Dates
[yyyy/mm/dd]

Location
(Link to cutting)

Notes

EARLY BEGINNINGS

1877/09/02

Bacup, Market Place
The Era - 2 Sept 1877

Robert Lomas is advertising for an assistant

1879/03/03

Rawtenstall, Lancashire
The Era - 02 March 1879

Robert Lomas sells business due to ill health and declining business.

PRE PENDER TROUPE

Lomas, Lomas and Lomas

1894/04/14

Empire Theatre, Brighton
The Era - 14 Apr 1894

“Stanley’s Troubles in Monkeyland”

1894/05/24

Alhambra Theatre, Hull
The Stage - 24 May 1894

 

1894/11/03

Alhambra, Aberdeen
The Era - 3 November 1894

A Traveller’s Troubles in Monkeyland

1894/11/17

City Varieties, Leeds
The Era - 17 Nov 1894

 

1894/12/01

Foresters Music Hall, Bethnal Green, London
The Era - 1 Dec 1894

A Traveller’s Troubles in Monkeyland.
Description of act.

1895/03/02

Grand Hall, Bromley, Kent
The Era - 2 March 1895

Note that on the same bill is Miss Maggie Bowman, whom Robert will marry in 1896.

1895/09/07

Circus of Varieties, Blyth, Northumberland
The Era - 7 Sep 1895

Lomas Troupe

1895/09/29

Music Hall Gossip
The Era - 28 Sept 1895

Report that the troupe has signed with Mr Cazman to go to America

1896/02/15

Gaiety Theatre, Birmingham
The Era - 15 Feb 1896

Good description of their act, now entitled ‘Monkeymania’

1896/06/06

The Star, Liverpool
The Stage - 6 June 1895

 

1896/08/22

Empire Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
The Era - 22 Aug 1896

 

1896/09/??

Parkshowburg Theatre, Amsterdam
The Era - 15 August 1896

Bristol and Bath music halls closed, so going to Amsterdam.

Jacko Man Monkey

  There are some issues here as the act appears to have been originated by Richard Lomas pre 1905 but 1911 the name is being used by an artist called Almero.

1st Feb 1905

The Hippodrome, Eastbourne
Eastbourne Gazette 1st Feb 1905
Note that ‘Madge Alwood’ is Margaret Lomas, Richard’s wife.

Lomas Troupe, Lomas Brothers

1896/11/07

Oxford Palace of Varieties, Middlesborough
The Era - 7 Nov 1896

Lomas Troupe
“Monkeyland”

1897/08/21

Palace Theatre, Dundee
The Era - 21 August 1897

This is just after the act split and things would appear to be a fraught. Note the line ‘Slice off cut loaf is never missed’ which I think refers to the fact the the split was acrimonious.

1898/09/12

Empire Palace Theatre, Dublin
Freeman's Journal - 13 Sep 1898

A Traveller’s Troubles in Monkeyland

1898/09/17

Palace Theatre, Cork
The Era - 17 Sep 1898

‘The only original R Lomas Troupe’

Five in number

A Traveller’s Troubles in Monkeyland

 

1898/10/08

Budapest, Hungary
The Era - 8 Oct 1898

‘The Lomas Troupe start on Sunday night for Budapest, for five weeks’

1898/12/24

Fulham
The Era - 31 Dec 1898

Panto: ‘Dick Whittington’

Lomas Troupe played ‘Jacko and Family’

‘Monkeyland’ sketch

1899/04/08

Circus, Coventry
Palace, Nelson
The Era - 8 Apr 1899

“Larks in a Goods Van”
The Lomas Brothers (Two of the oringal Lomas Troupe)

1899/04/29

Park Palace, Liverpool
The Era - 29 April 1899

Original R Lomas Troupe

Five in number

‘Travellers’ Troubles in Monkeyland’

Also new sketch ‘The Gueeza; or a trip to China”

Picture of palm tree and photos of the five members:

R Lomas, Jim Lomas, Maggie Lomas, Fred Lomas, W Lomas

1899/05/06

St Helens
The Era - 6 May 1899
Wallsend, Liberty

Lomas, Original R



Lomas Brothers (late Original Lomas Troupe)

1899/05/13

People’s Place, St Helens
The Era - 13 May 1899

The Lomas, Lomas and Lomas Troupe. A Traveller’s Troubles in Monkeyland

1899/05/27

Resting
The Era - 27 May 1899
Grand Theatre, Stockton

Lomas Troupe, the Only and Original


Lomas Brothers – “Larks in a Goods Van”

1899/05/27

General Notice
The Era - 27 May 1899

Notice to Proprietors and Managers, I Bob Lomas am the originator of the Lomas Troupe. 
This is inserted to avoid managers being confusded with anyone else using the name of Lomas.

This entry and the next are a bit of a spat between the brothers

1899/06/03

General Notice
The Era - 3 Jun 1899

Lomas Brother (Dick & Will) have no desire to be connected with anyone else using the name Lomas
This entry and the previous are a bit of a spat between the brothers

1899/06/10

At least a month

Eastern Pavilion, Dennistoun, Glasgow
The Era - 10 June 1899

Original R Lomas Troupe

 

‘Travellers’ Troubles in Monkeyland’

1899/06/17

Grimsby & Glasgow
The Era - 17 June 1899

R Lomas Troupe
Refers to ‘Traveller’s Troubles in Monkeyland’ but mentions new act ‘A Night in China’
On Same page is advert for Lomas Brothers with their new act ‘Larks in a Goods Van’
Note their response to the earlier ‘Slice off cut loaf is never missed’ comment by Robert Lomas, ‘Why, anyone knows a slice off cut loaf is missed, especially when it’s a thick one’

1899/12/30

Tivoli Theatre, Glasgow

 

The Era - 30 Dec 1899

 

Queen’s Theatre, Glasgow

Lomas Troupe

‘Troubles in Monkeyland’

 

‘A Night in China’

 

Appearing at two theatres at the same time

1900/08/11

Drury Lane Theatre
The Era - 11 Aug 1901

Mrs Lomas indisposed, Nellie Reed standing in.

1900/11/05 – One week

Metrolpolitan, Edgeware Rd., London

The Era - 03 Nov 1900

Middlesex Music Hall, Drury Lane, London

Appearing at two theatres at the same time

1901/08/17

Haymarket Theatre, London
The Era - 17 Aug 1901

The Lomas Trio

1901/12/19

Grand Theatre, Croydon
The Stage - 19 Dec 1901

 

1902/01/30

Royal Aquarium, Great Yarmouth
The Stage - 30 January 1902

Pantomime ‘Robinson Crusoe’.
Names Jack Lomas*, Will Lomas, Robert Lomas, Maggie Lomas, Don Lomas*. Harlequinade arranged by Robert Lomas
*Not Lomas family members

1905/07/01

The Hippodrome, Norwich

Lomas & Pender 1905

This bill features both The Lomas Troupe, stilt walkers  and The Pender Troupe in ‘Hands Up or The Bold Bad Highwayman’.

POST PENDER TROUPE

1923/06/02 – One week

Lafeyette Square Theatre, Buffalo, New York
Buffalo Truth - 07 July 1923

One of two headline acts.

Late of the musical show ‘Tip Top’ at the New York Hippodrome

1923/07/22

Globe Theatre, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Inquirer - 22 July 1923

Lomas Troupe

‘From the top to the bottom’

1923/08/06

Pantages Theatre, Minneapolis
Star Tribune - 06 Aug 1923

‘From the top to the bottom’

Lomas troupe of acrobatic stars and stilt walkers is a dancing act.

1923/09/03

Pantages Theatre, Spokane, Washington
Spokane Chronicle - 03 Sep 1923

Lomas Troupe

‘From the bottom to the top’

Top of the bill

1923/09/17

Pantages Theatre, Vancouver
Vancouver Daily World - 17 Sep 1923
Vancouver Sun - 17 Sept 1923
Vancouver Daily World - 19 Sep 1923

Lomas Troupe

‘Bottom to Top’

There is a horse in the plot.

Photo of Tom Lomas + 1 unidentified member.

1923/10/28

Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Times - 28 Oct 1923

Lomas troupe of acrobatic comedians.

One of three headline acts.

‘From the bottom to the top’

1923/11/03

Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Times - 3 Nov 1923

 

1923/11/12

Hoyt’s Theatre, Long Beach, California
Long Beach Telegram - 12 Nov 1923

Lomas Troupe

1923/11/21

Pantages Theatre, Salt Lake City
Salt Lake Telegram - 21 Nov 1923

Lomas Troupe

1923/11/28

Pantages Theatre, Ogden, Ohio
Ogden Standard-Examiner - 29 Nov 1923

The Lomas Troupe is composed of seven men and one woman.

1924/02/12

Regent Theatre & Miles Theatre, Detroit, Michigan
Regent Theatre, Chicago - 1923
Miles Theatre, Michigan - 1923

 

1924/05/01

Polis Theatre,Wilkes-Barre
Polis Theatre, Wilkes-Barre - 1924

 

1924/08/05

Sheridan Square, Pittsburgh
Sheridan Square, Pittsburgh - 1924

 

1924/09/18

Library Theatre, Warren, PA
Library Theatre, Warren - 1924

 

1924/09/24

Allentown Fair, PA
Allentown Fair - 1924
Morning Call (Allentown, PA) - 16 Sep 1924

Recently arrived from an engagement of over a year in London Reviews.

Horse impersonators, “Spark Plug”

1924/10/05

Virginia State Fair, Richmond, Virginia
Times Dispatch - 05 Oct 1924

 

Recently arrived from an engagement of over a year in London Reviews.

Horse impersonators, “Spark Plug” costume

1924/10/18

Lafayette Square Theatre, Buffalo, New York
Buffalo Commercial - 18 Oct 1924
Reading Times (Reading PA) - 29 Oct 1924

 

The Lomas Troupe 8 of Europe’s Funniest Clowns

1924/10/27

Lyric Theatre, Reading, PA
Lyric Theatre, Reading PA - 1924

 

1924/10/30

to

1924/11/02

The American Theatre, Pittson, Pennsylvania
American Theatre, Pitston, PA 1924
American Theatre, Pittston PA - 1924

Top of the bill.

‘Giants’ March on Stilts’

Eight men.

Came direct from New York

1925/05/29

Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles, California
Covina Argus (Covina CA) - 29 May 1925

Private party after the performance given in honour of the Lomas Troupe

1925/07/04

Calgary Stampede
Calgary Herald - 4 July 1925

Lomas Troupe

1925/09/28

to

1925/10/02

Dodge County Fair, Beaver Dam, Minnesota
The Representative (Fox Lake, WI) - 17 Sep 1925

Very good write up.

1925/10/19

to

1925/10/24

Alabama State Fair, Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham News - 02 Oct 1925
Birmingham News - 11 Oct 1925

Very good write up

1925/12/13

Murray Theatre, Richmond, Indiana
Richmond - 13 Dec 1925

The Lomas Troupe with Wee Johnnie Barnes “The Half Pint” in “From the Bottom to the Top”

1925/12/16

Welle Theatre, Zanesville
Zanesville Signal - 16 Dec 1925

The Lomas Troupe

1926/02/12

Delmonte Theatre, St Louis, Missouri
St Louis Globe-Democrat - 12 Feb 1926

Lomas Troupe

1926/08/02

State Lake Theatre (Orpheum Circuit), Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Tribune - 02 Aug 1926

Lomas Troupe

8 Midgets & Giants

1926/09/20

to

1926/09/25

West Texas Fair, Abiline
Abiline Reporter - 19 Sep 1926 (1 of 2)
Abiline Reporter - 19 Sep 1926 (2 of 2)

Has a good write up.

 

3rd link has three poor quality photos.

1927/05/07

Allyn Theatre, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford Courant - 04 May 1927
Hartford Courant - 05 May 1927
Hartford Courant - 07 May 1927

‘A Smashing Hit’

 

2nd item has a photo of stiltswalkers

 

Going to Paris after Hartford.

1927/08/08

to

1927/08/13

Cedar Rapids Fair, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Gazette - 07 Aug 1927 The Gazette - 09 Aug 1927

Appearing every afternoon.

Also probably in the evening parade.

 

2nd item has 3 middling photos.

1927/09/06

to

1927/09/08

Dayton County Fair, Dayton, Ohio
Dayton Herald - 3 Sep 1927

Lomas Troupe of English Pantomimist will present masked comedy.

1928/04/29

Publix Theatre, Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham News - 29 Apr 1928

Low down in cast list.

1928/09/23

Rochester Theatre, Rochester, New York
Democrat & Chronicle - 23 Sep 1928

‘A Novel Notion from the Bottom to the Top’

Features “Wee” Johnnie Barnes.

1929/03/26

Loew’s Valencia Theatre, Brooklyn, New York
Times Union - 26 Mar 1929

Comedy stilt walking act.

1929/11/02

Regent Theatre, Paterson, New Jersey
The News (Peterson, NJ) - 2 Nov 1929

Good write up. Eight players

1929/12/30

Uptown Theatre, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Tribune - 30 Dec 1929

Lomas Troupe

1930/06/01

R-K-O Orpheum, Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake Tribune - 1 June 1930

Tom Lomas and his company

1930/07/05

RKO State Lake, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Tribune - 5 July 1930

Low down on bill.

1931/02/08

Loew’s Metropolitan Theatre, Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 8 Feb 1931
Standard Brooklyn - 9 Feb 1931

Lomas Troupe

1931/10/23

Shubert Rialto, St Louis, Missouri
St Louis Globe-Democrat - 23 Oct 1931

Lomas Troupe

1932/05/25

Astor Theatre, Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading Times - 25 May 1932

Lomas Troupe offering “A European Sensational Novelty”

1933/02/20-25

Shrine Circus, Hartford, Connecticut
Shrine Circus - Hartfort, Conn - 1933

 

1932/08/21

Sea Breeze Park, Rochester, New York
Democrat & Chronicle - 21 Aug 1932

Tom Lomas Troupe

1932/09/22

to

1932/09/24

Cricket Field, Altoona, Philadelphia
Altoona Tribune - 19 Sep 1932

Lomas Troupe

1923/11/24

to

1923/12/

Metropolitan Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Globe - 24 Nov 1932

Lomas Troupe

1932/12/08

State Theatre, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford Courant - 8 Dec 1932

Tom Lomas Troupe

Top of the bill

1933/01/24

State Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore Sun - 24 Jan 1933

Tom Lomas Troupe

1933/02/21

Annual Shrine Circus, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford Courant - 21 Feb 1933

Troupe in mishap.

Two collided and crashed to the matting.

1933/03/04

Fitchburg Theatre, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg Sentinel - 4 Mar 1933

Top of the vaudeville acts

1933/08/02

Radio City Music Hall, Brooklyn, New York
Times Union (Brooklyn) - 2 Aug 1933

Lomas Troupe

1933/08/22

Central Canada Exhibition, Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa Journal - 22 Aug 1933

An original performance by the Tom Lomas Troupe of eight persons.

1933/09/19

Allentown Fair, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Reading Times (Reading PA) - 30 Aug 1930

The Tom Lomas troupe is truly one of the world’s most spectacular and entertaining features.

 

A good review

1933/10/17

Grauman’s Theatre, Hollywood, California
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 17 Oct 1933

Appearing in the prologue.

Mention of Cary Grant’s involvement with the troupe.

1933/11/16

Loew’s State Theatre, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Times - 16 Nov 1933

Tom Lomas Troupe

1933/12/08

Loew’s Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, California
San Francisco Examiner - 8 Dec 1933

Lomas Troupe

1934/01/07

United Theatre, Detroit, Michigan
Detroit Free Press - 7 Jan 1934

Lomas Troupe

1934/02/23

St Louis Theatre, St Louis, Missouri
St Louis Star & Times - 23 Feb 1934

Lomas Troupe

1934/03/15

Lyric Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis News - 15 Mar 1934
Indianopolis Star - 19 Mar 1934

Tom Lomas Troupe ‘From the bottom to the top’

 

2nd cutting references Cary Grant. Also says he inherited act from his father and brought it to New York in 1920.

1934/04/02

Strand Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati Enquirer - 2 Apr 1934

Tom Lomas and company

1934/04/06

Paramount Theatre, Munster, Indiana
Times (Munster IN) - 6 Apr 1934

The best act on the bill is the Tom Lomas Troupe

1934/05/03

St Joseph Retail Grocers Show, St Joseph, Missouri
St Joseph Gazette - 3 May 1934

Lomas Troupe

1934/06/29

Hershey Community Theatre, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg Telegraph - 29 Jun 1934

Lomas Troupe heads the program.

1934/08/23

Cameo Theatre, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford Courant - 23 Aug 1934

Lomas Troupe

1934/09/21

RKO Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Globe - 21 Sep 1934
Boston Globe - 22 Sep 1934

Tom Lomas Troupe

Heading the bill

1934/10/05

Paramount Theatre, North Adams, Massachusetts
North Adams Transcript - 5 Oct 1934

The Lomas Troupe, seven clever entertainers.

1934/11/01

Capitol Theatre, Binghampton, New York
Press & Sun Bulletin - 1 Nov 1934

Lomas Troupe

1934/11/05

Capitol Theatre, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Tribune (Scranton PA) - 5 Nov 1934

“America’s Greatest Gymnasts” Lomas Troupe in ‘The Higher Ups’

1934/12/03

Unknown Theatre, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre Time Leader - 3 Dec 1934

Tom Lomas Troupe

‘The Higher Ups’

1935/03/01

RKO State Theatre, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Central New Jersey Home News - 1 Mar 1935

Lomas Troupe

1935/03/22

Strand Theatre, Lansing, Michigan
Lansing State Journa - 22 Mar 1935

Lomas Troupe.

Worth reading, if only for the bending of the truth.

1935/04/13

Stratford Theatre, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Tribune - 13 Apr 1935

Lomas Troupe

1935/08/20

to

1935/08/25

Upper Peninsula State Fair, Escanaba, Michigan
Escanaba Daily Press - 12 Jul 1935 Green Bay Press-Gazette - 17 Aug 1935

 

Lomas Troupe

Good write up and picture of stilt-walkers

1935/11/16

to

1936/04/18

Hippodrome, New York
Times Union - 20 Oct 1935

Lomas Troupe

In “Jumbo”, a musical circus by Billy Rose.

1936/11/04

Kearse Theatre, Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston Daily Mail - 4 Nov 1936

The Tom Lomas Troupe

‘Direct from Billy Rose’s Jumbo’

1936/11/20

Maryland Theatre, Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland Times (Cumberland MD) - 20 Nov 1936

Tom Lomas Troupe

Poor quality photo showing 8 people.

1937/11/27

Drake Theatre, Franklin, Pennsylvania
News Herald - 27 Nov 1936

Tom Lomas Troupe

‘Direct from Billy Rose’s Jumbo’

1936/12/02

Liberty Theatre, Zanesville, Ohio
Times Recorder - 2 Dec 1936
Time Recorder - 5 Dec 1936

The Lomas Troupe
Eight people
All in troupe are related.

1936/12/04

Columbia Theatre, Greenville, Philadelphia
Record Argus - 4 Dec 1936

Tom Lomas Troupe

1937/01/13

Majestic Theatre, Paterson, New Jersey
The News (Paterson NJ) - 13 Jan 1937

Lomas Troupe

1937/09/12

to

1937/09/19

Reading Fair, Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading Times (Reading PA) - 1 Sep 1937
Reading Times (Reading PA) - 6 Sep 1937
Elizabethville Echo - 9 Sep 1937

 

Tom Lomas Troupe

1937/10/08

Unnamed Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - 08 Oct 1937

Lomas Troupe

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