Music Hall star Gus Elen sings "The Postman's 'Oliday" Pathe short 1932

[@swallin19]

Just be thankful a film of Gus Elan survives, who performed on stage over 130 years ago! Just a handful of films of music hall stars exist, Elan was very enthusiastic to get this on sound film, he had retired many years before, but put several numbers on film. Stephen.

[@MrGranfield]

"We got weary on our pins and lost the bloomin' twins, but I'm glad we had a nice quiet day". Great lyrics!

[@zippgunz]

I love Gus Elen. Pity about the censored line. This was recorded in the singer's old age in a little studio in Wardour street in the west end of London. "I gave the kid's a treat, when we got to Newgate street, 'cos I showed them where their uncle 'e was hung!" Great stuff!

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

Censorship of material from another age is always stupid; there are those who would censor Mark Twain for the same reason. However, the original recording remains intact somewhere (I have it on CD) - you can't doctor the past: it's there, and can't be escaped. And agreed - just be thankful some recordings of this marvellous entertainer remain, and that he came out of retirement to make them for posterity.

[@malthuswasright]

What most people miss is that in a "nice quiet day" he gets from Epping Forest, Highgate, Peckham Rye, Crystal Palace, Monument, Wanstead to the Serpentine and Newgate, which you'd struggle to achieve in a day even now!

[@FSCforal]

One word has been cut out

[@philmarkham7477]

There's a recording of the late Roy Hudd performing this in which he provides a socially acceptable alteration to the first line. The song loses nothing by this so let's not get hung up about 'historical accuracy'

[@Jacylaughs]

Thinking of all you mums and dads busy trying to occupy your dustbin lids during the school holidays reminded me of this old Gus Elen ditty.

[@MadAndyBeckman]

@SilverWitness By "medium" do you mean the internet KZbin.This is an "innocent" recording of a musical hall artist from over 80 years ago which is not political or ideological." If we censor one thing then where does it end? Do we censor the last lines making light of the death penalty which is now regarded as a breach of human rights? Do we ban Doris Day's "A Man Is A Man"for glorifying stalking and her "Woman's Touch" as offensive to women by it's gender stereotype? Where do we stop?

[@peterbaxter2913]

I have a copy of the original recording, and I wait in trepidation for that knock on the door from the thought police.

[@MadAndyBeckman]

@SilverWitness Regarding "KZbin reaches an incredibly broad range of viewers/listeners who may find the word (quite understandably in my eyes) upsetting"..... Your overlook that this video is cultural and historical and suggesting we dumb down for those you label "unsophisticated" is patronising and pompous and denies the very people you condescend knowledge and insight. Some MAY find the word offensive in your eyes but they would find your deciding that for them even more so.

[@59nobby59]

Getting a bit too PC for historical correctness. Great upload allthesame thanks.

[@MadAndyBeckman]

@SilverWitness Looking at your posting again I am somewhat puzzled by... ""Perhaps because it may cause offence in this more enlightened age? I agree with you, from an historical point of view, that the original recording (uncensored) would place the piece in it's correct context."" If the issue is context and censoring applies in this age then this age can is less enlightened,

[@fritsvandermeer8018]

PC

[@neilmccormick2064]

Where's is washboard?