Person    | Male  Born 17/3/1842  Died 15/9/1884

George Leybourne

Categories: Humour, Theatre

Music hall entertainer. Born Gateshead. His first stage name was Joe Saunders. 1866 he had a big success with the song 'Champagne Charlie' and took on the name and life-style for ever after. Engaged at London's Canterbury Music Hall, sung in East End of London. Gained the sponsorship of champagne producers Moet and Chandon because of the advertising he provided for their company. They gave him a retainer and supplies of their product. His champagne lifestyle caught up with him eventually and he died in 1884 at the age of 42.

Credit for this entry to: Beverley Duguid

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
George Leybourne

Commemorated ati

George Leybourne

Greater London Council George Leybourne, "Champagne Charlie", 1842 - 1884, m...

Read More

Other Subjects

Benny Green

Benny Green

Bernard 'Benny' Green, jazz musician, saxophonist, writer, author, broadcaster and raconteur. When his long-running BBC radio show was cancelled there were demonstrations outside Broadcasting Hou...

Person, Humour, Music / songs, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Tommy Handley

Tommy Handley

Radio comedian.  Born Liverpool.  Best known for the BBC radio show "ITMA - It's that man again".

Person, Humour, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Norman Wisdom

Norman Wisdom

Comedian, actor, singer and songwriter. Born Norman Joseph Wisdom at 91 Fernhead Road. He made his stage debut in 1946 and went on to star in many films, most of them featuring his downtrodden char...

Person, Cinema, Humour

1 memorial
Irene Handl

Irene Handl

Comedy actor.  Born 13 Leith Mansions, Paddington and grew up in St John's Wood.  Began acting in her mid thirties and was almost never out of work, giving cameo performances in many British films ...

Person, Cinema, Humour, Theatre, TV & Radio

2 memorials
Ernie Wise OBE

Ernie Wise OBE

Comedian, one half of Morecambe and Wise.  Born Leeds. Died Nuffield Hospital, Gerrards Cross.  The little one on the right in our picture.

Person, Humour, TV & Radio

3 memorials