Bill matter

In the American vaudeville and British music hall traditions, the bill matter was the identifying phrase used in advertising material to describe and summarize the appeal and attributes of each performer or group of performers.[1] Each was considered as a trademark, not to be used by other performers. Examples in Britain included George Robey, "The Prime Minister of Mirth"; G. H. Elliott, "The Chocolate Coloured Coon"; Max Miller, "The Cheeky Chappie"; and Billy Bennett, "Almost a Gentleman".[2]

Vaudeville poster showing a bill matter beneath each performer's name, such as "Nothing on Earth Can Hold Houdini!"

References
  1. Frank Cullen, Florence Hackman, Donald McNeilly, Vaudeville old & new: an encyclopedia of variety performances in America, Psychology Press, 2007, p.109
  2. Roy Hudd, Roy Hudd's Book of Music Hall, Variety and Showbiz Anecdotes, Robson Books, 1993, ISBN 0-86051-929-5, p.195
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