Ella Retford (1886–1962)

(Mander and Mitchenson Theatre Collection, with permission)

Irish-born Ella Retford was one of the great stars of the Music Hall. Historian W. Macqueen-Pope describes her thus:

Dainty, delightful Ella Retford, a magnificent principal boy [in pantomime] and probably the best “Aladdin” ever seen, had many splendid songs; in World War I she aroused terrific enthusiasm with “Hello There, Little Tommy Atkins.” She was sparkle and grace personified and her dancing was a joy....A woman of gentleness and charm off the stage and of vivid talent and beauty on it, she is of the front rank.¹

Retford sang or recorded the following Fred Godfrey songs:

Molly O’Morgan (The Irish-Italian Girl) (Pathé 8204;
Jumbo 503, 1910)

Hey Ho! Can’t You Hear The Steamer? (she sang it on stage in 1913 but did not record it until 1930, as part of “Ella Retford Songs Medley,” Regal Zonophone MR-205)

How Do, Miss Wintertime? (1913)

We’re Irish And Proud Of It, Too (she sang it on stage in 1914 but did not record it until 1930, as part of “Ella Retford Songs Medley,” Regal Zonophone MR-205)

Be Sure He’s Irish (Jumbo 1234, 1914)

Up He Goes In His Little Monoplane (Jumbo 1232, 1914)

Sergeant Macadoo (A Little Bit Of French And A Little Bit Of Scotch) (Jumbo A-513, 1915)

We’re All North Country Lads And Lasses (Coliseum 788, 1915; Scala 663, 1915; Scala 731, 1915; Jumbo ?, 1916?)

You Were The First One To Teach Me To Love (Jumbo 1358, 1916)

She is also famous for singing She’s A Lassie From Lancashire and Ship Ahoy! (All The Nice Girls Love A Sailor), two songs that Fred Godfrey claimed to have written but for which he received no credit.

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Note

1  W. MacQueen-Pope, The Melodies Linger On: The Story of Music Hall (London:
    W.H. Allen, 1950), p. 338–39.