Wee Georgie Wood

Like Charles Hawtry, Wee Georgie Wood’s (1895-1975) Q factor is mainly elevated today by the fact that John Lennon uttered his name when fooling around during the Let it Be sessions. (I’d always heard it as “Whee, George, he would” until it was put right for me this morning.)

Born  George Bramlett (today is his birthday) Wood was a performing midget (standing four foot nine) in English music halls and panto. He typically played babies and little boys in comedy sketches. Starting on stage at the age of 6, in addition to the English halls, he was also to tour Australian/N.Z., South Africa, and the U.S. (the first time in 1915, and 34 weeks for Keith in 1924). He was a familiar figure in British popular culture for over half a century.

To find out more about the variety arts past and present, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous.