Origins: The Lion and Albert / Albert and the Lion

Subject: The Lion and Albert
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 07:07 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 07:16 PM

this one?

https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=174

---

ALBERT AND THE LION (DT Lyrics)
(Marriot Edgar)

There's a famous seaside place called Blackpool
That's noted for fresh air and fun
And Mr. and Mrs. Ramsbottom
Went there with young Albert, their son.
A fine little lad were young Albert,
All dressed in his best, quite a swell.
He'd a stick with an 'orse's 'ead 'andle;
The finest that Woolworth's could sell.
They didn't think much to the ocean,
The waves they were piddlin' and small.
There were no wrecks and nobody drownded,
'Fact, nothin' to laugh at at all!
So, seeking for further amusement,
They paid, and went into the zoo,
Where they'd lions and tigers and camels
And cold ale and sandwiches, too.
There were one great big lion called Wallace
Whose nose was all covered with scars;
He lay in a som-no-lent posture
With the side of 'is face on the bars.
Now Albert 'ad 'eard about lions-
'Ow they was ferocious and wild;
To see lion lyin' so peaceful
Just didn't seem right to the child.
So straightway the brave little feller,
Not showin' a morsel of fear,
Took 'is stick with the 'orse's 'ead 'andle
And stuck it in Wallace's ear.
You could see that the lion din't like it,
For givin' a kind of a roll,
'E pulled Albert inside the cage with 'im
And swallered the little lad - 'ole!
Now Mother 'ad seen this occurrence,
And not knowin' what to do next,
She 'ollered "Yon lion's et Albert!"
An' Father said "Ee, I am vexed."
They complained to an animal keeper
Who said "My, wot a nasty mis'ap;
Are you sure it's your boy 'e's eaten?"
Pa said, "Am I sure? There's 'is cap!"
The manager 'ad to be sent for;
'E came and 'e said "Wot's to-do?"
Ma said "Yon lion's et Albert,
And 'im in 'is Sunday clothes, too!"
Father said "Right's right, young feller-
I think it's a shame and a sin
To 'ave our son et by a lion
And after we paid to come in."
The manager wanted no trouble;
He took out his purse right away,
Sayin' "'Ow much to settle the matter?"
Pa said "Wot do you usually pay?"
But Mother 'ad turned a bit awkward
When she saw where 'er Albert 'ad gone.
She said "No, someone's got to be summonsed!"
So that was decided upon.
And off they all went to p'lice station
In front of a Magistrate chap;
They told what 'ad 'appened to Albert
And proved it by showing 'is cap.
The Magistrate gave 'is opinion
That no one was really to blame,
And 'e said that 'e 'oped the Ramsbottoms
Would 'ave further sons to their name.
At that Mother got proper blazin':
"And thank you, sir, kindly," said she-
"Wot, spend all our lives raisin' children
To feed ruddy lions? Not me!"

Recorded by Stanley Halloway
@recitation @animal @kids
filename[ ALBLION
RP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twMCZ7HIYrA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: Ian Darby
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 09:24 PM

This was my first gig!

I did this at a family party in Salford and made seven and six. I was eight years old and have never looked back since.

Mind you, I never got the same money again.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 09:54 PM

Here's the definitive text, along with a treasury of monologues by Marriott Edgar.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: Noreen
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 04:56 AM

Thanks so much for that link, Mark- I followed it to Mike Harding's NAPOLEON'S RETREAT FROM WIGAN which brought back many happy memories... I wish I knew where the tape was of Mrs Hardin's lad doing that.

)

'Don't think you can go out bloody conquering!'

Subject: Little Albert and The Lion
From: Genie
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 05:06 AM

I've heard a Portland folksinger, Mo Mack, do a splendid version of this monologue, and he has additional 'verses,' with the lion coughing up Little Albert, Albert returning home, and the parents finally taking him back to the zoo, saying, "Let's see what the Tiger can do!" He said it was taken from a recording by Stanley Holloway.

I don't know if Holloway added to the original text, if the original author did, or if someone else did.

Does anyone know the extended version?

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: Paul
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 05:26 AM

Hello Genie... Marriott Edgar and Stanley Holloway did several follow-ups to 'The Lion and Albert' including the one one you mention:

Albert's Return

Albert and the 'Eadsman

Albert's Savings

The Runcorn Ferry

The Jubilee Sov'reign

The Recumbent Posture

Albert Evacuated

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: Paul
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 05:33 AM

Sorry!... made a mess of that last entry. But anyway, come along to : Make 'Em Laugh! at http://www.monologues.co.uk and read all the 'Albert Ramsbottom' monologues.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: Genie
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 06:02 AM

Thanks, Paul!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: little john cameron
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 12:24 PM

Ah postit ane a while ago that wis aboot Albert when he went blind.It wis oan talkin book site bit ah cannae mind whaur it is noo.ljc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 11:19 PM

It's listed right here in the DT under Albert and the Lion.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:33 PM

I recently picked up a Stanley Hollaway CD and I didn't realise he was a singer as well - a fine one at that! Really enjoyed it.

I remember a local folk club having a competition between some of its resident poets and songwriters about who could come up with the best parody of 'Albert'. I can't remember who won but one line has remained with for years. From 'Albert and the Vampire' -

With his stake, with a horses head handle...

Always makes me laugh.

Cheers, I'll stop rambling now;-)

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lion and Albert / Albert and the Lion
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 May 23 - 11:59 PM

Performance by Dame Diana Rigg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ydsYtjXkk0

I'm still looking for publications that list all the "Lion and Albert" recitations with attribution and lyrics I can trust. http://www.monologues.co.uk/ comes close, but it's a little sloppy on attributions. I think that Stanley Holloway wrote a few of the "Albert" monologues and that Marriott Edgar wrote the rest, but I'm not sure of that.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lion and Albert / Albert and the Lion
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 06 Jun 23 - 03:37 AM

From Wikipedia; Stanley Holloway

When The Co-Optimists re-formed in 1930, he rejoined that company, now at the Savoy Theatre, and at the same venue appeared in Savoy Follies in 1931,[52] where he introduced to London audiences the monologue The Lion and Albert.[53][n 6] The monologue was written by Marriott Edgar, who based the story on a news item about a boy who was eaten by a lion in the zoo.[55] In the monologue, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsbottom react in a measured way when their son Albert is swallowed. Neither Edgar nor Holloway was convinced that the piece would succeed, but needing material for an appearance at a Northern Rugby League dinner Holloway decided to perform it.[56] It was well received, and Holloway introduced it into his stage act. Subsequently, Edgar wrote 16 monologues for him.

From Wikipedia; Marriott Edgar

Holloway was already enjoying some success with the monologue format, with such classics as Sam, Pick Oop Tha' Musket. Edgar asked him if he had heard a story about a couple who had taken their son to the zoo, only to see the lad eaten by a lion. Holloway had indeed heard the story, and shortly afterwards Edgar supplied him with a script. The Lion and Albert became one of Holloway's most popular pieces, one of many he recorded beginning in 1930.[9] The lion of the poem is named "Wallace", which was the name of the first African lion to be bred in Britain, living from 1812 until 1838, and his name became a popular one for lions.[10] Edgar gave the poem the title The Lion and Albert, but some later performances and re-publications used the form Albert and the Lion.

The monologues were designed to be spoken rhythmically with piano accompaniment, which in many cases was also composed by Edgar.[12] The texts were published by Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd. during the 1930s in three collections. All were illustrated by John Hassall, many of whose lively images also became classics. Edgar's compositions were - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott_Edgar

In 1929, he joined the cast of The Co-Optimists and worked with Stanley Holloway.[9] At the start of the 1930s they went to Hollywood, where Edgar – who had dropped his first name for the professional appellation Marriott Edgar – met his half-brother Edgar Wallace.

From Wikipedia; Songs and monologues of Stanley Holloway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_and_monologues_of_Stanley_Holloway

Recordings of verses about the Ramsbottom family include the following;

The Lion and Albert        By Marriott Edgar        Stanley Holloway: The Essential Collection (2007)        1932
The Return of Albert/Albert Comes Back        By Marriott Edgar        Stanley Holloway: The Essential Collection (2007)        1934
Mr. & Mrs. Ramsbottom Went Off        By Marriott Edgar; accompanied by Carroll Gibbons                1936
The Jubilee Sovrin/Sov'rin/Sovereign        By Marriott Edgar        Stanley Holloway: The Essential Collection (2007)        1937
Albert and the 'Eadsman        By Marriott Edgar        Stanley Holloway: The Essential Collection (2007)        1937
The Recumbent Posture        By Marriott Edgar        Stanley Holloway:The Essential Collection (2007)        1939
Albert Evacuated        By Stanley Holloway. Tells the story of child evacuation during the war        Stanley Holloway: The Essential Collection (2007)        1940
The Return of Albert        By Stanley Lupino        Stanley Holloway: The Essential Collection (2007)        1940
Albert and His Savings        By Marriott Edgar. Recorded on behalf of the British government in aid of the war effort        Stanley Holloway: The Essential Collection (2007)        1944
Albert Down Under        By Stanley Holloway especially for his tour of Australia.[15]        Not released        1948
Albert's Reunion[3]        By Stanley Holloway. With Arthur Lief (conductor and pianist) and the Concert Party Four. Recorded in New York, November 1957.        The Concert Party -1958        1957
Albert's Reunion        By Stanley Holloway. Previously recorded by Holloway in 1957                1975