Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/George Formby Snr

George Formby Snr

 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/October 4, 2015 by — Chris Woodrich (talk) 23:50, 16 September 2015 (UTC)



George Formby Snr (1875–1921) was a comedian and singer in musical theatre. One of the greatest music hall performers of the early 20th century, his comedy played upon Lancashire stereotypes, and he was popular around Britain. His nickname, "The Wigan Nightingale", was coined because of the way he would use his bronchial cough as a comedic device. Born into poverty, he began to sing on street corners, before starting a professional career in the 1890s, when he built up a following in Lancashire. He also developed a series of stage characters, including that of "John Willie", an accident-prone northerner. Formby had a successful recording career and made the transition from music hall to revue in 1916. He suffered from tuberculosis, and a stage accident in 1916 weakened him further; after he contracted influenza in the 1918 pandemic, he died in 1921 at the age of 45. Formby's act, and one of his costumes, inspired Charlie Chaplin in the formation of his character the Tramp. Formby's son also used parts of his father's act when starting his stage career and, once established, also changed his name to George Formby; Formby Jnr went on become the top British male star in box office takings between 1937 and 1943.


 * Most recent similar article(s): Last actor biography was Gary Cooper on 8 May
 * Main editors: SchroCat
 * Promoted: 29 September 2014
 * Reasons for nomination: 140th birthday
 * Support as nominator. SchroCat (talk) 12:09, 16 August 2015 (UTC)
 * Support Look forward to seeing it!♦ Dr. Blofeld  15:54, 18 August 2015 (UTC)
 * Support. 140th birthday is the perfect time to feature this on the main page. -- Ssilvers (talk) 16:38, 18 August 2015 (UTC)
 * Support. nice piece of histery. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:39, 24 August 2015 (UTC)
 * Support. Little is known about him and he was always overshadowed by his more famous son. This would be educational to those who never knew about George Junior's equally, if not more so, talented father.   Cassianto Talk   14:26, 2 September 2015 (UTC)