Comedian, actor, writer, songwriter.
Little information is known about the life and career of comic specialty artist and occasional writer of musical burlesques Edward A. Glover (often billed simply as E. A. Glover). As a 'refined and entertaining mimic and humorist', his specialties included 'Panel Photographs' and 'Impersonations of Peculiar People' (Sydney Morning Herald 23 June 1888, p.2). He is also believed to have written comedy songs for both himself and other performers.
It is possible that Glover had a stable or regular connection with Melbourne during his early career in Australia, as his name appears several times in advertising in that city over the period 1876 to 1888. His first known appearance was during the US Minstrels season at Melbourne's Apollo Hall (beginning 15 April 1876). Advertising for this 'special engagement' saw him billed as 'the celebrated London Comique', and also indicates that his act included new and original comic songs. His name is next identified with a People's Concerts entertainment staged on 28 October 1878 at the Fitzroy Town Hall (see note below). Eight years later, he appeared as Augustus Mountcashel, a broker and merchant, in a production of A Ruined Life, which was produced at the Alexandra Theatre (Melbourne) by Goodrich and Crawford, beginning 30 October 1886.
Glover began his association with Frank M. Clark in late 1887 or early 1888, appearing with variety entrepreneurs Silk Stockings Company at Melbourne's Victoria Hall and later at the Academy of Music (Sydney) with Clark's New All Star Combination. Glover's employment with the latter troupe began sometime around June and lasted until at least December that same year. According to the Sydney Morning Herald of 2 January 1888, his panel photographs (accompanied by jokes, witticisms, and songs) included 'The Masher', 'The Spinster', and 'The After-Dinner Speech Maker' (p.2). Glover is also believed to have written several farces and musical burlesques for Clark. Because the authorship of second-part burlesques and farces of the period were frequently unacknowledged, it is unclear as to how many works Glover contributed to the companies he was employed with. One piece known to have been written by him, however, was the burlesque Boozed, first staged at the Victoria Hall in February 1888. A satire on Charles Reade's social drama Drink, which was then being staged by Williamson, Garner and Musgrove at the Theatre Royal, Boozed loosely follows the incidents of the original while including songs and dance for added satirical effect. One of the farces he is known to have appeared in was Will Whitburn's The Bushrangers, staged by F. M. Clark's New All Star Combination at the Academy of Music (beginning 22 December 1888).
Glover's last known whereabouts are as manager for George Barr at the Haymarket Music Hall in Sydney around the late 1880s. Advertising in 1889 indicates that he was also involved in performance (see, for example, Sydney Morning Herald 26 January 1889, p.2).
