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Lottie Collins was born in 1866 and began her Music Hall career as a skipping rope dancer when she was just ten years old in 1877. Later she was joined in her act by her two sisters Lizzie and Marie. An article about the Royal Music Hall, Holborn printed in The Era on the 17th of September 1887 reads: As a step-dancer Miss Lottie Collins occupies a prominent position on the music hall stage. Mr. Sam Adams has wisely secured her services here, and she is already a great favourite.

Right - Lottie Collins - From an early postcard.

Lottie made her first major appearance in 'Monte Crist Junior,' a burlesque show, on the 23rd of December 1886 at the Gaiety Theatre in London, (she also performed at the Gaiety much later in her career in the burlesque 'Cinder-Ellen Up to Late,') and then went on to be a regular favourite in Variety Theatres all over Britain and the USA.

Whilst in America she heard the song 'Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay' and when she returned to London she brought it with her and performed it at the Tivoli Theatre on the Strand in 1891 to phenomenal success, and now the song is always associated with her name.

Lottie continued to tour the Music Halls and Variety Theatres of Britain during the 1890s and performed a variety of dance sketches and songs including the ever popular 'The Little Widow.'

Lottie was married three times and her third husband was the Music Hall artist James W. Tate.

Lottie Collins died on the 3rd of May 1910 in St Pancras, and was only 44. She was buried at Saint Pancras and Islington Cemetery, East Finchley, London.

Above - A red Terra Cotta Bust of what is thought to be Lottie Collins, currently in the possession of David Bridgwater. The Bust is 27" High by 18" Wide across the shoulders, and David says it is his belief that it was originally made for exterior use, perhaps for the outside of a public house or Music Hall.

If you have any information about this Bust, or know where it was originally from Please Contact Me.