I have recently (August 2019) revised this page. This follows an email exchange with Dr Charlotte Crofts who runs the Cary Grant Festival in Bristol.

Charlotte questioned the list of dates which originally included a long tour with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

The original list was believed to be accurate. However, recent research has shown that the Penders were performing elsewhere than the list stated. 

The original source for much of this data was Nigel Dixon, grandson of Rowland Dixon.
The dates have come from Rowland’s diary.

However, further research has revealed that it is likely that Rowland Dixon left the Pender Troupe and performed with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Hence the confusion.

The following list excludes the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus dates.

I have also done some more research to find corroborating evidence. This is mainly from newspaper cuttings. Links to these images are given in the Location column.

Dates
[yyyy/mm/dd]
Location
(Link to cutting)
Notes
 1903/09/19 Unspecified, UK
The Era - 19 Sept 1903  
This is the earliest newspaper entry that I have found to date. 
Pender, R Original
Troupe of Comedians, Acrobats and Pantomimists, in Sketch “Hands Up”
1904/05/13  Palace Theatre, London
Music hall and Theatre Review - 13 May 1904
The Pender Troupe 
1905/01/19 Grand Theatre, Leeds

In Pantomime – The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

1905/02/23 Opera House, York In variety
1905/04/03  Palace Theatre, Bradford, Yorkshire
Shipley Times and Express - 4 May 1906
Pender Troupe

 

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’.

1905/07/20

Palace Theatre, Belfast

The Pender Troupe of Pantomimists (seven in number) create roars with their funny absurdity Hands Up.
1905/12/21 Tyne Theatre, Newcastle In Pantomime – Mother Goose
1906/05/24 Palace Theatre, Blackburn In variety
1906/06/28 Wolverhampton Hippodrome In variety
1906/07/26 Palace Theatre, Manchester in variety with Harry Lauder
1906/08/16 Palace of Varieties, Aberdeen In variety
1906/08/23 Palace Theatre, Sunderland In variety with “Hands Up”
1907/04/18 Hippodrome, Margate In variety
1907/04/20 Hippodrome, Southampton
Hampshire Advertiser - 20 April 1907
Pender Troupe of Pantomimists in the screaming burlesque “Hands Up” or “The Bold Bad Highwaymen”
1908/02/13 Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London In Pantomime – Babes in the Wood
1908/08/06 Grand Hall By The Sea, Margate

in variety….The Bob Pender Troupe of eight, in a pantomimical comedy….

1908/09/10 Palace & Hippodrome, Halifax Variety. The Bob Pender Troupe in The Long & Short of It
1908/12/24 Theatre Royal, Manchester

In the pantomime “Goody Two Shoes” – the Giants.

1909/04/20 Holborn Empire, London
Variety - 1 May 1909
The Pender Troupe
1910/02/05

Drury Lane, London
The Province (Vancouver) - 05 May 1910 Page 09
The Province (Vancouver) - 05 May 1910 Page 16

Pantomime ‘Aladdin’

Good picture of Bob as ‘Clown’

1910/06/23

Glasgow Coliseum

Also reported in “London Variety Stage” Section, that The Pender Troupe had consented to appear at The Music Hall Benevolent Association fete & gala at Rosherville Gardens on Wed July 6
1910/09/08

Birmingham Empire

In variety
1911 Spring

The Folies Bergere, New York
The Lives of Justine Johnstone - Extract
The Encyclopaedia of Vaudeville

The Pender Troupe
This was the opening of this new dining club set to rival the Paris version.
1911/05/04 Glasgow Coliseum In variety
 1911/05/29 Her Majesty’s Theatre, Walsall
Walsall Advertiser - 27 May 1911  
Bob Pender Troupe
In their screaming absurdity “The Long and the Short of it”
1911/06/08 Hippodrome, Oxford Street, London
The Guardian - 6 June 1911
Pender Troupe
1911/09/14 The Orpheum, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Herald - 14 Sept 1911
Bob Pender’s Giants
1911/09/23 Orpheum Theatre, Long Beach, California
Long Beach Telegram - 23 Sep 1911
Pender Giant Troupe
1911/12/07 Drury Lane Theatre, London
The Times - 7 Dec 1911
Pender Troupe in the harlequinade.

1913/02/02

Rochdale

 

1913/01/06 to 1913/02/03

Belfast, Opera

 

1913/02/02 to 1913/02/24

Scala, Haag

 

1913/03/24 to 1913/03/31

Liege, Belgium

 

1913/04/07 to 1913/04/21

Dusseldorf, Germany

 

1913/05/16

Issued Passport

 

1913/05/01 to 1913/05/26

Budapest, Hungary

 

1913/06/01 to 1913/06/09

Torino, Italy

 

1913/06/16 to 1913/06/23

Milan, Italy

 

1913/07/07 to 1913/07/21

Helsingfors, Finland

 

1913/08/04 to 1913/08/12

Moscow, Russia

 

1913/09/08 to 1913/09/29*

Breslau, Germany

 

1913/10/06 to 1913/10/27

Halle, Germany

 

1913/11/01 to 1913/11/23

Dresden, Germany

 

1913/12/01 to 1913/12/15

Pantomime Rehearsal

No location given, could be UK or Dublin as performing there next

1913/12/22 to 1914/02/02

Dublin, Gaiety

Jack & the Beanstalk

 

……The two members of the Bob Pender Troupe, who perform the part of the Cow, Jessie, deserve much praise, & indeed the Pender Troupe generally – and it is they who impersonate the giant’s children – are a very considerable acquisition to the show….

1914/02/16

Sutton

 

1914/03/01 to 1914/03/30

Hamburg, Germany

 

1914/04/20

Dover, Kings

 

1914/05/01 to 1914/05/11

Paris, Empire

 

1914/05/18 to 1914/06/08

Paris, Moulin

 

1914/06/15 to 1914/06/29

Cologne, Germany

 

1914/12/14 to 1915/02/07

Edinburgh, Kings

Mother Goose

1915/02/08 to 1915/02/14

Glasgow, Olympia

 

1915/02/15 to 1915/02/21

Galashields

 

1915/03/01 to 1915/03/08

Leith, Gaiety

 

1915/03/22 to 1915/03/28

Northampton, Palace

 

1915/03/29 to 1915/04/04

Reading, Palace

 

1915/04/29

New Theatre, Oxford

in variety…”The Bob Pender Troupe, with their Drury Lane business, are making a success here in a smart & clever sketch.”

1915/12/29

Brixton Theatre, London

in The Forty Thieves. Charles Pender played Mokeana (the donkey), Harry Pender, Grand Vizier, Tom Pender Grand Vizier’s secretary, Willie Pender, Mustapha, Violet Pender, Hassan. …..The Pender Troupe are also responsible for the best items in the pantomime, & their work helps in no small degree towards the success attained….

1918/01/01 to 1918/01/07

Salisbury, Palace

 

1918/01/07 to 1918/01/28

Edinburgh, Kings

Mother Goose

1918/03/11 to 1918/03/17

Reading, Palace

 

1918/03/18 to 1918/03/24

Northampton, Hippodrome

 

1918/03/25 to 1918/03/31

Weymouth, Jubilee Hall

 

1918/04/09 to 1918/04/14

Hitich, Blacke’s

 

1918/04/16 to 1918/04/22

Gravesend, Grand

 

1918/04/29 to 1918/05/05

Camden Town, Bedford

 

1918/05/06 to 1918/05/12

Islington, Collin’s

 

1918/05/13 to 1918/05/19

Norwich Hippodrome
Eastern Evening News - 14 May 1918

Bob Pender’s Funny Nippy Nines

1918/05/20 to 1918/05/26

Ipswich, Hippodrome

 

1918/05/27 to 1918/06/03

Eastbourne, Hippodrome

 

1918/06/10 to 1918/06/16

Maidstone, Palace

 

1918/06/17 to 1918/06/26

Faversham, Palace

 

1918/06/25 to 1918/06/30

London, Hammersmith, Palace

 

1918/07/01 to 1918/07/07

London, Woolwich, Hippodrome

 

1918/07/09 to 1918/07/14

Camberwell, Palace

 

1918/07/15 to 1918/07/21

Leicester, Pavillion

 

1918/07/22 to 1918/07/28

Devonport, Hippodrome



1918/07/29 to 1918/08/04

Bristol, Empire

 

1918/08/05 to 1918/08/11

Kingston-on-Thames, Empire

 

1918/08/12 to 1918/08/18

Aldershot, Hippodrome

 

1918/08/19 to 1918/08/25

London, Rotherhithe, Hippodrome

 

1918/08/26 to 1918/09/01

Aberdeen, Tivoli

 

1918/09/02 to 1918/09/08

Hamilton, Hippodrome

 

1918/09/09 to 1918/09/16

Bolton, Grand

 

1918/09/23 to 1918/29

Walham Green, Granville

 

1918/09/30 to 1918/10/06

Canning Town, Imperial

 

1918/10/07 to 1918/10/13

Chatham, Barnard’s

 

1918/10/14 to 1918/10/20

Liverpool, Rotunda

 

1918/10/21 to 1918/10/27

Leeds, Hippodrome

 

1918/10/28 to 1918/11/03

Manchester, Hulme, Hippodrome

 

1918/11/04 to 1918/11/10

Ashton-under-Lyme, Hippodrome

 

1918/11/11 to 1918/11/17

Preston, Hippodrome

Wilkinson now occupies a site that was once the home of the Preston Hippodrome, one of Preston’s three large music halls. Opening in 1905, the Hippodromes motto was ‘Quick, Clean, Smart and Bright.’

1918/11/18 to 1918/11/24

Dumbarton, Palace

 

1918/11/25 to 1918/12/01

Alexandria Palace

 

1918/12/02 to 1918/12/08

Rehearsing

 

1918/12/09 to 1919/02/24

Glasgow, Alhambra
The Alhambra, Glasgow, 1918

The Pender Troupe of Pantomimists
“Jack and the Beanstalk”

 

1919/09/09

The Empire. Bristol
Bristol Evening Post - 9 Sep 1919

 

Bob Pender
“A Pantomime Rehearsal”
“The March of the Giants”
1920/08/07 Hippodrome, New York
The Evening World (New York) - 7 Aug 1920
Bob Pender and his troupe of pantomimists from London
1920/08/08 Hippodrome, New York
The Standard Union (Brooklyn) - 8 August 1920
Announcement that the Pender Troupe arrived in New York. Gives wrong ship name.
1920/08/10 Hippodrome, New York
Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 10 Aug 1920
Review says “The Pender Troupe will do better when the act occupies less time”
1920/08/13 Hippodrome New York
El Paso Herald - 13 August 1920
Entry in El Paso, Texas saying that the Pender Troupe had arrived in New York
1920/08/17 Hippodrome New York
Times Union - 17 August 1920
The Pender Troupe now have their own section in the show, whereas previously they were in the Toy Shop scene.
1920/09/19 Hippodrome, New York
Central New Jersey Home News - 19 Sept 1920
Mention of their ‘quaint animal impersonations’
1920/10/10 Hippodrome, New York
Buffalo Morning Express - 10 Oct 1920
Hippodrome’s 100th show
1920/10/26 Hippodrome, New York
New York Herald - 26 Oct 1920
Bob Pender returns to UK in preparation of Christmas Pantomime.
1920/11/17 Hippodrome, New York
Brooklyn Citizen - 17 Nov 1920
Report of new ‘props’ arriving for the Pender Troupe.
1920/12/12 Hippodrome, New York
New York Tribune - 12 Dec 1920
Brooklyn Citizen - 8 Dec 1920
Pender Troupe
1920/12/31 The Palace, London
The Guardian - 31 Dec 1920
“Jack and the Beanstalk” Panto.
1921/01/22 Palace Theatre, Manchester
The Guardian - 22 Jan 1921
Pender Troupe of Giant
‘Jack and the Beanstalk’
1921/01/30
to
1921/05/01
Hippodrome, New York
New York Herald - 30 Jan 1921
Indianapolis Star - 13 Mar 1921
New York Tribune - 13 Mar 1921
New York Tribune - 1 May 1921
Pender Troupe
Good mention

1921/05/02
to
1921/05/07

Brooklyn, New York

 

1921/06/27

Capitol Theatre, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Capitol, Wilkes-Barre, 1921

Bob Pender Troupe 
1921/07/17

The Globe, Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Inquirer - 17 Jul 1921
Evening Public Ledger - 16 July 1921

The Bob Pender Troupe
1921/09/25

Keith’s Theatre, Washington, DC
Washington Herald - 25 Sep 1921

Bob Pender’s Troupe
1921/10/09 Bushwick Theatre, Brooklyn, New York
Times Union - 9 Oct 1921
Bob Pender Troupe

1921/10/16

The Palace, New York
New-York Tribune - 16 Oct 1921
 Bob Pender Troupe
1921/10/25 Keith Vaudeville, Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore Sun - 25 Oct 1921
Bob Pender Troupe

1921/10/29

B F Keith’s. Philadelphia
B F Keith's, Philadelphia 1921
Philadelphia Enquirer - 1 Nov 1921
Bob Pender Troupe 

1921/11/06

Nixon’s Grand, Philadelphia
Nixon's Grand, Philadelphia, 1921
 Bob Pender Troupe
1921/11/10
to
1921/11/17
Shea’s Theatre, Buffalo, New York
Sun and Erie County - 10 Nov 1921
Sun and Erie Country - 17 Nov 1921
Bob Pender Troupe
‘animal impersonators and eccentric dancers’
‘ten athletes, experts on stilts and great comedy pantomime’
1921/12/02 Princess Theatre, Montreal, Canada
Gazette Montreal - 26 Nov 1921
Gazette - 2 Dec 1921
Bob Pender Troupe
‘animal impersonators, stilt walkers and eccentric dancers’
1921/12/14

B F Keith’s, Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Globe - 14 Dec 1921

Bob Pender Troupe
1921/12/25 BF Keith’s, Syracuse, New York
Syracuse Herald - 25 Dec 1921
Bob Pender Troupe
Have to squint to find the entry
1921/12/28 London Hippodrome
The Era - 28 Dec 1921
Bob Pender as Clown
Cow played by Pender Brothers
The Pender Troupe of Giants
“Jack and the Beanstalk”
1922/01/25 Lyceum Theatre, Canton, Ohio
Canton Daily News - 25 Jan 1922
Bob Pender Troupe

1922/03/12

The Majestic. Chicago
Chicago Tribune - 27 Mar 1922
 Bob Pender Troupe

1922/06/06

The Pantages, Winnipeg
Winnipeg Tribune - 6 June 1922
The Bob Pender Troupe
Headliner of the week.
Good write up 

1922/07/01

Pantages, Seattle
The Seattle Star - 1 Jul 1922
Bob Pender Troupe 

1922/07/24

Pantages, Portland, Oregon
The Oregon Daily Journal - 24 Jul 1922
Portland Sunday Oregonian - 23 July 1922
Bob Pender Troupe
Good write up in second item. 

1922/09/06

Pantages, Salt Lake City
Pantages, Salt Lake City, 1922

Bobby Pender’s Troupe 
1922/12/21 Empire Theatre, Sheffield
Sheffield Independent - 21 Dec 1922
The Pender Troupe of Giants
“Jack and the Beanstalk”

1922/12/22

Capitol Theatre, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre 22 Dec 1922
The Bob Pender Troupe
Consisting of eleven comedy artists 

1922/12/28

Sheffield Empire

In panto Jack & the Beanstalk. described as the Empire’s greatest pantomime success. …..The Pender Troupe are energetic & efficient throughout. They are responsible for the cow- a very clever impersonation – the Broker’s men, the Clown & Harlequin & the various evil beings associated with the Giant.

1922/12/31

Broadway, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Inquirer - 31 Dec 1922
Bob Pender Troupe
Headlining 

1923/04/04

The Aldine, Wilmington, Delaware
The Evening Journal - 26 Apr 1923

 Bob Pender Troupe
Good write up

1923 Christmas


1924/01/02

Wood Green Empire, London
Wood Green Empire, 1923 (01)
Wood Green Empire, 1923 (02)
Wood Green Empire, 1923 (03)
The Era - 01 Jan 1924


In ‘Aladdin’
Pender Troupe not mentioned
Real Old-Time Harlequinade
invented and arranged by Bob Pender who will appear as Clown.
Will Pender as Pantaloon
George Turner as Policeman
Bert Ayling as Harlequin
Mlle. Listakova as Columbine
1924/02/08 Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Intelligencer Journal - 8 Feb 1924
Bob Pender Troupe
1924/02/11 Majestic Theatre, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Evening News (Harrisburg) - 11 Feb 1924
Bob Pender Troupe
Good write up
1927/07/25
to
1927/07/30
Saskatoon Exhibition, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Saskatoon Daily Star - 20 Jul 1927
Pender Troupe
8 people in a big comedy act
1931/01/15 Theatre Royal, Leeds Pantomime – Jacks & the Beanstalk
1931/10/13 Edinburgh The Original Bob Pender Troupe
1931/10/?? Tivoli Theatre, Abderdeen The Original Bob Pender Troupe
1932/05/26 Birmingham Empire

In the pantomime “Goody Two Shoes” – the Giants.

1933/05/11 Alexandra Theatre, Widnes

Bob Pender Troupe

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