George Arliss - One For The Teenagers

Following is a link to an article I wrote for the August 2021 edition of Best of British nostalgia magazine on the actor George Arliss.

Link to article: The Inimitable George Arliss

Despite being Britain's first Oscar winner, and the earliest-born actor to win an Oscar he is little remembered these days. The house he owned in Maida Hill, London, from 1912 to 1946 is not even marked by a blue plaque.

For more information on Arliss his biographer Robert M. Fells maintains an excellent website Arliss Archives . Mr Fells is also submitting a blue plaque nomination to try to get Arliss properly recognised.

Tony Hancock's impression of George Arliss which more people may remember was recorded in his Royal Festival Hall show in 1966. This is occasionally posted on the internet but seems to then get taken down. It is currently here - from 20:18.

Arliss write two autobiographies. The first, Up the Years from Bloomsbury (1927), is very amusing on his early days in theatre. The second My Ten Years in the Studios (USA) or George Arliss, By Himself (UK 1940) is more focussed on his later film career.

Although Arliss worked for much of his career in America he also periodically made films and stage appearances in UK. Following is a complete record of his London West End theatre credits.