The Laughing Policeman (song) The Laughing Policeman (song) "The Laughing Policeman" is a music hall song by Charles Penrose (published under the pseudonym Charles Jolly). In June 1922, Penrose made the first recording of this song, which was released on Regal Records G-7816. The version more usually heard was recorded on 22 April 1926 and released on Columbia Records 4014 and later FB 1184. The composition of the song is officially credited to his wife Mabel under the pseudonym "Billie Grey"; however, the music and melody are taken from "The Laughing Song" by George W. Johnson which was originally recorded in the 1890s. The
Jenny Hill (music hall performer) public house's customers until 2 a.m. she suffered great privations, which would seriously affect her health in later life, rising at 5 a.m. to polish the pub's bar and pewter, washing glasses, scrubbing floors and bottling beer until her performance began at noon. On 28 May 1866, aged 18, she married John Wilson Woodley, an acrobat known by the stage name Jean Pasta; he later abandoned her, leaving her with three children, one of whom became the music hall performer Peggy Pryde. In London, Hill was engaged for a tryout at the London Pavilion, a music hall, where her song