Gilmour, Thomas

Manager of Morrison’s Bar, 364 Rutherglen Road, Glasgow.

Mr Thomas Gilmour. 1888.

Known in the Trade as Tommy Gilmour, was a step-son of William Morrison, wine & spirit Merchant, who owned pubs in the Gorbals, one at 332 Thistle Street (Govanhill Bar,) and Morrison’s Bar at 364 Rutherglen Road. Young Thomas managed his pubs, the Rutherglen Road premises sat at the corner of Sandyfaulds Street.

Thomas as a young boy played an negro character on stage both in Britain and United States of American. He decorated the pub with many theatrical memorabilia including a bill printed at San Francisco, California which read Bella Union, Special Monster Programme, with Thomas Gilmour’s name on it. He was a talented artiste with a good voice, singing and performing light comedy. One of his specialties was to summersault on a sixteen inch pedestal. In London he was quite at home, his favourite was Drury Lane Theatre. Before going to London he was all over the country as one of Hamilton’s Diorama Company. After leaving London he made his way to New York to Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago then to San Francisco. He then went to South America appearing in Buenos Ayres before returning to Scotland. He then married and worked in the pub trade, he was only twenty five years of age when this sketch was drawn.

Glenlivet six year old whisky was always a popular dram at Morrison’s Bars, a good trade was also done in the family department (off sales.) William Morrison leased the pub on Rutherglen Road to publican John J Nicholls in 1901 paying him an annual rent of £85.00. During the First World War George D Wright was landlord and in the 1930s Mrs Williamina Robb was licensee.