Harry Day | |
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Occupation(s) | Politician, theatre owner |
Harry Day (16 September 1880 – 16 September 1939)[1] was a British theatre owner and Labour Party politician.[2]
Day was born as Edward Lewis Levy in the United States. He legally changed his name to Harry Day.[3]
He was the son of David John Day. He has sold tickets for Barnum & Bailey's travelling circus.[2] He subsequently worked as a bill poster before gaining ownership of theatres in Bristol, Bedford and Dover. He was also briefly Harry Houdini's manager.[2]
In 1901 he married Kathleen Amelia Rea, an actor with the stage name "Kitty Collyer", and they had two children.[2]
In 1909, Houdini gave him a painting with the message "To Harry Day from his sincere pal, Harry Houdini." This painting was later damaged in a break in at his home.[4]
Day was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Southwark Central at the 1924 general election, having unsuccessfully contested the seat in 1923.[5] He was re-elected in 1929 with a much-increased majority, but when Labour split at the 1931 general election he lost the seat to a Conservative supporter of the National Government.[5]
He was elected to the London County Council as a councillor for Southwark Central in the same year he lost his parliamentary seat.[6]
Day regained his Commons seat at the 1935 general election,[5] holding both parliamentary and council seats until his death.[1]
In 1939, he became ill and travelled to Canada for his health. He died on his 59th birthday in Quebec.[2]