Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Harold Harrison
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1902-unknown
History
Harold Harrison was born 1902 in Chorley, Lancashire, England to Margaret and John Harrison. His musical career began at the age of 5 years old. When Harold was 16, he had his own 16 piece orchestra consisting of his siblings and other musicians where they played at the Winter Gardens in Manchester, England. In 1922, Harold emigrated to Canada. The following year, he became the pit pianist at the Savoy Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario, and eventually became the orchestra leader. In 1927, was unemployed as a result of the popularity of talking movies. During the Depression, Harold worked as a projectionist at different movie theatres throughout the city. In 1939, he joined the Canadian Royal Air Force and toured Canada as their pianist. Upon returning from the air force, Harold returned to Hamilton and worked at the skyway drive-in theatre. He also played piano at various legions, in particular the Lancashire Club in Hamilton. Harold retired from playing music in 1967.
Harold married Ethel (nee Gartside) in 1926 and they had three children: Harold Winston (1929), Ronald Derwyn (1932), and Gene Sherwood (1942).
Places
Chorley, Lancashire, England
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
Musician, orchestra leader