wes williams Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 I've just got a 78rpm concertina recording by Frank Olloms, released c.1924. Its classical - Poet and Peasant/Zampa - but sounds like it could be played on anglo. I'll post it on my site soon - I'm still restoring it. Anybody have any info on him?
johnnyace Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 I just had a quick look for him on Google. You are probably looking for Francini Olloms, described as Europe's Finest Concertinist (1908) https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qv0CWuFSxDoC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=francini+olloms&source=bl&ots=MBq98V3Vwu&sig=K0E3lhIjBMIjuVwG075t-vGP2B4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAWoVChMIpa_Ppp38xwIVizkaCh1LLgKi#v=onepage&q=francini%20olloms&f=false Also described as Europe's Most Brilliant Concertinist whose act included:"juggling, acrobatics and comedy tumbling with musical interpolations on the Xylophone and Concertina, featuring the performance of 24 somersaults while playing the concertina" !!!! http://digital.chipublib.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/CPB01/id/4660/rec/1 He sounds amazing! Vaudeville was no career for the faint hearted! Looking forward to hearing him play when you have the recording restored!!
johnnyace Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) More research: Picture of Francini Olloms: about 9 cards down - http://www.dvrbs.com/AA_Story/KREMO-MoreCards/KREMO.html He played as a double act with a page.There is a picture of them in the Circus Variete, 1907. (2/3 of the way down the page (sic!) http://mona-wwwbloggercom.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/teaterprogrammer-fra-cirkus-variete.html They were billed at the Bristol Hippodrome in Decenber 1913. In 1920 he was at the Bristol Hippodrome with his partner (wife? daughter? Elsie) My theory is that Francini gave up his acrobatics, shortned his name to Frank and concentrated on his concertina, eventually recording the 78. I hope I am not wrong! Do you think it might be worth starting a poll on how many members of the forum can perform somersaults while playing their boxes?! Edited September 17, 2015 by johnnyace
Alan Day Posted September 17, 2015 Posted September 17, 2015 Frank Olloms is featured playing " Canadian Capers" on English International. Al
Geoffrey Crabb Posted September 17, 2015 Posted September 17, 2015 On 9/16/2015 at 11:43 PM, johnnyace said: More research: He played as a double act with a page.There is a picture of them in the Circus Variete, 1907. (2/3 of the way down the page (sic!) http://mona-wwwbloggercom.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/teaterprogrammer-fra-cirkus-variete.html No intentional thread drift but also noticed on that site, interesting picture of concertina troupe: Barra Troupen, Circus Variete, 1906 Thanks for the link Geoffrey
Myrtle's cook Posted September 28, 2015 Posted September 28, 2015 (edited) Some additional mentions located from the British Newspaper Archive - by no means exhaustive, but adds a little colour: 27 September 1909, Palace Theatre, Aberdeen, appearing in a supporting slot and billed as 'Francini Olloms Europe's most brilliant concertinist' (perhaps this is the European branding - as Johnyace shows above he was 'Europe's Finest...' on US playbills!) 31 December 1918, Hulme Hippodrome, Francini and Elsie Olloms appearing in a supporting slot 9 February 1929, Burnley Empire, Francini Olloms, a supporting slot in a comedy based review 7 November 1936, Portsmouth Coliseum, Francini Olloms as a support act to an acrobatic novelty acts 'Seven Romas' Last mention seems to be in 'The Era' and a listing for the Byker 'Grand' for 16 February 1939 During 1917/18 there are also listings for 'Gaestano Olloms and his concertina'. A son, brother or alternative 'branding for Francini? Edited September 28, 2015 by Myrtle's cook
Geoffrey Crabb Posted September 30, 2015 Posted September 30, 2015 Intrigued by the unusual and probably rare name, a quick look on Ancestry.co.uk revealed a few references to the name Olloms. Although none may be relevant or refer to the subject, they may be of interest. London Electorol Registers. 1919 & 1920 Olloms Francis 24, Flat 2, Molyneux Street, Westminster. (Paddington Ward). 1921 & 1924 Olloms Francis 44A, Flat 2 Harrowby Street, Westminster. (Paddington Ward). As it was not unusual for first names to be copied incorrectly by those compiling these registers, a check of the British Post Office Telephone Directories for 1923 & 1924 shows: (Paddington 5031) Olloms Francini 44A Harrowby Street, W1 British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards 1914-1918 Application for Badge?? 26.6.18 Olloms Francini. No. 257565. Labour Corp, 362nd Reg. E Coy. Enlistment 23.6.17 Discharge 12.7.17 (1.8.17)??? Address at time of application - Old Boars Head Hotel, Manchester. (Perhaps someone with full access to Military records could research this further. May also try Francine National Probate Calendar, England and Wales. OLLOMS, Frank otherwise Francini of 156 Huddersfield Road, Holmefirth, Yorkshire, died 6th April 1946. Probate London to Hilda Baxter (wife of Harold Baxter) Effects £2303 8s 4d. Death Index England & Wales. 2nd Quarter 1946. Olloms Frank. Aged 58. This suggests a birth date of 1888, so by 1907 he would have been about 19 years of age and by 1913, 25. These ages could tie up with the physical appearance of the Francini Olloms (& Page) 1907 picture and the signed 1913 photo respectively, linked in previous posts. As no information regarding Elsie (Olloms ??) marriage, death etc has be found so far, the following may or may not be connected. British Post Office Telephone Directories show: 1937,1938 & 1939 Mrs E Olloms - 32, Prospect Place, Douglas, Isle of Man. 1941 E Olloms - 36, Kensington Road, Blackpool, Lancs. Geoffrey
johnnyace Posted October 3, 2015 Posted October 3, 2015 Very interesting research.colleagues! Even if he isn't the Frank Olloms that Wes was asking for (and I believe he is) It is great to find Europe's greatest concertinist and to learn he was also an excellent acrobat! It is obviously true that playing the comcertina builds up amazing strength and flexibility!
Mike Franch Posted October 4, 2015 Posted October 4, 2015 And what's with the military service? Less than six months or less in 1917. As Geoffrey notes an area for further research.
malcolm clapp Posted October 5, 2015 Posted October 5, 2015 On 10/4/2015 at 6:53 PM, Mike Franch said: And what's with the military service? Less than six months or less in 1917. As Geoffrey notes an area for further research. The Labour Corps was manned by officers and other ranks who had been medically rated below the "A1" condition needed for front line service, so there may possibly have been health issues.
johnnyace Posted October 6, 2015 Posted October 6, 2015 On 10/5/2015 at 1:35 PM, malcolm clapp said: On 10/4/2015 at 6:53 PM, Mike Franch said: And what's with the military service? Less than six months or less in 1917. As Geoffrey notes an area for further research. The Labour Corps was manned by officers and other ranks who had been medically rated below the "A1" condition needed for front line service, so there may possibly have been health issues. Given his acrobatic prowess, Francini was probably pretty fit, although he might have had issues with eyesight or some other disability - who knows? It also occurs to me that the Labour Corps might have been the designated home for entertainers who could cheer up the troops. Possible?
wes williams Posted October 24, 2015 Author Posted October 24, 2015 Thanks for all your work folks!! Francini is now up on my site on this page
iradcliffe Posted February 16, 2020 Posted February 16, 2020 Wes, I have been doing some research on concertina players on the Isle of Man and have turned up some newspaper cuttings about Frank Olloms and his wife Elsie. I have attached a few that may fill some gaps in his career and his wereabouts. Frank seems to have settled on the island in 1926 purchasing a shop with flat above. His wife Elsie was the daughter of John Slater who was landlord of the nearby Rosemout Hotel. It looks like Frank continued to travel as a professional musician right up to the outbreak of WW2. They must have moved to Homefirth shortly after the war, where the solicitors notice of his death confirms his Italian origins.
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