A postcard photograph of Marie Loftus (1857-1940), one of Glasgow's greatest female music hall stars.
Loftus is said to have been born in Stockwell Street. She danced at the Scotia Music Hall there when she was a girl and first performed at David Brown's Royal Music Hall in Dunlop Street in 1874. She went on to tour the world's music halls but remained very popular in her native city, especially in the role of the principal boy in pantomime.
Loftus married fellow-entertainer Ben Brown and their daughter, Cecelia (1876-1943) was born in Glasgow and, as Cissie Loftus, became famous as a music hall performer and mimic as well as a "serious" actress.
Reproduced with the permission of Paul Maloney
Keywords:
actresses, entertainers, music halls, pantomimes, Royal Music Hall, Scotia Music Hall, singers