1930s: Polish Lambeth Walk - Ludwik Sempoliński, 1960

Ludwik Sempoliński -- Lambeth Walk (N.Gay /A.Włast), Muza ca 1960 (Polish)

NOTE: Ludwik SEMPOLIŃSKI (b. in Warsaw 1898 -- d. in Warsaw 1981) -- one of the most popular and most characteristic Polish comedian actors, a perfect impersonator of a scenic type of a "grand seigneur". In the interwar period, he had engagements in the first division of little stages in Warsaw: Qui pro Quo, Morskie Oko, Ali Baba, Wesoły Wieczór. He willingly performed in operettas, alas, he was rather reluctant to make recordings. All what's been left from his repertoire in originals are two accousticals from 1927-28 made for Syrena Grand Record with hits: "Rafałek, jeszcze kawałek" (Rafal, one more little piece, please!) and duett with Zula Pogorzelska in the foxtrot "Cała przyjemność po mojej stronie" (The Whole Pleasure Is Mine). In 1931 he also recorded for Syrena-Electro his trade-mark evergreen "Tomasz, ach skąd ty to masz!" (Where You Got It From, Thomas?!) and a less well known foxtrott "Ja się nie mogę zdecydować" (I Can't Make Up My Mind).

In the last weeks of summer 1939, shortly before outbreak of WW2 he and the group of best Warsaw actors established a new cabaret "Ali Baba". The key number in their opening program for the autumn season of 1939, was supposed to be Sempoliński's song entitled "Ten wąsik ach ten wąsik" (This moustache, oh, this moustache!). In Charlie Chaplin's guise and to the tune of "Titine, ah Titine" Sempoliński in a merciless caricature was depicting Adolf Hitler in one of his hysterical speeches. The launch of the show, announced for the 3rd of September, 1939 -- was of course cancelled and Ludwik Sempoliński fortunately to him, decided to leave the bombed and burning capital of Poland for Wilno, where he performed in a Polish theatre "Lutnia" until German occupation had reached the city. The nazis knew about his anti-Hitler cabaret show in Warsaw and were it not for the help of his friends, who kept him in hiding in one of the country houses out of the town, Sempoliński would have ended in the hands of Gestapo.

After 1945, Sempoliński enjoyed a comeback of his enormous popularity in Poland. He acted in a comedy theatre "Syrena" as well as in film comedies and in years 1954-69 he lectured and trained young actors in a Drama School of Warsaw. He directed the careers of the best ones from among the new generation of comedy actors in Poland: e.g. Barbara Rylska, Bohdan Łazuka, Wiesław Gołas and many others. The comedian type of an oldish "fin-de-siecle conoisseur" will never find a better performer in the history of a Polish theatre. Shortly before his death, Sempoliński published his priceless memoirs "Wielcy artyści małych scen" (The Grand Artists of The Little Stages) -- an inexhaustible source of knowledge for all who study the history of Warsaw operetta and cabaret.

See another Polish version of "Lambeth Walk" sung by Adam Aston in 1938    • Lambeth Walk in Poland - Aston & Iwo ...