In Search of information on Winifred Johnson- Knowles

Winifred Johnson was my great aunt. She was born in Detroit but moved to New York when she was about 12 as her father William was an actor. She played banjo on stage in the USA before coming to England with her husband, music hall raconteur R.G. Knowles in about 1895. Unfortunately she gave up playing to be his manager  but I'm pleased to say the musical genes live on in the family.

 

If anyone has any photos or information about her I would love to know. I believe she wrote a banjo tutorial book. Does anyone know if that's true?

 

Many thanks for your help.

 

Rosie

 

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Permalink Reply by Ray Jones on March 28, 2011 at 21:51

Hi Rosie

That name rings a bell with me.    I do have 1 or 2 photos of Winifred in my files, and I will rake them out for you.    If my memory serves me right, I also have a potted history of her.   I think she went to South Africa at one stage, anyway I'm only guessing as it was a long time ago.   I'll get back to you.

Ray

Permalink Reply by Rosie Anderson on March 28, 2011 at 22:07

Thanks for that. Yes, she certainly did some travelling with her husband on his lecture tour. He wrote a book called 'A Modern Colombus' about their travels and I think she lived for a while in Shanghai after his death.

I'd love to know if she ever played the banjo or indeed went on stage again.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Rosie

Permalink Reply by Ray Jones on March 28, 2011 at 22:58

Hi Rosie

She certainly played the banjo.    Looks like she played an old fretless banjo, which is not easy at the best of times.   I know that she performed here in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre in a show called " Stars of all Nations ".    My filing system is up the creek but I will keep searching for the history that I have of her.   In the meantime here are the 3 photos that I have of her.

Regards Ray

Permalink Reply by Ray Jones on March 28, 2011 at 23:01
Winifred Johnson
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Permalink Reply by Ray Jones on March 28, 2011 at 23:07


Permalink Reply by Rosie Anderson on March 28, 2011 at 23:10

They are great photos! Thank you so much.

Regards,

Rosie

Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on March 29, 2011 at 5:18
wow! those photos are fabulous.
Permalink Reply by Ray Jones on March 29, 2011 at 7:17

I'm glad that you managed to see the photos as I'm not exactly familier with how to operate this website.

Ray

Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on March 29, 2011 at 15:18
ya clicks and ya looks. Easy.


Ray Jones said:

I'm glad that you managed to see the photos as I'm not exactly familier with how to operate this website.

Ray

Permalink Reply by thereallyniceman on April 6, 2011 at 19:12

Hi Rosie, I have an old copy of  Winifred Johnson's Cottonfield Coons.

I have uploaded a scan of the front cover.. "As performed by her upwards of 1000 times at the all Principal Variety Theatres in the United Kingdom"

 

:-)

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Permalink Reply by Trapdoor2 on April 6, 2011 at 20:18
Hmmm...that reminds me of one of the pieces I got from one of Doug Rogers' collections. Now I'll have to go looking for it...
Permalink Reply by Rosie Anderson on April 6, 2011 at 21:23

Thank you so much. I haven't seen this before!

Cheers,

Rosie

thereallyniceman said:

Hi Rosie, I have an old copy of  Winifred Johnson's Cottonfield Coons.

I have uploaded a scan of the front cover.. "As performed by her upwards of 1000 times at the all Principal Variety Theatres in the United Kingdom"

 

:-)

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