Harry Lauder

SIR HENRY LAUDER d1950. Scottish entertainer known professionally as Harry Lauder. He was described by Winston Churchill as "Scotland's greatest ever ambassador !" In 1905 his success in leading the Howard & Wyndham pantomime at The Theatre Royal Glasgow ( for which he wrote I Love a Lassie), made him a national British star and he obtained contracts with Sir Edward Moss and others. During 1911 he toured the United States where he commanded $1,000 a night. In 1912 he was top of the bill at Britain`s first ever Royal Command Variety performance in front of King George V, organised by Alfred Butt and was by now Britain`s best-known entertainer. He toured the world extensively during his forty-year career, including 22 trips to the USA  for which he had his own railroad train, the Harry Lauder Special ; he also made several trips to Australia where his brother John had emigrated. He was at one time the highest-paid performer in the world, making the equivalent of £12,700 a night plus expenses and was also the first British artiste to sell a million records. Lauder's music appealed to all, including workers, merchants, royalty and presidents. He wrote most of his own songs, favourites of which include ; "Roamin in the Gloamin" / "I Love a Lassie" / "A Wee Deoch-an-Doris" and "Keep Right on to the End of the Road". He starred in three British films : Huntingtower (1927) / Auld Lang Syne (1929) and End Of The Road (1936). He also wrote a number of books which ran into several editions including ; Harry Lauder at Home and on Tour (1912) / A Minstrel in France (1918) / Between You and Me (1919) / Roamin’ in the Gloamin’ (1928 autobiography) / My Best Scotch Stories (1929) /Wee Drappies (1931) and Ticklin’ Talks (circa 1932). He died in Scotland aged 79 in 1950.