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.”
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.”
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| Jimmy in Splinters, 1923 |
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| A coy Jimmy, mid-1920s |
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| Jimmy in a bead bodice dress, 1920s |
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| Jimmy in a black dress, 1920s |
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| Jimmy in a lace dress, 1920s |
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| Jimmy in Splinters, 1920s (signed to mum) |
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| 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!) |
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| Jimmy billed himself as 'a perfect lady', 1926 |
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| Jimmy Slater in his civvies, circa 1926 |
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| Jimmy in Splinters, 1927 |
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| Beautiful Jimmy in the 1930s |
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| Beautiful Jimmy in the 1930s |
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| Jimmy and friend, 1930s |
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| Jimmy goes Victorian with a curious ostrich feather bustle, 1930s |
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| Jimmy in a gold shawl, 1930s |
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| Jimmy knows how to work with those sequins, 1930s |
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| Jimmy knows how to work with those sequins, 1930s |
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| Jimmy loves Mae West, 1930s |
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| Jimmy Slater in the 1930s |
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| Jimmy Slater the Incendiary Blonde, 1930s |
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| 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 |
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| One of Jimmy Slater's shows with a beautiful Art Deco set (he's third from the right at the front), 1930s |
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| Jimmy Slater's troupe of dancing girls, Super Follies, 1939 |
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| Jimmy in another understated little ensemble, 1940s |
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| Jimmy Slater and cast, 1940s |
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| Sparkling Jimmy, 1940s |
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| Star-themed ensemble, full length, 1940s |
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| Jimmy gurning, 1950s |
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| Jimmy in Splinters in the late 1950s |
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| There's nothing like growing old gracefully, 1950s |
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| Jimmy in tights, 1960s |
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| Jimmy Slater in his costume store |
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| Jimmy Slater in his costume store |
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| Jimmy Slater in his costume store |
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