QUENTIN  TOD " Narid "

 

Image rendition by Anthony Zois
Image rendition by Anthony Zois

Born : December 27, 1884 -  Walmer, Kent, England

Died : May 5, 1947, Chelsea, London, England - aged 62

Father : Alexander Maxwell Tod ( b. April 1856 Marylebone, London  d. 1914 England )

Mother : Belle Perkins Pomeroy ( b. 3 Sept. 1857  Pittsfield, Mass. USA  m. 13 Sept. 1882 )

Siblings : 1 sister & 5 brothers  ( Quentin was the 2nd born )

              1. Muriel ( b. 11 Aug.1883  m. Capt.F.J. Sarders )

              2. Pomeroy ( b. 1887 - lived one month )

              3. Gordon  ( b. 12 Sept. 1889 - had a business in Sth. Africa )

              4. Kenneth  ( b. 1894 - served in the Br. Army in WW1 )

              5. Malcolm  ( b. March 1897 - served in the Br. Army in WW1 )

 

Nationality : ENGLISH

Actor, dancer, choreographer, comedian

Meher Baba gave Quentin the name 'Narid'.

Image has been cropped and edited
Image has been cropped and edited
Quentin in uniform. Image courtesy of Debbie Nordeen & Meher Archives. Image trimmed & colourized by Anthony Zois.
Quentin in uniform. Image courtesy of Debbie Nordeen & Meher Archives. Image trimmed & colourized by Anthony Zois.
Courtesy of Love Alone Prevails ; Kitty Davy - p 87
Courtesy of Love Alone Prevails ; Kitty Davy - p 87

I was so engrossed in looking at this wonderful man for the first time that everything else faded away. What impressed me most was his rather wild quality, as of something untamed, and his truly remarkable eyes.

He smiled, and motioned for me to sit beside him. He took my hand and from time to time patted my shoulder. We sat for several minutes in silence, and I was aware of a great feeling of love and peace emanating from him; also a curious feeling of recognition came to me, as if I had found a long lost friend. Then Baba took my left hand, and some sort of wave of strength passed to me from him. It was as if an electric current of pure love were turned on, which filled me with ecstasy. I began to breathe deeply, as if taking an anesthetic...

The feeling in me was that I must serve him in some way. There were many things I should have liked to ask him, but all questions seemed irrelevant and inadequate.


Quentin Tod
1931, London
Av p134-135

LM  p1754
LM p1754

The above image could well have been taken on SS Baloeran which sailed about a fortnight later from Port Said to Bombay in the first week of January 1933.

There is only one "d" in his name, but he mentioned often with 2 d's.

 

 

 

LM p1687
LM p1687
Santa Margherita, 1932
Santa Margherita, 1932

Letter to Meher Baba written on the Hotel Niumalu stationary on 14th June 1932 sailing back to Los Angeles from Honolulu, with the young boy Carl Phillips.

LM  p1697
LM p1697

There is only one "d" in his name.

Quentin sitting in foreground
Quentin sitting in foreground
 Quentin in uniform. Image courtesy of Debbie Nordeen & Meher Archives. Image trimmed & colourized by Anthony Zois.
Quentin in uniform. Image courtesy of Debbie Nordeen & Meher Archives. Image trimmed & colourized by Anthony Zois.

STAGE & FILM CAREER

22 Productions listed

Image colourized by Anthony Zois.
Image colourized by Anthony Zois.

1906 - '07- London, England

"NERO"

 

This was possibly the first theatre stage play that Quentin performed in.

It was written by & performed in the main role by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree at his Majesty's theatre in London.

 

1911 ( 2nd Jan. - 25th Feb. )

" MARRIAGE A LA CARTE "

 

Opened at the Casino Theater, New York City

Quentin played the role of Aubrey Hipps.

There were 64 performances in this production.

1911 - '13

" FANNY'S FIRST PLAY "

 

Opened at the Little Theatre in the Adelphi, London in 1911, then went to New York in 1912.

Opened at Collier's Comedy Theater, New York City. The session ended in April 1913.

 

1913

" MURRAY'S NIGHT CLUB "

 

Opened at the Beak Street, London.

 

1914 - 2nd -14th Feb

" THE LAUGHING HUSBAND  "

 

 

Opened at the Knickerbocker Theater, 1396 Broadway & 39th St. New York City.

Quentin was the dancer in this play.

There were 48 performances.

On the following web link is a sound recording of the music and tap dancing by Quentin.

https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-134682/

 

1914 dancers Quentin Tod & Josephine Harriman in "Laughing Husband" Broadway Play Theater Stage
1914 dancers Quentin Tod & Josephine Harriman in "Laughing Husband" Broadway Play Theater Stage

1914

" THE SUNSHINE GIRL "

 

Quentin performed with Joan Sawyer and later at the Persian Garden in New York City

 

1915 - ( April-June-August )

" NOBODY  HOME "

 

Opened at the Princess Theater & moved to Maxine Elliott's theater,  New York City in June.

Quentin played the principal role of the 'Bellboy' also as the dancer with Helen Clarke.

 

Courtesy of MN Collection
Courtesy of MN Collection
Front page of the play's program. ( see pdf link for full program )
Front page of the play's program. ( see pdf link for full program )
Courtesy of MN Collection
Courtesy of MN Collection

1917 - ( 20th April - 7th August )

" LOVE  'O  MIKE "

 

This play was performed in 3 different theaters in New York City.

Quentin played the role of 'Phil Marvin'. This was his final role on Broadway.

 

 https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/love-o-mike-8290#OpeningNightCast

1921

" GYPSY  PRINCESS "

 

This play was performed in London.

Quentin performed with Zelia Raye.

Quentin played Mero.

 

1925 ( October )

" CHARLOT'S  REVIEW  "

 

This play was performed at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London.

 

1926

" R. S. V. P. "

 

This play was performed at the Vaudeville Theatre 404 Strand, Covent Garden, London.

Dances arranged by J.W. Jackson and the ballet choreographed by Quentin Tod.

Quentin played the 'White Rabbit' and also danced in the ballet.

1926 ( April )

" MIDNIGHT  FOLLIES  "

 

This play was performed at the Hotel Metropole, Cannes.

Quentin did the choreography to Gershwin's "Rapsody in Blue" which was performed as a ballet.

1926 ( June )

"  A THOUSAND YEARS AGO  "

 

This play was performed at the Winter Garden, Broadway, New York City.

Quentin played role of the dancer 'Faun', he also choreographed the production.

 

Madge and fellow performers, Vera Bryer -who danced in A Thousand Years Ago- and dancer–choreographer, Quentin Tod
Madge and fellow performers, Vera Bryer -who danced in A Thousand Years Ago- and dancer–choreographer, Quentin Tod

1928 ( 4th April - 2nd June )

" WILL 'O THE WHISPERERS "

 

This play was performed at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London.

Quentin performed with Greta Fayne & Billy Milton.

Quentin is pictured on the right in this picture.
Quentin is pictured on the right in this picture.

1930 Film (June )

" THE  NEW  WAITER  "

 

This was a 25 min. short film.

Quentin was one of the actors in this production.

 

1930 ( 4th Sept. - 15th Nov. )

" CHARLOT'S MASQUERADE  "

 

Performed at the Cambridge Theatre, Cambridge Circus, London.

Quentin arranged the dancing with H. Dixon.

Quentin's brother Kenneth also performed in this production.

 

1935 ( May - June )

" SHALL WE REVERSE ?  "

 

Musical comedy play.

 

1936 Film

" THE  AMATEUR  GENTLEMAN  "

 

Quentin was the Choreographer.

The film had a duration of 1:30 hour

https://www.silversirens.co.uk/film-clips/amateur-gentleman-1936-opening-credits/

1937 - TV Short

" DAMON  &  PHYLLIDA  "

 

Quentin did the arrangement for the dancers.

This was a 25 min. short film.

 

1937 - Film

" VAUXHALL  "

 

Quentin was a dancer & arranged for screen.

 

 

1937 -'38 - Film

" DICK WHITTINGTON & HIS CAT  "

 

Quentin arranged the ballets for the stage production.

 

1938 - TV

" HAVE YOU BROUGHT YOUR MUSIC ?  "

 

Quentin devised the BBC TV production.

 

 

 

 

Birth Registrations - January, February & March 1885

Courtesy of Paul Edwards
Courtesy of Paul Edwards

 

 

The Tod Family sailed from New York to London in 1901

Courtesy of Paul Edwards
Courtesy of Paul Edwards

 

 

Death Notices London - April, May & June 1947 of malnutrition

Courtesy of Paul Edwards
Courtesy of Paul Edwards

 

 

Quentin's Family

Father :  Alex Maxwell Tod -  b. 1856   d. 1914

Mother :  Belle Perkins Pomeroy - b. 1855

Children :  Muriel - b. 1883

                   Quentin - b.1884

                   Pomeroy - b. 1887

                   Gordon - b. 1889

                   Kenneth - b. 1894

                   Malcolm - b. 1897

 

In 1901, the Tod family lived at 159 Cromwell Road Kensington, London.

 

 

1901 London Census

Courtesy of Paul Edwards
Courtesy of Paul Edwards