Ella Shields
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Ella Shields was a music hall singer and male-impersonator. Her famous signature song, "Burlington Bertie from Bow", a parody of Vesta Tilley's "Burlington Bertie", written by her third husband, Willi
Ella Shields, in top hat and tails, Sydney, 1930 - 1933
Vesta Tilley
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Matilda Alice Powles, Lady de Frece was an English music hall performer. She adopted the stage name Vesta Tilley and became one of the best-known male impersonators of her era. Her career lasted from
Ella Shields
…27 September 1879 – 5 August 1952) was a music hall singer and male-impersonator. Her famous signature song, "Burlington Bertie from Bow", a parody of Vesta Tilley's "Burlington Bertie", written by her third husband, William Hargreaves, was an immediate hit. Though American-born, Shields achieved her greatest…
Cards of Tilley, performing in drag on the right
Poster for Vesta Tilley performing as Burlington Bertie
Vesta Tilley performing as a principal boy
Publicity photograph of Vesta Tilley dressed as a foppish young man