Will Evans
59 records in the collection· mostly on Zonophone, Winner, Ariel
Will Evans was a British music-hall comedian and recording artist active in the early twentieth century, known for comic sketches and character pieces as well as songs. His records, often built around mishaps and recurring characters such as Jim, preserve the spoken humour and broad domestic comedy that were staples of the Edwardian halls.
This introduction was written by AI from what is known of the artist. Ask us if you want to know more about a particular record.
Records by Will Evans
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- AA Quiet Game of Bridge
- Bpart 2
Will Evans, a British comedian, in "A Quiet Game of Bridge", parts 1 and 2, on Winner, a cheap British label of the early 1930s.AI summary
Winner 3079 Comic
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- AAdvertisements
- BShowman
Will Evans recorded 'Advertisements' and 'Showman' for the Stars label, a small British imprint; otherwise unplaced in standard reference works.AI summary
The Stars 171 Music Hall
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- AAll about Archibald
- BJim at the Bank
Will Evans recorded 'All about Archibald' and 'Jim at the Bank' for Piccadilly, catalogue 437. Evans was a music hall comedian active in the early 1930s; Piccadilly was a cheap British budget label.AI summary
Piccadilly 437 Music Hall
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- AAll about Jim
- BButcher
Will Evans on Bell 211, performing comedic music-hall songs 'All about Jim' and 'Butcher'. Bell was a small British label of the early 1900s–10s.AI summary
Bell 211 Music Hall
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- AAll about Jim
Will Evans on Zonophone performing 'All About Jim', a novelty or comic song by an unidentified artist on a British budget label.AI summary
Zonophone X42287 Comic
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- AAll about Jim
Will Evans performs All About Jim on Zonophone 42287, a single-sided issue.AI summary
Zonophone 42287 Comic
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- AAll about Jim
- BReading a Novelette
Will Evans recorded 'All About Jim' and 'Reading a Novelette' for the VF label, a small British imprint. Evans was associated with British music-hall and character comedy of the early 20th century.AI summary
Velvet Face 1015 Music Hall
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- AAll About Jim (05)
- BArnessing an Orse (11)
Will Evans, the music hall comedian, with All About Jim and Harnessing an Horse on Ariel 899.AI summary
Ariel 899 Comic
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- AAll About Jim (10)
- B(Bluff) Delirious Ditties
Will Evans credited on DipC 10, a cheaply-made British label of uncertain dating and attribution. The titles suggest comic material.AI summary
Diploma C10 Comic
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- ABacking a Car
- Bpart 2
Will Evans on Winner 2972, a British music hall or comic performer, recorded performing a novelty piece on backing a car in two parts. Evans was a minor performer of the period.AI summary
Winner 2972 Music Hall
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- ABuilding a Chicken House
- Bpart 2
Will Evans, credited here on Winner, may be the British comedian and character actor of the early 20th century, though attribution is uncertain. The piece 'Building a Chicken House' appears to be a comic monologue in two parts.AI summary
Winner 2883 Comic
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- ABuilding a Chicken House
- Bpart 2
Will Evans performing comedy sketches 'Building a Chicken House' (parts 1 and 2) on Zonophone 859, a British recording of the early 1900s–1920s era.AI summary
Zonophone 859 Comic
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- ABuilding a Chicken House
- Bpart 2
Will Evans, credited in parts 1 and 2, performing the humorous monologue "Building a Chicken House" on His Master's Voice B3317. Evans was a noted British comedian and music-hall performer popular in the early sound era.AI summary
His Master's Voice B3317 Music Hall
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- AButcher(10)
- BShe was such a gentle sort of Girl
Hom H247 Music Hall
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- AGeneral Advice
- BWil Evans on Jim's Voice
Will Evans, a British music-hall performer, performing 'General Advice' and 'Will Evans on Jim's Voice' on Zonophone, a British label active from the early 1900s onwards.AI summary
Zonophone 1521 Music Hall
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- AHamlet
- BWho am I
Will Evans recorded 'Hamlet' and 'Who am I' for Zonophone, catalogue 71; Evans is untraced and the very low catalogue number suggests an extremely early Zonophone pressing from the acoustic era.AI summary
Zonophone 71 Voice
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- AHarnessing a horse
- Bpart 2
Will Evans, a British music-hall comedian, recorded for Winner with narrative comic material from an unidentified era. Evans was known for pantomime and stage comedy.AI summary
Winner 2845 Music Hall
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- AHarnessing a Horse
- Bpart 2
Will Evans, likely a British comedian or character performer, performs 'Harnessing a Horse' and its continuation on Winner, a British label of the 1930s–1950s.AI summary
Winner 2845 Music Hall
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- AHome Sweet Home
- BArnessing an 'orse
Will Evans on Zonophone 778, a music-hall or variety performer recording two comic or sentimental numbers; Evans was a known performer of the early 1900s–1920s era, and Zonophone was a major British label, though this particular record is likely to have been well-pressed.AI summary
Zonophone 778 Music Hall
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- AHome Sweet Home
- BArnessing an 'orse
Will Evans on Zonophone 778, performing music hall comedy material. Evans was a British music hall comedian; Zonophone was an early British label and this catalogue number suggests acoustic or very early electrical recording.AI summary
Zonophone 778 Music Hall
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- AI'm a Soldier
- BKnight in Armour
Will Evans performing 'I'm a Soldier' and 'Knight in Armour' on Polyphon, a early German–British label.AI summary
Polyphon 8838 Voice
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- AInvasion(12)
- BVillain of the Piece
Will Evans was a British actor and comedian known for pantomime and comic sketches. 'Invasion' and 'The Villain of the Piece' are likely dramatic monologues or recitations typical of Edwardian and 1920s variety entertainment. This Pathé pressing dates from that era.AI summary
Pathé 20758 Music Hall
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- AInvasion(12)
- BVillain of the Piece
Will Evans, the British actor and comedian, performing 'Invasion' and 'The Villain of the Piece', dramatic recitations or comic sketches from the Edwardian variety tradition. This Pathé 20758 pressing is from the acoustic era.AI summary
Pathé 20758 Music Hall
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- AJim at the Seaside
- BThe Alpine Guide
Will Evans, the music-hall comedian, performs 'Jim at the Seaside' and 'The Alpine Guide' on Ariel.AI summary
Ariel 3232 Music Hall
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- AJockey
- BJerry Builder
Will Evans performing 'Jockey' and 'Jerry Builder' on Polyphon, a small British label.AI summary
Polyphon 8787 Music Hall
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- AKeeping Bees
- BA Knight in Armour
Will Evans recorded 'Keeping Bees' and 'A Knight in Armour' for Pathé 78704. Evans cannot be identified; Pathé was a major international label but UK pressings vary in rarity by catalogue number.AI summary
Pathé 78704 Music Hall
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- AKnight in Armour
- BKeeping Bees
Regal 6432 Music Hall
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- AKnight in Armour
- BYachting
Will Evans recorded 'Knight in Armour' and 'Yachting' for Zonophone, a British label active mainly from the 1900s–1920s; likely light entertainment or novelty songs from that era.AI summary
Zonophone 921 Music Hall
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- AMore about Jim
- BLost Umbrella
Will Evans on Winner 3088, a music-hall or comedy performer recording sketches; Evans was a known performer of the early 1900s–1920s, though this Winner budget-label pressing would have been mass-produced.AI summary
Winner 3088 Music Hall
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- APolice Court Justice
Will Evans, the music-hall comedian, performs 'Police Court Justice' on a single-sided G&T.AI summary
G&T 3-2134 Music Hall
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- APolly or the Missing Verse(10)
- BThe Novelette
Will Evans, a British music-hall performer and pantomime favourite, performing novelty or comic material on Regal 6430.AI summary
Regal 6430 Music Hall
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- AQueues
- B(2 sides)
Will Evans performing 'Queues' on Winner 3224, a British dance and novelty label of the 1920s–30s.AI summary
Winner 3224 Music Hall
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- ARagtime Rosie
- BThe Wrong Flat
Will Evans performs two music-hall comedy monologues on Zonophone 1167: "Ragtime Rosie" and "The Wrong Flat," likely from around 1912–1915. Evans was a known British music-hall comedian of that era; Zonophone was a widely distributed British label.AI summary
Zonophone 1167 Music Hall
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- AReading a Novelette
- B(Anon)Winner Laughing Record
Will Evans recorded 'Reading a Novelette' and 'Winner Laughing Record' for Winner Records. Evans was a British performer, likely in comedy or music-hall.AI summary
Winner 3789 Comic
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- AReading a Novelette
- B(Anon)Winner Laughing Record
Will Evans recorded 'Reading a Novelette' and a Winner Laughing Record for Winner Records. Evans was a British music hall performer, and the laughing record was a novelty item of the early 20th century.AI summary
Winner 3789 Music Hall
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- AShe was such a gentle sort of Girl
- BWho am I?
Will Evans, the music-hall comedian, sings 'She Was Such a Gentle Sort of Girl' and 'Who Am I?' on Klingsor.AI summary
Klingsor 10542 Music Hall
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- AShe was such a gentle Sort of Girl
- BWho am I?
Will Evans, the celebrated Edwardian music-hall comedian and pantomime performer, records 'She Was Such a Gentle Sort of Girl' and 'Who Am I?' on Polyphon 10542. This is a Polyphon pressing of the same material as the Kling-label Evans in this collection; Polyphon was a Continental label with British distribution, and Evans recordings on this imprint are uncommon.AI summary
Polyphon 10542 Music Hall
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- ASultan of Turkey
- BA Breach of Promise Case
Will Evans on Zonophone 84, performing two British music-hall comic monologues from the early 20th century. Evans was a popular British character comedian and music-hall performer.AI summary
Zonophone 84 Music Hall
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- AThe Alpine Guide
Gramophone Company 4-2052 Music Hall
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- AThe Alpine Guide
Will Evans on Gramophone Company 4-2052 with 'The Alpine Guide', a British comedy or character recording from the early 20th century. Evans was a music-hall and early silent-film comedian.AI summary
Gramophone Company 4-2052 Music Hall
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- AThe Butcher
- BTin Tacks
Will Evans, the celebrated Edwardian music-hall comedian and pantomime performer, records 'The Butcher' and 'Tin Tacks' on Polyphon 10539, a Continental-label pressing. Like the other Polyphon Evans in this collection, this is a Continental-label variant of a collected Edwardian comedy name; such pressings are less common than Evans's domestic label equivalents.AI summary
Polyphon 10539 Music Hall
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- AThe Girl who lost her -
- BWedding in the Farmyard
Will Evans performs the music-hall comedy numbers 'The Girl who lost her —' and 'Wedding in the Farmyard' on Zonophone 1099, an early recording from the acoustic era.AI summary
Zonophone 1099 Music Hall
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- AThe Jerry Builder
- BThe Jockey
Will Evans, a celebrated British music-hall comedian and actor, recorded comic sketches or monologues for Polyphon; a scarce early recording of a significant variety performer.AI summary
Polyphon 8787 Music Hall
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- AThe Mermaid
- BReading a Novelette
Will Evans on Bell 210, performing 'The Mermaid' and 'Reading a Novelette'. Evans was a British music-hall comedian popular in the early 1900s; Bell was an early British label. This is an acoustic-era recording and is scarce.AI summary
Bell 210 Music Hall
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- AThe Novelette
Will Evans, a British music-hall performer. G&T 2-2897 ('The Novelette') is an acoustic recording from the early catalogue.AI summary
G&T 2-2897 Music Hall
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- AThe Suffragette
- BAll about Jim(05)
Will Evans, a British comedian and music-hall performer, recorded 'The Suffragette' and 'All About Jim' for Zonophone 540. Evans was famous for monologue and comic-song recordings in the early 1900s; Zonophone was a significant label in that era.AI summary
Zonophone 540 Music Hall
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- AThe Sultan of Turkey
- BThe Alpine Guide
Will Evans, a British music hall and pantomime comedian, performing character monologues ('The Sultan of Turkey', 'The Alpine Guide') on Argo Records. The catalogue number 9498 and label are difficult to identify precisely.AI summary
Ariel 9498 Music Hall
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- AThe Walking Man
Will Evans, the music-hall comedian, performs 'The Walking Man' on a single-sided G&T.AI summary
G&T 2-2904 Music Hall
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- ATin Tacks
Will Evans, a British music-hall entertainer, performing on the Gramophone & Typewriter Company (G&T) label. G&T was an early British label (1898–1920), and the catalogue number G&T1307 places this in the early era of acoustic recording.AI summary
G&T 1307 Music Hall
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- ATin Tacks
Will Evans, credited on a GC (Gramophone Company) label with the novelty title 'Tin Tacks'. No reliable information is available about this performer.AI summary
Gramophone Company 1307
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- AWhitewashing a Ceiling
- Bpart 2
Will Evans, a British music hall performer, performing his comedy sketch 'Whitewashing a Ceiling' on Winner 2833, a budget British imprint.AI summary
Winner 2833 Comic
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- AWho Am I?
- BThe Butcher
Will Evans, a British music-hall comedian, performs 'Who Am I?' and 'The Butcher' on the Homophone (Hom) label.AI summary
Hom 770 Music Hall
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- AWill Evans and Jim at the Seaside
- BAnother of Jim's Adventures
Will Evans and Jim in two comic sketches recorded for Zonophone, a British label established in the early 1900s. Evans was a music-hall comedian of the Edwardian era, and these pieces capture the spoken-word comic routines typical of the period.AI summary
Zonophone 1362 Music Hall
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- AWill Evans and Jim at the Seaside
- BThe Jockey
Will Evans, the music hall comedian, with Will Evans and Jim at the Seaside and The Jockey on Ariel 2124.AI summary
Ariel 2124 Comic
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- AWill Evans loses his Umbrella
- BWill Evans unveils a Statue
Will Evans, a British music-hall comedian, performs comic sketches on Zonophone 1434 — likely an early pressing (Zonophone active 1901–1924), making this a scarce acoustic-era recording.AI summary
Zonophone 1434 Music Hall
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- AWill Evans unveils a Statue
- BWill Evans and Jim at the Seaside
Will Evans, the music hall comedian, with Will Evans Unveils a Statue and Will Evans and Jim at the Seaside on Ariel 901.AI summary
Ariel 901 Comic
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- AWill Evans' Fire Station
- Bpart 2
Will Evans recorded for Winner, a cheap British label, performing 'Will Evans' Fire Station', a novelty or comic sketch-based recording split across two sides, likely from the 1920s–1930s.AI summary
Winner 3103 Music Hall
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- AWill Weston and Jim at the Seaside
- BThe Jockey (06)
Will Evans, the music hall comedian, with Will Weston and Jim at the Seaside and The Jockey on Ariel 598.AI summary
Ariel 598 Comic
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- AYachting
- BGirl who lost her Memory
Will Evans, a British music-hall performer, on Pathé Records. This is a second record by Evans in this collection (see also id 12811, the G&T recording). Evans was a stage and recording artist of the Edwardian era.AI summary
Pathé 79342 Music Hall