RE8- Harry Tate

[chasm24]

Having read the archive articles on this topic I wish to add that Harry Tate had a vauderville act called 'Flying' I have several articles and items relating
to Harry Tate from 1917.
Firstly I have a poster advertising his stage act. His head is protruding through a radial engine dating from 1917
Secondly Harry Tate & Joe Elvin acted out his performance of Flying at Hendon Aerodrome in front of the King & Queen on December 4th 1917 at the Graham White Co Open day. His plane was called the Taterplane.It seems to be a home made bleriot type dressed up with various ridiculous addons.This is where the Harry Tate /RE8 association comes from. Not just cockney rhyming slang!
I have several postcards also relating to his act.
I would only be too pleased to hear anything further

[PeterL]

Who Was Harry Tate?

Real name Ronald Hutchison, Harry Tate was an established music hall performer over five decades. His catchphrases passed into the language with the best known,"Goodbye-ee", inspiring one of the war's most popular songs. And the expressions "How's your father?" and "....I don't think!" have faint echos even eightyfive years later. Aged 69 and still touring the music halls Harry Tate was killed by a German bomb in 1940.


http://www.wwimodeler.com/esc/re8.html

[MikeW]

Totally irrelavent, I know, but Les Rogers, the author of the Schiffer "British Squadron Markings" bible actually met Harry Tate out side the London Palladium.

Les's father ran a portable sandwich stall, and many of the stars used to nip out between acts for a cigarette and a sandwich.