Bransby Williams – discography
Bransby Williams (Bransby William Pharez, 1870-1961) is little remembered now but was a regular on the music hall stage, famed for his impersonations of great actors of the time, for his humorous monologues, and particularly for his performances of Dickensian characters. He recorded extensively from at least 1905 to 1948, starting with Edison cylinders, then HMV and Zonophone, Pathé, Winner, Columbia and Decca. He recorded his interpretation of Scrooge in 1905, 1906 and 1912 (Edison), 1909 (HMV), 1912 (Winner), 1912, 1924 and 1926 (Columbia) and 1948 (DECCA). His Scrooge of 1928 was the first Dickens sound film. He later performed the role for an early BBC TV production on December 27th 1950. He also appears in a couple of British Pathé shorts.
EDISON
July 1905
13344 13344 ‘Is pipe – Monologue
13345 13345 Christmas Eve in Old England – Descriptive (w Carol Singers (male quartet))
13348 13348 THE BELLS (Lewis): Murder scene (Imitation of Sir Henry Irving)
13352 13352 PICKWICK PAPERS (Charles Dickens): Wardle’s Christmas Party (w Carol Singers (male quartet))
13353 13353 A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE (Charles Dickens): Scrooge’s awakening (w Carol Singers (male quartet))
March 1906
13488 13488 The cynic – Monologue
13508 13508 DAVID COPPERFIELD (Charles Dickens): Wilkins Micawber’s advice
August 1911
4M-12378 A 12378 A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE (Charles Dickens): Scrooge’s awakening – intro.: “God rest ye merry, gentlemen” (w Carol Singers (quartet), chimes, organ)
4M-12378-1 BA 23139 A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE (Charles Dickens): Scrooge’s awakening – intro.: “God rest ye merry, gentlemen” (w Carol Singers (quartet), chimes, organ)
4M-12378-2 BA 23139 A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE (Charles Dickens): Scrooge’s awakening – intro.: “God rest ye merry, gentlemen” (w Carol Singers (quartet), chimes, organ)
4M-12379 A 12379 The street watchman’s Christmas (Winter)
4M-12379 BA 23148 The street watchman’s Christmas (Winter)
September 1911
4M-12396 A 12396 THE BELLS (Lewis): Dream scene (Imitation of Sir Henry Irving)
February 1912
4M-12452 A 12452 The charge of the Light Brigade (Alfred Lord Tennyson)
May 1912
4M-12483 A 12483 The green eye of the little yellow god (Milton Hayes)
4M-12483 BA 23172 The green eye of the little yellow god (Milton Hayes)
August 1912
4M-12511 A 12511 DAVID COPPERFIELD (Charles Dickens): Wilkins Micawber and Uriah Heep
November 1912
4M-23031 BA 23031 The burial of Sir John Moore (Wolfe)
HMV
Matrix no. Side no. Cat. No. Title
9th October 1908
2631f 01011 C501 David Copperfield: Dialoge between Mr Micawber and Uriah Heep (Dickens)
2632f 01012 A Christmas Carol: Bob Crachit telling of Scrooge (Dickens)
2633f 01017 C501 The old man’s pipe
2634f 01021 Devil may care
2635f 01015 The student
2636f 01014 C500 A Tale of Two Cities: Sidney Carton’s farewell (Dickens)
5th October 1909
3685f Bleak House: Old miser Smallweed (Charles Dickens)
3686f Z-041001 A115 David Copperfield: Dan’l Peggotty (Dickens)
3687f Z-041000 A115 How we saved the barge (Helier)
10806e Jim Bludsoe, An American poem (Colonel John Hay)
7th October 1909
3703f 01029 C499 A Christmas Carol: Scrooge before the dream (Dickens)(No 1)
3704f 01031 C500 A Christmas Carol: The awakening (No 3)
3705f 01030 C499 A Christmas Carol: The dream (No 2)
8th October 1909
10831e Banty Jim (Colonel John Hay)
WINNER
Matrix no. Side no. Cat. No. Title
Issued Dec 1912
3301 463 2234 The Street Watchman (J.C. Winter)
3302 464 2234 The Same Old Game
Issued Jan 1914
3297-2 1033 2533 Scrooge – Before the Dream
3299-1-2 1034 2533 Scrooge – After the Dream
PATHE ROOSTER – 1917-8 catalogue
20863 Devil-May Care (Taylor) / Uncle George (Newman)
20864 The Coward (Hennequin) / The Heroine, The Hero, and the Villain (Newman)
20865 The Charge of the Light Brigade (Tennyson) / The Murder in the Forest (Williams)
20866 The Penny Showman. Part 1 / Part 2 (Williams)
20867 Micawber, ” David Copperfield ” (Dickens) / Bill Sykes, ” Oliver Twist ” (Dickens)
20868 The Colonel (Winter) / The Caretaker (Winter)
20869 Golyers Ben (Hay) / The Green Eye of the Yellow God. Mad Carew (Hayes)
20870 ‘Is Pipe. An Old Man’s Soliloquy to his Pipe (Taylor) / The Plumber (Wynne)
20871 Captain Cuttle, “Dombey and Son” (Dickens) / The Clean Sweep (Newman)
20872 The Student / The Portrait (Lord Lytton)
COLUMBIA
Matrix no. Cat. No. Issued Title
1912 – 12”
6275-2 347 12/12-5/24 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge Before the Dream
6276-2 347 12/12-5/24 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge The Dream
6277-1 348 12/12-5/24 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge After the Dream
6278-1 348 12/12-5/24 David Copperfield – Micawber’s Advice
6279-2 350 2/13-6/24 The Showman (Williams) Pt 1 (w Orch)
6280-1 350 2/13-6/24 The Showman (Williams) Pt 2 (w Orch)
1913 – 12”
6352-1 388 7/13-6/24 Green Eye of the Little Yellow God (Hayes)
6356-2 388 7/13-6/24 The Caretaker (Winter)
6355-2 400 9/13-6/24 Oliver Twist – Bill Sikes (Dickens)
6354-1-2 400 9/13-6/24 Pickwick Papers – Tony Weller (Dickens)
6364-1 408 10/13-6/24 As Sir Henry Irving in “The Bells” (Lewis)
6365-1-2 408 10/13-6/24 The Portrait (Lytton)
1913 – 10”
28580 2264 12/13 A Tale of Two Cities – Sydney Carton’s Farewell (Dickens)
28581 2264 12/13 David Copperfield – Death of Little Nell (Dickens)
? 2291 1/14 The Murder in the Forest (Williams)
? 2291 1/14 The Plumber (H Wynne)
28697 2334 2/14 The Student (?)
28699 2645 3/16 The Murder in the Forest (B Williams)
28700 2334 2/14 Hullo!( S W Foss)
1914 – 10”
29026 2560 7/15 Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Death of Uncle Tom (H.B. Stowe)
29028 2645 3/16 The Hero, The Heroine and the Villain (G Newman)
29169 2471 12/14 The two waifs (W Virgo)
29171 2471 12/14 Daddy’s return from the war (Harrington, Scott)
29249-1 2498 1/15 Spotty (Hannequin, Parker)
29250-1 2498 1/15 The Coward (Hannequin, Hemsey)
1915 – 10”
29251 2560 7/15 Devil-may-care (Taylor, Clarke)
29923 2636 2/16 The Old Country – The Village (w Company)
29924 2636 2/16 The Old Country – London (w Company)
1916 – 12”
6703-1 594 3/16-5/24 The Stage Doorkeeper (Impersonations) Pt 1
6704-1 594 3/16-5/24 The Stage Doorkeeper (Impersonations) Pt 2
1916 – 10”
65160 2667 6/16 The Yukon Trail (J M Hayes)
65161 2667 6/16 The Lounger (C J Winter)
65197 2680 7/16 Doctor Yank of Quackem (Williams)
65198 2680 7/16 Bleak House – Grandfather Smallweed (Dickens)
65565 2723 12/16 Seaside Cries (descriptive) (Cecil, Newman)
65566 2723 12/16 The Author (Williams)
1921 – 10”
71395-1 3062 12/21 The three bears (arr. H C Ridout)
71396-2 3063 12/21 The three little pigs (arr. H C Ridout)
71410-1 3063 12/21 Dick Whitting and his cat (arr. H C Ridout)
71411-1 3062 12/21 Jack and the Beanstalk (arr. H C Ridout)
1922 – 10”
71941 3177 12/22 The Sleeping Princess (arr. H C Ridout)
71942 3177 12/22 Puss in Boots (arr. H C Ridout)
4th April 1924 – 12”
6276-3 347 5/24-5/26 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge The Dream
6278-3 348 5/24-5/26 David Copperfield – Micawber’s Advice
14th April 1924 – 12”
6275-3 347 5/24-5/26 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge Before the Dream
6277-4 348 5/24-5/26 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge After the Dream
21st April 1924 – 10”
29028-3-4 2645 ?/24 The Hero, The Heroine and the Villain (G Newman)
28699-3 2645 ?/24 The Murder in the Forest (B Williams)
2nd May 1924 – 12”
6352-3 388 6/24-5/26 Green Eye of the Little Yellow God (Hayes)
6356-3 388 6/24-5/26 The Caretaker (Winter)
21st May 1924 – 12”
6279-4 350 6/24-5/28 The Showman (Williams) Pt 1 (w Orch/Ketelbey)
6280-3 350 6/24-5/28 The Showman (Williams) Pt 2 (w Orch/Ketelbey)
6354-4 400 6/24-7/29 Pickwick Papers – Tony Weller (Dickens)
23rd May 1924 – 12”
6355-4 400 6/24-7/29 Oliver Twist – Bill Sikes (Dickens)
6364-4 408 6/24-7/29 As Sir Henry Irving in “The Bells” (Lewis)
6365-3 408 6/24-7/29 The Portrait (Lytton)
6703-2 594 6/24-7/29 The Stage Doorkeeper (Impersonations) Pt 1
21st April 1925 – 10”
29250-3 2498 ?/25 The Coward (Hannequin, Hemsey)
1925 – 10”
A2009 3774 11/25 The difference (Kelly, Longstaffe)
A2011 3774 11/25 Not old (J Day)
1926 – 10”
WA 3211-1 4013 9/26 The Charge of the Light Brigade (Tennyson)
WA 3212-1 4013 9/26 Henry V – The King’s Speech before Harfleur
31st March 1926 – 12”
WAX 1397-2 347R 5/26-2/44 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge Before the Dream
WAX 1396-2 347R 5/26-2/44 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge The Dream
WAX 1398-1 348R 5/26-2/44 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge After the Dream
WAX 1399-1 348R 5/26-2/44 David Copperfield – Micawber’s Advice
1st April 1926 – 12”
WAX 1400-1 388R 5/26-2/43 Green Eye of the Little Yellow God (Hayes)
WAX 1401-1 388R 5/26-2/43 The Caretaker (Winter)
1928 – 10”
WA 6936-1 4836 5/28 The Old Curiosity Shop – Death of Little Nell (Dickens)
WA 6935-1 4836 5/28 A Tale of Two Cities – Sidney Carton’s Farewell (Dickens)
WA 6919-1 4837 5/28 The difference (Kelly, Longstaffe)
WA 6920-1 4837 5/28 Not old (Julius Day)
9th February 1928 – 12”
WAX 3234-1 9299 6/28-1/38 The Showman – burlesque sketch Pt 1 (Bransby Williams/Orch/Raybould)
WAX 3235-1 9299 6/28-1/38 The Showman – burlesque sketch Pt 2 (Bransby Williams/Orch/Raybould)
October 1933 – 12”
CAX 6971-1 DX544 12/33 A Charles Dickens Christmas – Part 1 (written by Lee & Weston)
CAX 6972-1 DX544 12/33 A Charles Dickens Christmas – Part 2 (written by Lee & Weston)
DECCA
7th July 1948
AR 12497-1 AK 1963 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge Before the Dream (Dickens)
AR 12498-1 AK 1963 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge The Dream (Dickens)
AR 12499-1 AK 1964 A Christmas Carol – Scrooge After the Dream (Dickens)
AR 12500-1 AK 1964 Dombey and Son – Captain Cuttle (Dickens)
? July 1948
DR 12529-1 F 9277 David Copperfield – Wilkins Micawber
DR 12530-1 F 9277 David Copperfield – Dan’l Peggotty