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Josephine Langley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Josephine Langley
Born
Annie Howarth
NationalityEnglish
Other namesMadame Langley, Lady Ventriloquist
OccupationVentriloquist
Years activec. 1910s
RelativesJohn Yeadon (grandson)
Leeds Hippodrome's playbill for the week beginning Monday, 20 April, 1914, with Langley second on the bill, above Will Hay

Josephine Langley, or Madame Langley, Lady Ventriloquist, was the stage name of Annie Howarth, an English ventriloquist, who performed in music halls. She learned the skill of ventriloquy from her brother James Langley, and first performed at Sunday School concerts in her home town of Burnley, at the age of twelve.[1] She was subsequently managed by her husband, Edward Howarth (known as "Ned").[2]

In 1929 the couple emigrated to the United States, with their young son.[3] They subsequently returned to England.

Her grandson is the artist, John Yeadon, who features her ventriloquist dummies in his work.[2][4]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Woods, Roger; Howarth, Maurice S. Josephine Langley, Lady Ventriloquist: The Story of Mrs Edward Howarth. Roger Woods. (Maurice Howarth is her son)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "A Clever Lady Ventriloquist". Burnley News. 15 May 1918. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b Yeadon, John. "A Family Of Ventriloquists". Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  3. ^ L, D. "Josephine Langley Lady Ventriloquist, The Story of Mrs Edward Howarth". Magicsen. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  4. ^ Chamberlain, Julie (8 January 2015). "Miniature art work on show at Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2015.