I have recently (August 2019) revised this page. This follows an email exchange with Dr Charlotte Crofts who runs the Cary Grant Festival in Bristol.
Charlotte questioned the list of dates which originally included a long tour with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
The original list was believed to be accurate. However, recent research has shown that the Penders were performing elsewhere than the list stated.
The original source for much of this data was Nigel Dixon, grandson of Rowland Dixon.
The dates have come from Rowland’s diary.
However, further research has revealed that it is likely that Rowland Dixon left the Pender Troupe and performed with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Hence the confusion.
The following list excludes the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus dates.
I have also done some more research to find corroborating evidence. This is mainly from newspaper cuttings. Links to these images are given in the Location column.
| Dates [yyyy/mm/dd] |
Location (Link to cutting) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1903/09/19 | Unspecified, UK The Era - 19 Sept 1903 |
This is the earliest newspaper entry that I have found to date. Pender, R Original Troupe of Comedians, Acrobats and Pantomimists, in Sketch “Hands Up” |
| 1904/05/13 | Palace Theatre, London Music hall and Theatre Review - 13 May 1904 |
The Pender Troupe |
| 1905/01/19 | Grand Theatre, Leeds |
In Pantomime – The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe |
| 1905/02/23 | Opera House, York | In variety |
| 1905/04/03 | Palace Theatre, Bradford, Yorkshire Shipley Times and Express - 4 May 1906 |
Pender Troupe
|
|
1905/07/01 |
The Hippodrome, Norwich |
This bill features both The Lomas Troupe, stilt walkers and The Pender Troupe in ‘Hands Up or The Bold Bad Highwayman’. |
| 1905/07/20 |
Palace Theatre, Belfast |
The Pender Troupe of Pantomimists (seven in number) create roars with their funny absurdity Hands Up. |
| 1905/12/21 | Tyne Theatre, Newcastle | In Pantomime – Mother Goose |
| 1906/05/24 | Palace Theatre, Blackburn | In variety |
| 1906/06/28 | Wolverhampton Hippodrome | In variety |
| 1906/07/26 | Palace Theatre, Manchester | in variety with Harry Lauder |
| 1906/08/16 | Palace of Varieties, Aberdeen | In variety |
| 1906/08/23 | Palace Theatre, Sunderland | In variety with “Hands Up” |
| 1907/04/18 | Hippodrome, Margate | In variety |
| 1907/04/20 | Hippodrome, Southampton Hampshire Advertiser - 20 April 1907 |
Pender Troupe of Pantomimists in the screaming burlesque “Hands Up” or “The Bold Bad Highwaymen” |
| 1908/02/13 | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London | In Pantomime – Babes in the Wood |
| 1908/08/06 | Grand Hall By The Sea, Margate |
in variety….The Bob Pender Troupe of eight, in a pantomimical comedy…. |
| 1908/09/10 | Palace & Hippodrome, Halifax | Variety. The Bob Pender Troupe in The Long & Short of It |
| 1908/12/24 | Theatre Royal, Manchester |
In the pantomime “Goody Two Shoes” – the Giants. |
| 1909/04/20 | Holborn Empire, London Variety - 1 May 1909 |
The Pender Troupe |
| 1910/02/05 |
Drury Lane, London |
Pantomime ‘Aladdin’ Good picture of Bob as ‘Clown’ |
| 1910/06/23 |
Glasgow Coliseum |
Also reported in “London Variety Stage” Section, that The Pender Troupe had consented to appear at The Music Hall Benevolent Association fete & gala at Rosherville Gardens on Wed July 6 |
| 1910/09/08 |
Birmingham Empire |
In variety |
| 1911 Spring |
The Folies Bergere, New York |
The Pender Troupe This was the opening of this new dining club set to rival the Paris version. |
| 1911/05/04 | Glasgow Coliseum | In variety |
| 1911/05/29 | Her Majesty’s Theatre, Walsall Walsall Advertiser - 27 May 1911 |
Bob Pender Troupe In their screaming absurdity “The Long and the Short of it” |
| 1911/06/08 | Hippodrome, Oxford Street, London The Guardian - 6 June 1911 |
Pender Troupe |
| 1911/09/14 | The Orpheum, Los Angeles Los Angeles Herald - 14 Sept 1911 |
Bob Pender’s Giants |
| 1911/09/23 | Orpheum Theatre, Long Beach, California Long Beach Telegram - 23 Sep 1911 |
Pender Giant Troupe |
| 1911/12/07 | Drury Lane Theatre, London The Times - 7 Dec 1911 |
Pender Troupe in the harlequinade. |
|
1913/02/02 |
Rochdale |
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|
1913/01/06 to 1913/02/03 |
Belfast, Opera |
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1913/02/02 to 1913/02/24 |
Scala, Haag |
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1913/03/24 to 1913/03/31 |
Liege, Belgium |
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1913/04/07 to 1913/04/21 |
Dusseldorf, Germany |
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1913/05/16 |
Issued Passport |
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1913/05/01 to 1913/05/26 |
Budapest, Hungary |
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1913/06/01 to 1913/06/09 |
Torino, Italy |
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1913/06/16 to 1913/06/23 |
Milan, Italy |
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1913/07/07 to 1913/07/21 |
Helsingfors, Finland |
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1913/08/04 to 1913/08/12 |
Moscow, Russia |
|
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1913/09/08 to 1913/09/29* |
Breslau, Germany |
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1913/10/06 to 1913/10/27 |
Halle, Germany |
|
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1913/11/01 to 1913/11/23 |
Dresden, Germany |
|
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1913/12/01 to 1913/12/15 |
Pantomime Rehearsal |
No location given, could be UK or Dublin as performing there next |
|
1913/12/22 to 1914/02/02 |
Dublin, Gaiety |
Jack & the Beanstalk
……The two members of the Bob Pender Troupe, who perform the part of the Cow, Jessie, deserve much praise, & indeed the Pender Troupe generally – and it is they who impersonate the giant’s children – are a very considerable acquisition to the show…. |
|
1914/02/16 |
Sutton |
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1914/03/01 to 1914/03/30 |
Hamburg, Germany |
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1914/04/20 |
Dover, Kings |
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1914/05/01 to 1914/05/11 |
Paris, Empire |
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1914/05/18 to 1914/06/08 |
Paris, Moulin |
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1914/06/15 to 1914/06/29 |
Cologne, Germany |
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1914/12/14 to 1915/02/07 |
Edinburgh, Kings |
Mother Goose |
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1915/02/08 to 1915/02/14 |
Glasgow, Olympia |
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1915/02/15 to 1915/02/21 |
Galashields |
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1915/03/01 to 1915/03/08 |
Leith, Gaiety |
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1915/03/22 to 1915/03/28 |
Northampton, Palace |
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1915/03/29 to 1915/04/04 |
Reading, Palace |
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1915/04/29 |
New Theatre, Oxford |
in variety…”The Bob Pender Troupe, with their Drury Lane business, are making a success here in a smart & clever sketch.” |
|
1915/12/29 |
Brixton Theatre, London |
in The Forty Thieves. Charles Pender played Mokeana (the donkey), Harry Pender, Grand Vizier, Tom Pender Grand Vizier’s secretary, Willie Pender, Mustapha, Violet Pender, Hassan. …..The Pender Troupe are also responsible for the best items in the pantomime, & their work helps in no small degree towards the success attained…. |
|
1918/01/01 to 1918/01/07 |
Salisbury, Palace |
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1918/01/07 to 1918/01/28 |
Edinburgh, Kings |
Mother Goose |
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1918/03/11 to 1918/03/17 |
Reading, Palace |
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1918/03/18 to 1918/03/24 |
Northampton, Hippodrome |
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1918/03/25 to 1918/03/31 |
Weymouth, Jubilee Hall |
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1918/04/09 to 1918/04/14 |
Hitich, Blacke’s |
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1918/04/16 to 1918/04/22 |
Gravesend, Grand |
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1918/04/29 to 1918/05/05 |
Camden Town, Bedford |
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1918/05/06 to 1918/05/12 |
Islington, Collin’s |
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1918/05/13 to 1918/05/19 |
Norwich Hippodrome |
Bob Pender’s Funny Nippy Nines |
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1918/05/20 to 1918/05/26 |
Ipswich, Hippodrome |
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1918/05/27 to 1918/06/03 |
Eastbourne, Hippodrome |
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1918/06/10 to 1918/06/16 |
Maidstone, Palace |
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1918/06/17 to 1918/06/26 |
Faversham, Palace |
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1918/06/25 to 1918/06/30 |
London, Hammersmith, Palace |
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1918/07/01 to 1918/07/07 |
London, Woolwich, Hippodrome |
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1918/07/09 to 1918/07/14 |
Camberwell, Palace |
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1918/07/15 to 1918/07/21 |
Leicester, Pavillion |
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1918/07/22 to 1918/07/28 |
Devonport, Hippodrome |
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1918/07/29 to 1918/08/04 |
Bristol, Empire |
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1918/08/05 to 1918/08/11 |
Kingston-on-Thames, Empire |
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1918/08/12 to 1918/08/18 |
Aldershot, Hippodrome |
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1918/08/19 to 1918/08/25 |
London, Rotherhithe, Hippodrome |
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1918/08/26 to 1918/09/01 |
Aberdeen, Tivoli |
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1918/09/02 to 1918/09/08 |
Hamilton, Hippodrome |
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1918/09/09 to 1918/09/16 |
Bolton, Grand |
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1918/09/23 to 1918/29 |
Walham Green, Granville |
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1918/09/30 to 1918/10/06 |
Canning Town, Imperial |
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1918/10/07 to 1918/10/13 |
Chatham, Barnard’s |
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1918/10/14 to 1918/10/20 |
Liverpool, Rotunda |
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1918/10/21 to 1918/10/27 |
Leeds, Hippodrome |
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1918/10/28 to 1918/11/03 |
Manchester, Hulme, Hippodrome |
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1918/11/04 to 1918/11/10 |
Ashton-under-Lyme, Hippodrome |
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1918/11/11 to 1918/11/17 |
Preston, Hippodrome |
Wilkinson now occupies a site that was once the home of the Preston Hippodrome, one of Preston’s three large music halls. Opening in 1905, the Hippodromes motto was ‘Quick, Clean, Smart and Bright.’ |
|
1918/11/18 to 1918/11/24 |
Dumbarton, Palace |
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1918/11/25 to 1918/12/01 |
Alexandria Palace |
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1918/12/02 to 1918/12/08 |
Rehearsing |
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1918/12/09 to 1919/02/24 |
Glasgow, Alhambra |
The Pender Troupe of Pantomimists “Jack and the Beanstalk”
|
|
1919/09/09 |
The Empire. Bristol |
Bob Pender “A Pantomime Rehearsal” “The March of the Giants” |
| 1920/08/07 | Hippodrome, New York The Evening World (New York) - 7 Aug 1920 |
Bob Pender and his troupe of pantomimists from London |
| 1920/08/08 | Hippodrome, New York The Standard Union (Brooklyn) - 8 August 1920 |
Announcement that the Pender Troupe arrived in New York. Gives wrong ship name. |
| 1920/08/10 | Hippodrome, New York Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 10 Aug 1920 |
Review says “The Pender Troupe will do better when the act occupies less time” |
| 1920/08/13 | Hippodrome New York El Paso Herald - 13 August 1920 |
Entry in El Paso, Texas saying that the Pender Troupe had arrived in New York |
| 1920/08/17 | Hippodrome New York Times Union - 17 August 1920 |
The Pender Troupe now have their own section in the show, whereas previously they were in the Toy Shop scene. |
| 1920/09/19 | Hippodrome, New York Central New Jersey Home News - 19 Sept 1920 |
Mention of their ‘quaint animal impersonations’ |
| 1920/10/10 | Hippodrome, New York Buffalo Morning Express - 10 Oct 1920 |
Hippodrome’s 100th show |
| 1920/10/26 | Hippodrome, New York New York Herald - 26 Oct 1920 |
Bob Pender returns to UK in preparation of Christmas Pantomime. |
| 1920/11/17 | Hippodrome, New York Brooklyn Citizen - 17 Nov 1920 |
Report of new ‘props’ arriving for the Pender Troupe. |
| 1920/12/12 | Hippodrome, New York New York Tribune - 12 Dec 1920 Brooklyn Citizen - 8 Dec 1920 |
Pender Troupe |
| 1920/12/31 | The Palace, London The Guardian - 31 Dec 1920 |
“Jack and the Beanstalk” Panto. |
| 1921/01/22 | Palace Theatre, Manchester The Guardian - 22 Jan 1921 |
Pender Troupe of Giant ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ |
| 1921/01/30 to 1921/05/01 |
Hippodrome, New York New York Herald - 30 Jan 1921 Indianapolis Star - 13 Mar 1921 New York Tribune - 13 Mar 1921 New York Tribune - 1 May 1921 |
Pender Troupe Good mention |
|
1921/05/02 |
Brooklyn, New York |
|
|
1921/06/27 |
Capitol Theatre, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania |
Bob Pender Troupe |
| 1921/07/17 |
The Globe, Philadelphia |
The Bob Pender Troupe |
| 1921/09/25 |
Keith’s Theatre, Washington, DC |
Bob Pender’s Troupe |
| 1921/10/09 | Bushwick Theatre, Brooklyn, New York Times Union - 9 Oct 1921 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
|
1921/10/16 |
The Palace, New York New-York Tribune - 16 Oct 1921 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
| 1921/10/25 | Keith Vaudeville, Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Sun - 25 Oct 1921 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
|
1921/10/29 |
B F Keith’s. Philadelphia B F Keith's, Philadelphia 1921 Philadelphia Enquirer - 1 Nov 1921 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
|
1921/11/06 |
Nixon’s Grand, Philadelphia Nixon's Grand, Philadelphia, 1921 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
| 1921/11/10 to 1921/11/17 |
Shea’s Theatre, Buffalo, New York Sun and Erie County - 10 Nov 1921 Sun and Erie Country - 17 Nov 1921 |
Bob Pender Troupe ‘animal impersonators and eccentric dancers’ ‘ten athletes, experts on stilts and great comedy pantomime’ |
| 1921/12/02 | Princess Theatre, Montreal, Canada Gazette Montreal - 26 Nov 1921 Gazette - 2 Dec 1921 |
Bob Pender Troupe ‘animal impersonators, stilt walkers and eccentric dancers’ |
| 1921/12/14 |
B F Keith’s, Boston, Massachusetts |
Bob Pender Troupe |
| 1921/12/25 | BF Keith’s, Syracuse, New York Syracuse Herald - 25 Dec 1921 |
Bob Pender Troupe Have to squint to find the entry |
| 1921/12/28 | London Hippodrome The Era - 28 Dec 1921 |
Bob Pender as Clown Cow played by Pender Brothers The Pender Troupe of Giants “Jack and the Beanstalk” |
| 1922/01/25 | Lyceum Theatre, Canton, Ohio Canton Daily News - 25 Jan 1922 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
|
1922/03/12 |
The Majestic. Chicago Chicago Tribune - 27 Mar 1922 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
|
1922/06/06 |
The Pantages, Winnipeg Winnipeg Tribune - 6 June 1922 |
The Bob Pender Troupe Headliner of the week. Good write up |
|
1922/07/01 |
Pantages, Seattle The Seattle Star - 1 Jul 1922 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
|
1922/07/24 |
Pantages, Portland, Oregon The Oregon Daily Journal - 24 Jul 1922 Portland Sunday Oregonian - 23 July 1922 |
Bob Pender Troupe Good write up in second item. |
|
1922/09/06 |
Pantages, Salt Lake City Pantages, Salt Lake City, 1922 |
Bobby Pender’s Troupe |
| 1922/12/21 | Empire Theatre, Sheffield Sheffield Independent - 21 Dec 1922 |
The Pender Troupe of Giants “Jack and the Beanstalk” |
|
1922/12/22 |
Capitol Theatre, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre 22 Dec 1922 |
The Bob Pender Troupe Consisting of eleven comedy artists |
|
1922/12/28 |
Sheffield Empire |
In panto Jack & the Beanstalk. described as the Empire’s greatest pantomime success. …..The Pender Troupe are energetic & efficient throughout. They are responsible for the cow- a very clever impersonation – the Broker’s men, the Clown & Harlequin & the various evil beings associated with the Giant. |
|
1922/12/31 |
Broadway, Philadelphia Philadelphia Inquirer - 31 Dec 1922 |
Bob Pender Troupe Headlining |
|
1923/04/04 |
The Aldine, Wilmington, Delaware |
Bob Pender Troupe Good write up |
|
1923 Christmas 1924/01/02 |
Wood Green Empire, London |
In ‘Aladdin’ Pender Troupe not mentioned Real Old-Time Harlequinade invented and arranged by Bob Pender who will appear as Clown. Will Pender as Pantaloon George Turner as Policeman Bert Ayling as Harlequin Mlle. Listakova as Columbine |
| 1924/02/08 | Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania Intelligencer Journal - 8 Feb 1924 |
Bob Pender Troupe |
| 1924/02/11 | Majestic Theatre, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Evening News (Harrisburg) - 11 Feb 1924 |
Bob Pender Troupe Good write up |
| 1927/07/25 to 1927/07/30 |
Saskatoon Exhibition, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Saskatoon Daily Star - 20 Jul 1927 |
Pender Troupe 8 people in a big comedy act |
| 1931/01/15 | Theatre Royal, Leeds | Pantomime – Jacks & the Beanstalk |
| 1931/10/13 | Edinburgh | The Original Bob Pender Troupe |
| 1931/10/?? | Tivoli Theatre, Abderdeen | The Original Bob Pender Troupe |
| 1932/05/26 | Birmingham Empire |
In the pantomime “Goody Two Shoes” – the Giants. |
| 1933/05/11 | Alexandra Theatre, Widnes |
Bob Pender Troupe |
