Tom Whiteley was in England for a family wedding in the summer of 1920.
Tom later claims that he was abroad gaining stage and film experience but we have no evidence for this. Then in winter 1923-4 he may have moved to Liverpool, then in May he worked his passage to New York on the SS Celtic.
Something has teed up his stage career because he then takes part in the Ziegfield Follies with Lupino Lane
from June 1924. In March 1925 he starts at Shuberts Theatre, Broadway in New York in Sky High starring Willie Howard. He plays Mr Gray and Dr Carter. In June he is in The Merry World. In November he is on tour with Sky High in Philadelphia. During 1926 he plays in Naughty Riguette starring Mitzi. In August 1926 The Merry World has been reworked and supplemented to become The Passing Show of 1926. In September 1926 he is in a musical romance The Nightingale in Atlantic City and in Chicago in November. He plays The Piper.
The first picture is an undated photo with Lupino Lane in front row third left. Tom sneaks in at the back standing at the stage door entrance of the Empire Theatre New York.
The second picture is a mystery but of which cast is it? Tom's dog Whitey is sitting on top of the piano(?) at the back with Tom to the right.
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LUPINO LANE cast at New York Empire Cast of performers - who and where unknown
In January 1927 The Nightingale opens at the Jolson Theatre in New York. Stanley Lupino highlights the amusement. In April the show is in Chicago.
The publicity press release below is from the New York News 27 February 1927.
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THE NIGHTINGALE
At the beginning of 1927 Tom appears in the Music Box Revue in Los Angeles with Lupino Lane.
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Copyright © Ken Kirkman 2009-2010