Leno, Dan (1860-1904), was a popular English music-hall comedian. He specialized in comic songs and monologues spoken rapidly. Leno’s humor was based on domestic situations. He gave rambling anecdotes about everyday incidents concerning himself or his family. He was particularly popular in pantomime, usually taking the part of the dame, a comic female role traditionally played by a man.
Leno, whose real name was George Galvin, was born on Dec. 20, 1860, in London. He made his music-hall debut at the age of 4. At the height of his music-hall success, and after his appearance before King Edward VII in 1901, he was known as the “King’s Jester.” Leno died on Oct. 31, 1904.
See also Music hall; Pantomime.
