One of the most neatly kept and most visited graves in Kingston-upon-Hull's
Eastern Cemetery is that of Arthur Lucan, better known as the Irish
washerwoman Old Mother Riley. Today, more than fifty years after his
death in the wings of the city's Tivoli Theatre on 17th May 1954, people
still regularly go to pay their respects and lay flowers. Whilst the
grave is not forgotten, the career and films of one of the most popular
British entertainers are sadly neglected.
Arthur Lucan, was born Arthur Towle, the third of seven children, on
16th September 1885 in the small village of Sibsey, near Boston, in
Lincolnshire. He moved to nearby Boston with his family when he was
five years old. It was at the town's Shodfriars Hall, which housed a
theatre, within sight of his home, where the young Arthur Towle first
trod the boards. Initially, his job involved sweeping the stage and
selling programs. However, a serious epidemic of measles resulted in
the young Arthur being asked to play a minor part. In 1899 he eventually
managed to secure an onstage roll at the nearby Corn Exchange Music
Hall.
After seeing a Pierrot show in nearby Skegness around 1901, the restless
young Arthur joined a traveling troupe, "The Musical Cliftons."
His formative years were spent learning his craft around England and
Ireland. Whilst he enjoyed his time with them he yearned for the warmth
and comfort of the static theatre. To this end, in 1910 he managed to
secure a pantomime - Little Red Riding Hood - at the Queen's Theatre,
Dublin, by literally writing the script overnight, with himself playing
the role of Granny. The title role in the pantomime had been given to
a beautiful thirteen year old raven haired brown eyed local girl, Catherine
"Kitty" McShane.
The couple fell in love, and against Kitty's parents wishes, they were
married in Dublin in 1913. Arthur was twenty eight and Kitty, only sixteen.
Around this time, Arthur Towle changed his stage name to 'Arthur Lucan',
after spotting a Dublin horse-drawn milk float with the words "LUCAN
DAIRIES" on the side. 'Lucan and McShane' went on to develop one
of most popular British musical hall, radio and film comedy double acts
of all time - "Old Mother Riley and her daughter Kitty", forging
a show business career spanning over forty years.
After their marriage, the couple honed their act, playing down the
bill in numerous variety theatres across Britain. Arthur wrote the material
and Kitty performed the musical numbers. The gangly Old Mother Riley
dame character was usually a charwoman or laundress. With the aid of
her headstrong daughter, Kitty, the comedy came from Mother Riley's
absurd predicaments, eccentric ways, facial and bodily contortions,
and malapropism-filled tirades against all who displeased her, seasoned
with "knockabout" slapstick. The character was extremely popular
with children.
