Little Tich

Little Tich [ Harry Relph] (1868–1928), English music-hall comedian, who got his name from his supposed likeness as a baby to the claimant in the famous Tichborne Case. He made his first appearance as a child of 12 in blackface at one of London's last pleasure grounds, the Rosherville near Gravesend, and was first seen on the ‘halls’ in 1884 at the Middlesex. After playing in vaudeville in the USA for some years he returned to England and was seen in a number of pantomimes and burlesques. In 1902 he was at the Tivoli and there, and in a number of other ‘halls’ throughout the country, made a great success with his impersonations, which ranged from grocers, blacksmiths, and sailors on leave to fairy queens and Spanish dancers, and invariably ended, at least until his last years, with a fantastic dance in which he balanced on the tips of his preposterous boots, which were over half as long as he was high. He toured extensively, and was as popular in Paris as in London. His act was essentially pantomimic, and his whole personality was reminiscent of the Court Fool or dwarf of medieval aristocratic households. Though unusually small (just over 4 ft.) he was not deformed except for an extra finger on each hand.