Jimmy Slater in his costume store

Jimmy Slater in his costume store

Jimmy Slater in his costume store



FOLLOW US:
FacebookTumblrPinterestInstagram

CONTACT US

Browse by Decades

Popular Posts

Advertisement

09 10