Empire, Islington, London

6.30 & 9pm. Lew Lake presents "They Didn't Want To Do It." Featuring Charlie Rich, Freddie Malcolm, Forest Tell, Hickey's Circus, Dorothy Wheeler, Elsie Roby, Claude Gardner, Jillson Horace White. (The Era - Wednesday 18 October 1916) The principal feature of the entertainment at this handsome and commodious house, under the management of Mr. James A. Molloy, is the musical extravanganza "They Didn't Want To Do It". featuring Charlie Rich and Elsie Roby. It is presented by Lew Lake, book and lyrics by Arthur Rose. The scene opens on board ss Albatross, and we are introduced to the various characters, the two hen-pecked husbands and their Amazonian spouses, the toreador who won't fight, and the astute manager who lures the husbands on to act as bull-fighters for fear of having their flirtations related to their wives. Next we go to Spain, where the Mayor who welcomes among others the young lovers who were also aboard ship, in the shape of his daughter and a young officer, descantes on the terrible prowess of the bull, which has put paid to the accounts of sixty-nine toreadors and matadors. They are given a last chance to tell their wives, but prefer the jaws of death to the eternal jaw of their better halves. Phil Parsons is popular, and Messrs. Jazon and Montgomery vocal and terpsichorean novel "Revueland" brings an admirable programme to a close. (The Era - Wednesday 25 October 1916)

This performance (theatre and start date) is included in a list of forthcoming performances of “Married on Leave” in The Stage of Thursday 1 August 1918. The Era of Wednesday 2 October 1918 carried an advertisement for Dorothy Mullord & Co. in “Married on Leave” at the Islington Empire [in the following week] at 6.15pm and 8.30pm with no mention of a matinée.

Advertised in the Era, 20 November 1918, for the following week, as ‘E. Montefiore & Co.’.

‘The principal attraction on Mr. Leslie Hogben’s programme is provided by Charles Austin, who is presenting his farcical sketch, “Parker’s Appeal.” Though this war time piece has naturally lost much of its topical flavour, there are still plenty of laughs in it, and Mr. Austin has numerous opportunities to display his ludicrous humours, whilst sundry little snatches of song and a mock patriotic speech at the end reveal passing glimpses of his powers as vocalist and actor. His company support him loyally, and Islington audiences love him’. The Stage, 15 January 1920.

The Stage, 22 and 29 August 1929, listed The Adventures of Parker, P.C. as On Tour from 26 August at the Emp., Islington.