Hiya folks, Here's something for you to think about over the holidays (I'm going cross-eyed transcribing a part of the 1861 census at present - already found a 16 year old Professor of Music!!!) Anyway, if anyone can help I'm sure John would be extremely grateful. Message reads ~ Dear Dave, I'm making this enquiry on behalf of the actress MIRIAM MARGOYLES who believes that her Great Uncle - JACOB SANDMAN better known as JOE WALTERS was 'THE GREAT LEVANTE'S Musical Director when the Australian magician toured the UK in the 20s and 30s.She seeks confirmation or otherwise of this long established family assumption. A tall order, but probably worth a few shots in the dark anyway. There's material a plenty about Levante and of course, Miriam Margolyes who has appeared in everything from Little Dorrit to Black Adder! All I know for sure about Jacob Sandman/Joe Walters is that he was born in Middlesborough in 1870 and died in Brighton March 25th 1954. Hitherto a confirmed bachelor, he married Ethel Cohen in 1951 aged 81! Miriam, who met him when she was a little girl, described his as 'a darling man' who had the reputation of being a bit of an old reprobate. Apparently he went to South Africa in 1898 where he opened an hotel in Johannesburg It was Paul Newman who sadly died as the result of a road accident last June, who first pointed Miriam Margoyles in my direction. As you probably know, Ann Featherstone has subsequently taken over the entertainer-genealogy website, she recommended that I get iin contact with that 'enterprisng bloke' Dave Jassie, so here I am. As an active member of the British Music Hall Society, I contribute regularly to the Society's journal The Call Boy. (Not of those whose adventures are reported in The News of the World.) Sometime in the Autumn, maybe earlier,I will be saying something about Leslie George Cole alias 'The Great Levante'. Hope to hear from you sometime. All the best, John Bradbury PS. HAPPY EASTER!