FRED KARNO COMPANY

1912 - 2012 CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Details of the FRED KARNO CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS are as follows.
Saturday 29th September 2012 - CINEMA MUSEUM, London SE11 4TH.

CINEMA MUSEUM LONDON SE11

CINEMA MUSEUM
The former Lambeth Workhouse

PROGRAMME

11.00am Private Reception for Karno descendants and invited guests.

11.30am Welcome and Introductions.

12.15pm Snacks and Drinks.

1.15pm Doors open for Karno enthusiasts.

1.30 Welcome to our audience and guests.

1.40pm "KARNO - The US Tours" - illustrated talk by author A.J Marriot, on the 1910 to 1912 Karno Companies which sailed to America.

2.30pm Drinks and Chat break.

2.45pm The KARNO COMPANY DESCENDANTS will give potted histories of the Karno member they are related to. Guest Speakers will cover for absent relatives of some of the Karno comedians. Includes a Q&A session.

CHARLIE CHAPLIN IN AMERICAN VAUDEVILLE

A Night in a London Club
Empress Theatre, Winnipeg, 1913

3.45pm Drinks and Chat break.

4.00pm KARNO FILMS. Short clips of films which were influenced by business from Karno sketches.

4.50pm PHOTO SHOOT.

- followed by "FINAL FAREWELLS and THANK YOUS."

Some of those attending are direct descendants of the original twelve members of the Karno Company, who left these shores on 2nd October 1912, on board the ship Oceanic, on their journey to America. They were:

Alf Reeves, Amy Reeves (nee Minister), George Seaman, Emily Seaman, Ted Banks,
Amy Forrest, Edgar Hurley, Ethel Hurley, Tom 'Whimsical' Walker, Albert Westcott,
Charles Chaplin, Stan Jefferson (later Laurel).

The following Karno Comedians were also on the 1912 tour of America, but sailed on different ships.

Albert Austin, Charlie Griffiths, Fred Westcott, Charles Gordon, Bert Howard, Frank Williams.

-o-o-0-o-o-

Guests confirmed as attending are David Robinson (official Chaplin biographer); Kate Guyonvarch (Chaplin Archives, Paris); David Crump (Fred Karno authority); Barry Anthony (Chaplin author), Max Tyler (British Music Hall Society archivist); Adrian Barry and Neil Morkunas (Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America); John Adrian (Grand Order of Water Rats); a BBC radio and TV presenter; and a BBC producer.

GUEST SPEAKERS are: David Crump (on Fred Karno Jr.); Rob Breen (on Whimsical Walker); Jeremy Hoare (on George Hoare); Ian Smith (on Billie Reeves); Jane Koszuta (on the Royal Zanettos in the US). Others to be announced.

KARNO COMPANY descendants include those of: FRED KARNO, FRED KARNO Jr., GEORGE SEAMAN, EMILY SEAMAN, WHIMSICAL WALKER, MIKE ASHER, GEORGE HOARE, FRED KITCHEN, and TED TYSALL (from the 'Fred Karno Trio').

Audience members are made up of parties from the Cinema Museum, the British Music Hall Society, the Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society, Music Hall Guild of Great Britain, the Cinema Theatre Association, the Royal Zanettos, and others.

Sunday 30th September 2012

In conjunction with the 'Fred Karno Company' website, the 'Music Hall Guild of Great Britain' are placing a Blue Plaque" - dedicated to Fred Karno - on the premises formerly know as 'The Fred Karno Fun Factory.' A private buffet for Karno Comedian descendants and invited guests will be held after the ceremony in the 'Clock Tower.' (See below, right!)


The Fun Factory - THEN	The Fun Factory - NOW

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