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His gravestone shows a stage with curtains drawn back, and bears the words: "The last curtain call for G H Elliott the
Chocolate Coloured Coon who died 19 November 1962. Dearly loved R.I.P". Because of sensitivities over the wording, the memorial was removed to a safe location in June 2020.
95:", which he sang in tribute to his hero. Among the songs particularly associated with him are "Idaho", "The Honeysuckle and the Bee", "I Used to Sigh for the Silvery Moon" and "Sue, Sue, Sue", many written by
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and dressed entirely in white: white top hat, white tail-coat which came down well below the knees, white gloves, white tie or cravat, white trousers, white shoes and white cane.
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Michael
Pickering, ‘Elliott, George Henry (1882–1962)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2013
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in 1904 and his last in 1960. In 1912 and 1914, he was the best-selling recording artist for the company
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Oxford
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when he was four. There he played juvenile parts on stage including the title role in
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He was married twice, first in 1913 to Emily Hayes, who died in 1940 after years of
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Parker, Michael (2011). "G. H. Elliott: The
Original Chocolate Coloured Coon".
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singer and dancer. Known as "The
Chocolate Coloured Coon", he performed with a
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Headstone in St. Margaret's
Churchyard, Rottingdean, prior to its removal
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Cavalcade of
Variety Acts: a Who Was Who of Light Entertainment, 1945–60
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Elliott continued to work occasionally until about 1960, but after a
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128:(1934); a blackface singer who performed "Lily of Laguna" in
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As a popular light comedian, Elliott appeared in three
30:(3 November 1882 – 19 November 1962) was a British
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212:Chocolate & Cream
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140:Thanks for the Memory
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455:People from Rochdale
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208:Sawdust to Stardust
131:Those Were the Days
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109:His Master's Voice
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169:alcoholism
125:Music Hall
70:blacked up
52:Lancashire
32:music hall
120:BBC radio
184:Brighton
136:Don Ross
48:Rochdale
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