Paper Artifacts of the Career of Bobby "Uke" Henshaw

Bobby "Uke" Henshaw
Online Museum of Paper Artifacts from His Career in Vaudeville and as a Ukulele Performer

Bobby "Uke" Henshaw (born Charles Robert Henshaw in Wheeling, WV), was a noted vaudeville entertainer of the 1920s who made a name for himself in select national and international circles. The trade magazine Box Office credits him with having "introduced the ukulele to England and then toured Europe with it..." In the 1930s, he performed comedy on BBC Television (the British Broadcasting Corporation)

He also played small parts in a number of now-obscure films such as 1935 Variety, (1935); Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1949); Beyond the Forest (1949); The Set Up (1949); and Return of the Frontiersman (1950). Later, he endorsed a commercial line of baritone ukuleles and tenor guitars, as well as Master Strings, under the "Bobby Henshaw" brand, manufactured in Sorkin, NY. Variety said he traveled the world, "spending between 12 and 15 years in Australia."

Above, left: Honolulu Moon., words and music by Fred Lawrence and published by Leo. Feist Inc., New York. Right: Where the Red, Red Roses Grow, words by Billy Rose and music by Harry Akst, and published by Milton Weil Music Co., Inc., 54 West Randolph Street, Chicago.

Above: I'd Love to Call You My Sweetheart, written by Paul Ash, Joe Goodwin and Larry Shay, and published by Milton Weil Music Co., Inc., 54 West Randolph Street, Chicago. Right: promotional brochure for the baritone ukulele brand he endorsed.

Packaging for "Master Strings" for the ukulele, billed as "quality controlled nylon, orchestral gauge."