Dave Morris

Who was Dave Morris?

Dave Morris was a music hall comedian who made a successful transition to radio and television. He was born on 5 July 1896, son of Samuel Morris and Lily Reubens. Samuel, a tailor, lived at 110 Wilson Street, Middlesbrough.

His first stage appearance was on 10 December 1908 at the Oxford Playhouse, Middlesbrough and his first London appearance in 1913 at the London Shoreditch. He started with a juvenile troupe, then as a black-face comic. In 1937 he began a nine-year run of summer seasons at Blackpool's North Pier, by now working as a northern comic in his famous straw hat and very thick glasses. He had extremely bad eyesight as a result of having been gassed in the trenches in World War I and thus was not conscripted for the Second World War. After nine years, he refused to go on playing matinees and transferred to a long run at the Blackpool Palace for George and Alfred Black. He worked as a sketch comic also doing some stand-up material. In 1950 Joe Gladwin joined him as a 'feed' and stayed with him for twelve years.

In 1948, he toured with 'Paradise on Parade' after a summer season at the South Pier, Blackpool. In January 1950, he was resident comedian of the BBC North Country variety feature, 'Variety Fanfare.'