English Clog Dancing

Jimmy Ellwood

jimmy_ellwood.jpg (44246 bytes)

The late Jimmy Ellwood, father to Johnson Ellwood, was a champion coal-mining clog dancer. In the 1930s he frequently appeared on stage especially in the working mens' clubs around the N.E. and also competed in the regular clog dance competitions. He was sometimes accompanied on stage by boy champion Sammy Bell. The two developed a man-boy double act and danced on such things as a pedestal, two shoe brushes fastened tied side-by-side, and on other stage props.

Here is a rare photo of Jimmy, and a scan of a small broadsheet of songs that he wrote and sold to raise some beer money.

miners_song_3.jpg (147087 bytes)

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