Little Tich - Big Boot Dance (1900)

Little Tich (1867-1928) was a famous North London Music Hall artist.
In this routine, filmed with primitive sound for the Paris Exposition of 1900, he performs his Big Boot Dance.
Quite a lot of the routine is very inventive and funny and stands up well today. Part of the humour, which makes us relate to him, is that most of his tricks - balancing his hat on his nose, catching his hat on his long shoes, go wrong.
I dare you not to like Tich and his routine.
Enjoy!

[@bradb7342]

How happy he'd be to know his performances are still being viewed over 100 years later.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

he would indeed. so lucky he was filmed

[@markbeames7852]

Little Tich was born Harry Relph in Cudham, Kent (now in the London Borough of Bromley). He was the last of eight children[1] born to Richard Relph (1790-1881), a farmer and publican, and his wife Mary, née Moorefield (1835-1893).[n 1] The Relph family were close and lived in relative affluence. Richard Relph was a committed family man and was known in the village for his sharp business acumen.[4] His early wealth, which was attributed to a series of successful horse-trading deals, enabled him to purchase his first public house, the Rising Sun in Fawkham. In 1818 he married Sarah Ashenden and they had eight children; she died in 1845. In 1851 he moved to Cudham, bought the Blacksmith's Arms and an adjoining farm, and started a new family with Mary Moorefield, a nurse-maid governess from Dublin. Little Tich was born with an extra digit on each hand, webbed from the little finger to the centre joint. He also experienced stunted growth. He reached 4 feet 6 inches (137 cm) in height by the age of ten, but grew no taller. His physical differences from other children caused him to become socially withdrawn and lonely. Nevertheless, his disabilities earned him fame and were an asset to his parents' business. Patrons would travel from neighbouring counties to witness his peculiarities, and the youngster revelled in the attention, dancing comically on his father's saloon bar to curious guests.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

thanks for the background - appreciated

[@GrantTarredus]

Yes indeed, thank you for very much for the information!

[@evelynsaungikar3553]

Interesting family math, his father was 77 when he was born! He had 15 siblings and half siblings!

[@user-zp7jp1vk2i]

@@evelynsaungikar3553 so even with the outcross genetics of an Irish wife, the digits still showed up the close gene pool??!!

[@andrewwaddington7521]

Last time I was in the Blacksmiths Arms pub at Cudham his boots were on display with other memorabilia.

[@peterrowland192]

A brilliant performance. My mother (b. 1908) saw him perform and never forgot it - one of the highlights of her childhood!

[@JohnRaymondHall]

lucky you mother got to see him - yes, it stands up well, over a hundred years later

[@geraldgamwell3634]

@@JohnRaymondHall B744jr

[@JohnRaymondHall]

@@geraldgamwell3634 ? :)

[@UFCKing209]

🥲

[@animalntelligence3170]

I did not expect to see someone post who was "one away" from having actually seen him. Nice.

[@animalntelligence3170]

I was reading about The Ministry of Silly Walks in Wikipedia which mentioned Little Tich as being an inspiration as sounds very plausible. I then read further in Wikipedia about Little Tich himself -- an interesting person. He was born with some differences but was of very much above-average intelligence and he managed to make his short stature an asset, becoming a successful entertainer with a pretty long tenure on stage. I had never heard of him before this day -- I may have seen the "Ministry" skit 50 years ago.

[@alitlweird]

He’s a _Smooth Criminal_

[@laurensmork]

Maybe that inspired Michael Jackson, yeah! 😃👍

[@ReneeandJimmyG]

Lol! That was the first thing I thought too!!! 😂

[@peipei6319]

😅😅😅

[@lilybond6485]

Amazing ! Bet he never thought people would be watching him over 100 years later.

[@remaguire]

And he would surely LOVE it that his performance is still being enjoyed!

[@america1st721]

I'm sure he didn't think people would see this an hour after this show.

[@lilybond6485]

Huh ?

[@RedcoatsReturn]

Wonderful to see before our very eyes😲…a great performance👏👏👏👏👏👏👏…from the legendary ‘Little Tich‘….from…124 years ago 😲😲

[@JohnRaymondHall]

agreed! it's like time travel. the performance is so alive still today!

[@anautisticpersonxd3324]

Can we just appreciate how impressive the quality is for 1900?

[@JohnRaymondHall]

a real insight into music hall of the period - a real comic talent!

[@mimibarn]

@@JohnRaymondHall Almost eerie! Brilliant.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

@@mimibarn indeed! and surreal

[@BrandonCurington-jr3qp]

@@JohnRaymondHallhi

[@JohnRaymondHall]

@@BrandonCurington-jr3qp hi :)

[@ScrypKat56]

I loved the hiding of his naked foot with his hat. So charming.

[@bcd4562]

💯

[@tbascoebuzz4782]

Who would’ve thought 124 years later I’d be watching this and loving it!!!✨💖✨

[@JohnRaymondHall]

yes, indeed!

[@evanescent1215]

A nice tribute to a very talented man. The wikipedia entry for him is very illuminating. Whilst he was unemployed he taught himself to read and write music and play several instruments. He was also a gifted sketch-artist at an early age. As others have pointed out, this is but a tiny part of the diminutive comic's repertoire. Thanks for the upload sir!

[@markbillings3062]

He was fabulous I thought n I m a bit of a dancing comedian myself

[@jodyharnish9104]

I grew up watching silent movies on the local PBS station, but I've never seen him before! This is brilliant!

[@nomcognom2414]

This must be how Chaplin was inspired to create Charlot.

[@LazyIRanch]

I was wondering if Harpo Marx took some inspiration from this funny man, they both have a likable, funny personality, if not downright adorable!

[@hamsterdiving7593]

And Michael Jackson, for the leaning forward bit...

[@pinedelgado4743]

Little Tich was one of the performers at the very first Royal Variety Performance in 1912. :) :)

[@IAmJustACritic]

I went from the word Titchy, to the Wiki for Little Titch (Harry Relph), to this video. What a fun time I've had. Thanks Harry!!

[@amolinag]

Thank you very much for uploading these treasures. People that nobody remembers but thanks to you many people can see them again.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

a pleasure - and great you liked Tich - who has really comic skill and timing - for me it stands up today :)

[@daryldaryl913]

Thank you. I have never heard or seen this individual. I find him amazing including his life accomplishments.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

pleasure. yes, his performance is so 'alive' even after over 100 years!

[@sw4819]

*Во все времена рождает Земля таланты* ✓ *Отдельный респект кожевнику и сапожнику: Браво!* 👏

[@bigoldgrizzly]

good, clean and skillful comedy - rare thing these days

[@JohnRaymondHall]

indeed! :)

[@markbeames7852]

where the heck do you hang out?

[@bigoldgrizzly]

@@markbeames7852 mainly over my belt these days ;,

[@Fred.pSonic]

In the Ministry of Silly Walks I just assumed Michael Palin's extremely odd looking long-booted fellow was just another goofy absurdist Python invention. Now I know where it came from, strange full circle stuff for Little Tich.

[@L52R84]

Incredibile:dopo più di 100,siamo ancora qui ad ammirarlo! Bellissimo 💯

[@lifewriter7455]

This is high quality performance theatre. Much better than contemporary show off. 🖤

[@JohnRaymondHall]

agreed!

[@lifewriter7455]

@@sg-yq8pm you obviously don't understand the concept and meaning of 'performance theatre' . The term 'show off' relates to acting without artistic skills. A comment is always a subjective critique, never an objective truth. The nonsense is obviously in your head. Maybe because you're a complete ignorant being without any knowledge about theatre, culture and/or art whatsoever. 🙂

[@peterburry2014]

Let's not be silly. This is cute but nothing that a your average street entertainer couldn't do.

[@francessimmonds5784]

What a shame we don’t get music halls anymore.

[@philbyd]

Freaking awesome,thanks for saving and posting this for eternity

[@simaraft7373]

This is fabulous. Went right into my The Best playlist.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

glad you liked it - for me as much as anything the beauty is in the timing - such that the humour is gently maximized.

[@TrondBrgeKrokli]

Great art and entertainment. It takes a great artist to use simple tools and yet make world class entertainment.

[@stan4now]

Lil Tich has given us a brilliant, ingenious performance that I'm sure later inspired the great Charlie Chaplin.

[@jonathanj8303]

I first read of Little Tich in The Witches of Chiswick by Robert Rankin, where he gets named dropped as part of the scene setting in a steampunk Victorian London. Was delighted to find out he and the big boot dance were actually real.

[@robertbruce7686]

Not dated. Made me laugh at his antics. A real talent there!

[@JohnRaymondHall]

totally agree!

[@matrox]

Gee that was just swell!...Lil' Tich!😂🤣

[@notintohandles]

We only have one percent of all silent films preserved. Less than one percent of the population has been around long enough to have seen them on their release. Two thousand years to develop modern society. One hundred years to forget it again, although the record has been kept this time.

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

You're clearly making shit up, so quit. When you do dumb shit like this, you let the world know you have no brains.

[@peka__]

It is completely natural for things to fade and disappear. It is a rare and appreciated effort when people care enough to preserve something and make it available. We shouldn't take it for granted.

[@jeannadriver9552]

What a amazing little man! I wonder if Michael Jackson ever saw this?

[@Amanda---]

smooth criminal

[@JohnRaymondHall]

LOL :)

[@pallidbustofpallas4679]

I came looking for this comment! :)

[@annoyingbstard9407]

This is a hundred times better than any dwarf in a top hat and huge shoes doing a weird dance that we get nowadays!

[@JohnRaymondHall]

absolutely!

[@GeoFair670]

The fantastic work on the canvas backdrop is pretty awesome. It is vert eerie how humans were able to draw such complex illustrations. Sometimes of things that hardly existed yet. Also the architecture in the buildings. Nice work on the camer lens also, hand made glass . Too bad we don't have Vaudeville houses for local talent.

[@EB-nu7qk]

Still amazing even in this day and age…

[@alibalibee-jy4of]

Amazing, the power of KZbin!

[@louisericketts6738]

I've seen this before but it's still amazing. So original and funny. Good to see you back on KZbin.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

hi Louise - good to be back and to hear from you :) yes, i was watching this footage yesterday and thought it stood up very well even today so an upload was inevitable though it's round the net.

[@louisericketts6738]

John Hall I should have said it's also beautiful in a strange way. I've heard it described as the moonwalk years ahead of Michael Jackson

[@JohnRaymondHall]

yes, the moonwalk ... with humour! i think the beauty you mention is in the gentle but firmly controlled timing?

[@davidwhyberd7612]

@@JohnRaymondHall It's remarkable to think that the great ballet dancer, Vaslav Nijinsky, was a big fan and travelled to see him whenever he performed.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

@@davidwhyberd7612 i didn't know that - but i am not surprised, given what i know about Nijinsky's character

[@blueearth5000]

True professional ! I enjoyed and appreciate. Thank you for posting !

[@JohnRaymondHall]

yes, you know he knows his craft so well it is effortless.

[@TruthSurge]

no-hand hat pickup was DOPE! balancing it on his nose almost worked. If he held it another 5 seconds... that be pretty amazing. Those must be metal of some kind in those shoes or maybe could have been wood but something pretty strong so they wouldn't break with he leaned over on them.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

i agree - probably metal in his shoes

[@garywheeler7039]

First half of the film is watching a guy put shoes on! Sometimes it pays to be short. Amazing footwork.

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

@garywheeler7039 : People had more patience in those days when being entertained, not just providing culcated sound bites. The introduction added to intrigue and suspense in the build up, not just instant gratification. In this manner perhaps it does not belong on KZbin. In those days people went out to be entertained, not just opening a phone app.

[@Moodymongul]

Think of the 'start' as a prologue to the show/dance. There would have been some audience participation at this point too. As they work out what he's about to do. He also puts a few subtle comedic moves in this section, for the audience to pick up on and comment.

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

@@Moodymongul I think it's great. 🤗

[@marhen9323]

Watching this in 2024 after watching Drew getting a rare one of little Titch being restored. Amazing stuff.

[@SilverFox1954]

A true cinematic jewel. Thank you so much!

[@JohnRaymondHall]

pleasure :)

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

I've run across mentions of him in the past, never thought I'd see him perform! His boots are awesome.

[@robertlaschever3935]

Brilliant and so inventive. Chaplin to Michael Jackson likely owe this man some debt.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

yes, they are likely to have! good point

[@buckbuchanan4902]

Very unique and entertaining!

[@insanelook]

Absolut amazing performance. Of course the sounds are not from 1900 but edited at a much later date, beside that, very entertaining to say the least.

[@postscript67]

He made comic records too, such as "The Gas Inspector" in which he is quite endearingly silly.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

i didn't know that - i just googled and found 'The Gas Inspector' kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaXOq5eee9tkgck thanks!

[@Cale_Davison]

Very cool!

[@starrya5647]

Came here after hearing Vic Reeves mention Little Titch on RHLSTP. Watching him, I'm sure I've seen him before, or at least homages to him. Thanks!

[@evanescent1215]

Yes, he was featured on an episode of QI which is where I remember him from. Admittedly he's in a featured wikipedia article which is why I'm here now. :-)

[@starrya5647]

@@evanescent1215 Ah QI, that's probably it!

[@patriciagodfrey6345]

Wonderfully entertaining. Also reminds me of breaking in new pointe shoes in my younger days.

[@markbillings3062]

My man does have some unique skills

[@zaygezunt]

A great and charming talent - he is the origin of the word 'titchy', meaning small. God bless him.

[@Koni2947]

Incroyable, et à Paris en plus ! C'est très émouvant de remonter le temps

[@jimjimgl3]

Little Tich's legend looms large...

[@JohnRaymondHall]

it does!

[@johanelderdal]

I think I'll get me a pair of shoes like this👌 Sure will anoy people on the public transportations😁

[@JohnRaymondHall]

lol! :)

[@biskack4367]

Thanks for posting this. True, pure, entertainment.

[@user-io7nf3kp1z]

So loves this.

[@emilbordon1329]

Just goes to show that being small shouldn’t stop you from living your best life. Even going bald didn’t hold him back.

[@edgewaterz]

Michael Jackson is all over this. From the hat and the lean to the tippy toes stance.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

agreed!!

[@e.t.8541]

More so.., even a Moon Walk 'variation' was done by stage performers as early as 1930's..; in short films by jazz & big band leader Cab Calloway; and 1940's.., In 1943, Bill Bailey performed on screen backslide in the movie Cabin in the Sky. This dance move closely resembles what was later called the Moon Walk. Later.., in the late 1950's; Jeff Daniels, member of the R&B group Shalamar; alledgedly, is attributed w/pioneering a dance move, the 'backslide'. Which, after teaching it to Michael Jackson, it became known as the Moon Walk. 🙂

[@djmips]

Smooth criminal

[@marcushinton772]

A pub I used to go to a lot had a framed photo of him which I loved because it's so mad, the film is awesome and funny 🤣

[@colibridorado7]

es un honor ver algo así

[@dannymullane9252]

I'm glad I see this thank you

[@youtubesucks8995]

His shoes still hang above my old local pub’s door in a small cabinet.

[@garryferrington811]

Note: this is a synchronized sound film more than twenty years before "The Jazz Singer!" I first heard of Little Tich from Frank Muir and Dennis Norden and Stephen Fry showed those shoes - they still survive! - on QI.

[@scytaleghola5969]

The original "smooth criminal"

[@anarosareyes6269]

Its soooooo cute! And very funny even by todays standars

[@JohnRaymondHall]

i agree - i loved it - it seemed so fresh and gently done

[@evanescent1215]

Agreed. Comedy could be gentle and kind when done the right way.

[@BlondieSL]

Well now we know how windshield wipers were invented! 👍😁👍

[@johnsilva9139]

Looks like he's about to go skiing.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

he does!

[@theaveragegamerno1589]

The first oompa loompa. No joke I didn't know that song was that old!

[@GrantTarredus]

Thank you for this; it’s just wonderful!

[@colinpeckham7258]

My Great Grandfather was a Big Foot Dancer in this period and earlier ... his name was John Yeomans. I am researching his career so any help would be appreciated. He was from Wolverhampton.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

i'll see what i can find Colin :)

[@colinpeckham7258]

@@JohnRaymondHall Thanks John, that would be great.. he might have used a stage name

[@JohnRaymondHall]

@@colinpeckham7258 hopefully i find something! i'll ask friends too.

[@user-jj7oq2cy7s]

Outstanding!!😎 D

[@earlwest3502]

Very talented!!! Thank you for providing this interesting film amazing talent displayed!!

[@JohnRaymondHall]

yes, his talent shines through even 100 years later

[@squiggymcsquig6170]

I had never seen or heard of this, but it MUST have inspired one of Monty Pythons "Ministry of Silly Walks" scenes.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

yes, i think so too

[@nissi.k]

Incredible! ❤

[@america1st721]

this was entertainment at the turn of the century...how spoiled we all are.

[@thurayya8905]

I felt what it was like to be sitting and watching in a vaudeville audience.

[@cliffordjanvier5105]

Wonderful and I assume that effects and music was added later but if that's wrong please let me know. Clarence Janvier.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

i understand that sound was added to and was part of film in the late 1920s - but silent films had gramophone records played with them - so the audio here may be original in that sense

[@cre8tvedge]

There was no sound in movies in 1900. I wonder when this sound was added. In this modern presentation or perhaps in the 1930s.

[@milagrosjimenezderuiz7788]

Que genial!!!

[@andrejshamin1452]

Простенько, но глаз радует.

[@gb9877]

Fantastic!👏👏👏❤❤❤

[@unknown_norie]

Totally in love with your channel❤ New subscriber following from Japan ❤

[@iainmackenzieUK]

"120 years from now people will be watching your performance while sitting in their living rooms. On a glass screen that makes its own light." Ah....le WTF!

[@davidbouvier8895]

Ray Bradbury wrote a SciFi story in the 1950s about a world in which people never left their apartments and only ever communicated with others via video screens on the wall. We're not far off it becoming reality.

[@ivorbiggun710]

Wonderful.

[@sofiajenner4752]

I would love to know if there is any more footage of little Tich anywhere....i remember seeing a documentary hosted by Roy Hudd and there was aclip of him dancing i a dress...what an amazing talent.

[@shivamurti6481]

Thank you for this Great Moment !

[@JohnRaymondHall]

pleasure :)

[@user-nu4uh9fh1b]

Love it! Sort like the precursor to Charlie Chaplin.

[@thefrecklepuny]

Tich was featured in a UK TV advert some years ago. Can't remember what it was for though.

[@JohnRaymondHall]

so he still lives on - that's nice

[@midnightrider7648]

I'm glad to see Britain's got talent raised the bar a few notches over the years.

[@antique7391]

“King of Jazz” 1930. I believe the guy is playing a small accordion while doing tricks on the wood slats..

[@manuelaemili2187]

Amazing❤

[@michaelstein7427]

FYI, this was a silent film. Someone did a nice job dubbing in sound effects and music.

[@jerrynorton1080]

They were called "Foley artists", who dubbed in sounds on the silents when played, their "combination organpianocalliopedrumsetorchestra" was quite the box.

[@JesusFlores-uy6mb]

God bless her...she's older than dirt !

[@55seddel]

I wonder how long it will be until we see big boots like that as some fitness fad. Great short film!

[@edwardprice140]

As usual i've never heard of him, THANKS KZbin.

[@chesterthawkins7510]

amazing!

[@Miki_big_red_machine]

These videos are extremly fascining but the first movie was in 1914 with chaplin

[@Farah101]

Better film quality than some cctv cameras now. That’s a terrible thing.

[@NoBody-xg1wg]

this is the kind of act Charlie Chaplin would have seen in his youth.. One can see the precedents for the Little Tramp right here. Down to the famous moustache.

[@ioroman]

Loos like Chaplin got some inspiration from Little Tich.