Bobby Howes

Charles Robert William Howes, known professionally as Bobby Howes, was born on 4 August 1895 in Chelsea and raised in Battersea, Surrey, to parents Robert William Howes and Rose Marie Butler. He died on 27 April 1972 in London, England, at the age of 76.

After leaving school, Howes began an apprenticeship as an electrical engineer before his performing career intervened. In 1909, he auditioned for female impersonator Sable Fern at the Battersea Palace and made his professional debut that same day, playing a boy scout. He remained with Fern for more than a year before joining The Six White Boys and subsequently the Gotham Quartet. His early career was interrupted by the First World War, during which he served on the Western Front and survived a German mustard gas attack. Upon recovering, he secured a part alongside Tommy Handley in the revue Seasoned To Taste at The Metropolitan Theatre.

Howes made his West End debut in 1923 in The Little Revue at 9 at The Little Theatre, followed by The Second Little Revue at the same venue. A significant career breakthrough came with the role-reversal comedy Mr. Cinders, a production based on the Cinderella pantomime that also featured Binnie Hale. He reprised the title role in multiple productions of Mr. Cinders and recorded a 78 rpm single from the show with Hale. During the 1930s, he performed with Van Phillips' Four Bright Sparks, whose vocalists included Billy Milton, and the group recorded at least 60 sides. He became a leading musical comedy performer on the West End throughout the 1930s and 1940s, appearing in productions including For the Love of Mike, Tell Her the Truth, Yes Madam?, and Please Teacher. In 1945, he made his pantomime debut playing Buttons in Cinderella at the Victoria Palace.

In March 1922, Howes married Patricia Malone. The couple had two children: actress and singer Sally Ann Howes and musician Peter Howes. They divorced in 1948. In 1953, Howes performed alongside his daughter Sally Ann in the musical Paint Your Wagon, a production that was also documented in a cast recording.

Howes extended his career into film, television, and eventually Broadway. His film credits include For the Love of Mike (1932), Please Teacher (1937), Yes, Madam? (1939), The Good Companions (1957), and Watch It, Sailor! (1961), among others. On television, he appeared in productions including Such Is Life (1950), Curtains For Harry (1955), and The Dickie Henderson Show. He also performed at the Royal Variety Command Performance on 7 November 1955 at the Victoria Palace.

His Broadway appearance came in 1960, when he played the eponymous lead in a revival of Finian's Rainbow, a credit documented in both the production's cast recording and verified Broadway records. Howes continued working in stage, film, and television until retiring in the late 1960s.