Alfred Lester

Alfred Lester (25 October 1870 – 6 May 1925), real name Alfred Edwin Leslie, was an English actor and comedian. Born into a theatrical family, he learnt his craft touring in melodramas, as a young man, but made his reputation as a comedian in musical comedy, music hall and, later, revue.

Lester's gloomy stage persona was seen to its quintessential comic effect in the long-running musical The Arcadians (1909) in which he delivered optimistic lyrics in a lugubrious manner. Among his other hit shows were The New Aladdin (1906), Havana (1908) and The Bing Boys Are Here (1916). His co-stars included George Grossmith Jr., Phyllis Dare, George Robey and Violet Lorraine.

Ill health brought Lester's career to a premature close, and he died of pneumonia at the age of fifty.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 25, 1874 (Nottingham), Died May 6, 1925 (Madrid)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1902 - 1922

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 6474 12-in. approximately 1915 My motter Alfred Lester Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 6478 12-in. approximately 1915 The property man Alfred Lester Descriptive scene speaker  
Columbia 6717 12-in. approximately 1916 Longshoreman Bill : Sketch, part 1 Buena Bent ; Alfred Lester Comic scene speaker  
Columbia 6718 12-in. approximately 1916 Longshoreman Bill : Sketch, part 2 Buena Bent ; Alfred Lester Comic scene speaker  
Columbia 6803 12-in. approximately 1916 Another little drink wouldn't do us any harm Alhambra Theatre Orchestra ; Alfred Lester ; Violet Loraine ; George Robey Vocal trio with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 65358 10-in. approximately 1916 The Bing Boys are here : Dear old Shepherds Bush Alfred Lester vocalist  
Columbia 65359 10-in. approximately 1916 The Bing Boys are here : Lady of a thousand charms Alfred Lester ; Violet Loraine vocalist  
Columbia 74119 12-in. approximately 6/9/102 Is it fair? Gaiety Theatre Orchestra ; Alfred Lester ; Arthur Wood Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 74120 12-in. approximately 6/9/1920 Popular popular sweetstuff shop Gaiety Theatre Orchestra ; Alfred Lester ; Arthur Wood Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 75003 12-in. 12/2/1921 Fun of the fayre-germs Alfred Lester Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 75005 12-in. approximately January 1922 Ours is a nice 'ouse, ours is Alfred Lester Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 75989 12-in. approximately August 1917 Conscientious objector Alfred Lester Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 75990 12-in. approximately August 1917 Hurrah for the rolling sea Alfred Lester Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 75996 12-in. approximately August 1917 The D.S.O. and V.A.D. Alfred Lester Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76262 12-in. approximately October 1918 In Shanghai Dorothy Brunton ; Drury Lane Theatre Orchestra ; Maurice Jacobi ; Alfred Lester Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76263 12-in. approximately October 1918 I've a hankering Drury Lane Theatre Orchestra ; Maurice Jacobi ; Alfred Lester Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76726 12-in. approximately 12/1/1919 Crimes Garrick Theatre Orchestra ; J. B. Hastings ; Alfred Lester Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76727 12-in. approximately 12/1/1919 Lily of the valley Garrick Theatre Orchestra ; J. B. Hastings ; Alfred Lester Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 76730 12-in. approximately 12/1/1919 Tubby Haig Garrick Theatre Orchestra ; Teddie Gerard ; J. B. Hastings ; Alfred Lester ; Farren Soutar Vocal trio with orchestra vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lester, Alfred," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/354094.

Lester, Alfred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/354094.

"Lester, Alfred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/354094

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