Dates

• Existence: 16 August 1875 - 18 April 1940

Biography

Flora May Augusta Flannagan aka Florrie Forde was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne on 16 August 1875 to Lott Flannagan, an Irish-born a stonemason, and wife Phoebe Simmons (1846-1892). Florrie’s parents' marriage ended around 1878 and in 1888, her mother re-married Thomas Henry Snelling Ford, a theatrical costumier.

Florrie’s mother died when she was 17 and she was taken to a convent with some of her siblings. Not long after, Florrie run away to live with an aunt in Sydney, where she became a music hall performer under the stage name of Florrie Forde singing popular and comical songs.

As her fame grew, Florrie started to tour around Australia and eventually moved to the United Kingdom in 1897, where she became one of the most popular music hall stars of the day. Florrie had a powerful stage presence, and specialised in popular songs with catchy choruses the audience could sign with her.

Although Florrie was most famous for her singing, she also became a regularly in popular pantomime and occasionally appeared in dramatic plays.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Florrie was enjoying great success, as reflected by her appearance in the very first Royal Variety Performance in 1912. When the First World War started Florrie, as many of her peers joined in raising the morale of troops and civilians alike singing patriotic songs such as ‘It's A Long Way To Tipperary’ and ‘Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty’.

In the years after the war, Florrie formed her own travelling revue to provide a platform for new rising stars and she became well known for her generosity, particularly helping other performers in difficulties.

Florrie continued performing in the music hall scene during the 1930s and appeared in small parts in several films. She also continued supporting war veterans with special performances until her death on 18 April 1940 at Aberdeen, Scotland.

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records: