Music Hall Showman !

[MarksWife]

Hello there,

I found an ancestor with an interesting occupation, most of my ancestors have been ag labs, so I was interested to find Samuel  Frank Johnson b 1861 Bucklebury, Berks, having travelled all over, to end up on the 1911 Census living in Southsea and being a Music Hall Showman and most of his numerous daughters were also Music Hall Artistes.

I have had a little search online using his name and occupation and area but havent found any further information. 

I just wondered if anyone knew of somewhere in particular I could look to find out about what he may have been doing please.

Thanks

Markswife

[fifer1947]

Have you tried The Hiss & Boo Company http://www.hissboo.co.uk/musichall_artistes.html ?

[cath151]

Hi
There is a piece in the Reading Mercury 12 May 1917 about entertainment at Beenham Hatch.
"well known entertainers The Bramusas who sang several musical items. The troupe are a local family kindly giving their services"
Songs were contributed by Misses Lena and Clara Johnson (Bramusas)
I think they were also known as the 7 Bramusas.
Cathy
Mentions on google

[AMBLY]

A terrific find Cath151 ! 

One of the googled items - have to post this !  Has photgraphs, what a pretty bunch they were, lovely looking girls, & you can feel their vitality from the photographs:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/5449607484/

For interest these are the 9 - 6 girls, 3 boys:
Gertrude Esther 1887
Theodore Ystwith 1889
Cariad 1890
Elsie Deborah 1892
Marnesuel 1894
Thomas Charles 1897
Clara Agnes 1898
Douglas Berkeley1900
Annie Miriam N A N 1906

Love the girls names, Cariad & Marnesuel - any idea of the origin of those? Are they welsh names?

Cheers
AMBLY

[cath151]

Yes, a lovely picture
I hope it is the right family, does sound probable.
Cathy

[fifer1947]

If that is the family there are some playbills here http://www.leodis.net/playbills/item.asp?ri=2003730_13149660

[MarksWife]

WOW
Im amazed at what you have all found for me while I have been at work!!
Im thrilled to bits and cant wait to have a look at all the info found!

Thank you SO MUCH everyone x

[sheridanjones]

Hello! I have just come across your thread about the music hall act The Seven Bramusas, I am the granddaughter of Miriam, the youngest. I have plenty of photos and lots of stories! They were wonderful girls and a big part of my childhood. They all eventually married but ended up at different times living together again and are remembered as a wonderful brood of women! Mimi (Miriam) married Leonard Pearce, a musical director and they moved with my mother and uncles to South Africa for the war years; Nessie's (Marnesuel) son lives near Bath with his family and Elsie's daughter, my Aunt Judy, lives in Sausalito (nr San Francisco). Some married musicians and we still have a few musicians in the family. Some had hard lives, one married a millionaire! Hope this fills in a few gaps!
best wishes, Sheridan

[MarksWife]

Hi Sheridan,
Sorry for taking forever to reply. This is all wonderful info and I have been speaking to my aunt who would love to contact you as her mum Evelyn talked about your family. I will send a private message
Kind regards
Leisa