My Mystery Family!

A lot of my family were on the stage in variety theatre back in the 20's and 30's, I have quite a collection of old pictures but not a lot of information to go along with them. I've done the usual google search to see if there's any info out there at all but as they were only acts and not stars there's not much to find.

Can anyone help me with names, are any of these your family too?

1. Sunderland Empire, the cast of a "Frank E Franks" review from 1930.

I can see the comedian Jimmy James (2nd row, 6th from right) and I think my grandad John Heads is 2nd row, 8th from right. My mum tells me that my Nana Jessie Cawley is seated 3rd from left but I'm not convinced that's her, I wonder who the others are?

2. Bessie Gordons Four Ideals

The name of the act is pencilled on the back, again my mum tells me that my Nana Jessie and her sister Edie are on this pic but she keeps changing her minds as to which one is which...and who was Bessie Gordon?

3. Group promotional shot, for what????

I know that my Great Uncle Jimmy Howells (Edie's husband) is seated on the left with Frank E Franks behind him and Jimmy James is on the right but who are the other two and were they all an act at some point? I know that both Jimmies who were uncle and nephew and were originally in an act together in 1918 called "Two Jeyes" because I have a bill poster from 1918 for the Grand Theatre, Stockton and a very faded promo picture.

4. Were they all related to Frank E. Franks?

Here is Franks wedding picture from 1920, Jimmy James is standing to the left.

4. My great Uncle Jimmy was also a comedian in his own right, firstly as "Kennil Worth" then as Jimmy Worth, I know he worked fairly consistantly all over the UK and Ireland but never achieved the fame of his nephew or Frank. I remember him as a very nice funny man.

Jimmy James drew this cartoon of him in 1927.

This is a hand coloured glass slide that was posted onto the next theatre on the tour.

His calling card.

For a while my Auntie Edie (his wife) was in a double act with him, her stage name was Edith Dean but nothing survives of that partnership,  have you ever seen them mentioned, do you have an old poster or programme?

5. Eunice
This is my mums half sister Eunice, John Heads daughter by his frst wife, she was a singer and a dancer. A family rumour has it that for a short time she was a Betty for "Wilson, Kepple and Betty" I know there were a few Betties but I can't find any reference to her. I would love to know if it true.
I also know that she had a bit part in a film.

6. I would also love to find out some information about my grandad John Heads who was on the boards when he came back from the great war, he'd been in the 9th Lancers which may have accounted for his stage name but not for the fact that he was "Trooper Heads - Female impersonator"!

Lastly I must show you this picture that has no connection to my family at all as far as I know...I just like it. It's James and Jennie known as The Mays...I wonder what the act was!

Please forward this onto anyone you think might be able to help.

Have a lovely day,
A x