Born on yesterday's date (16 August) in 1875: Florrie Ford, Queen of the English Music Hall - see my post on page 8 of this thread.
Here is a medley of her popular songs:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYWygJSetbA
Music hall and variety Page 19
How many of these did you see Billy?
Quote: Chappers @ 19th August 2024, 5:43 PMHow many of these did you see Billy?
Well, I've seen Roy Hudd. And Morecambe & Wise.
I've also seen a Flanders & Swann tribute act.
And Billy Cotton used to play centre forward for Wimbledon at Plough Lane where, 40 years later, I would be selling programmes every Saturday afternoon. Our paths never crossed though. Although, a few years later, I would find myself sitting just along the row from fellow season ticket holder, Cardew Robinson, in the stand there every home game.
I Should Say So: The Story of Robb Wilton
A documentary in two parts (10 minutes & 14 minutes) that I have come across, written and presented by actor/producer/director/writer James Cotter, about Robb Wilton, whose comic monologues in the 1930's and 40's inspired a whole generation of predecessors including Ken Dodd, Les Dawson and Arthur Lowe. During this documentary we see a selection of his finest sketches from the golden age of radio and the birth of television all introduced by James Cotter. Filmed at The Phoenix Centre in Exeter in February 2011.
Don't you mean successors?
I presume the James Cotter who used to be a member on here.
Quote: Chappers @ 22nd August 2024, 6:29 AMDon't you mean successors?
You could be right. I just re-wrote how the author himself had introduced the clips.
Quote: Stephen Goodlad @ 22nd August 2024, 8:35 AMI presume the James Cotter who used to be a member on here.
Must've been before my time. Which is unusual. Most things, I find, are after my time.
Petula Clark, Stanley Holloway & Danny Kaye with a medley of Music Hall songs from a 1966 TV performance:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zKl516n0Ek
and another of Petula Clark performing a Music Hall medley on her own from a TV Special from 1977:
Born in Bradford 150 years ago today (27 August 1874), Jack Pleasants had his first music hall appearances in Leeds after entering a talent contest there. He made his London debut in 1901 but was not an immediate success and returned to provincial theatres for several years, gradually increasing his popularity in the north of England. In 1907, he appeared in pantomime in Bradford.
From then his status as one of the top Northern dialect comedians grew. He typically played the part of a "bashful fool", whose ostensible lack of experience with women could turn out to reveal hidden purpose. He wore a black frock coat, trousers, a bowler hat and sported a large marguerite flower. And his most popular, and most enduring, songs were I'm Twenty-One Today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpaLM5xmGLc
and I'm Shy, Mary Ellen, I'm Shy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaOsOW3327E
He died on 2 January 1924, aged 49, of a perforated appendix after an evening pantomime performance of "Little Red Riding Hood" at the Prince's Theatre, Bradford.
Ken Dodd on Celebrity Mastermind in 2014. Specialist subject - Comedians who performed in Variety:
A master of comedy - did I ever mention I saw him live? 😁 And I have most of his Good Old Days performances on DVD - has me in stitches every time
Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 30th August 2024, 11:12 PMdid I ever mention I saw him live? 😁
Aren't you still there, waiting for it to finish?
Quote: Billy Bunter @ 31st August 2024, 8:14 AMAren't you still there, waiting for it to finish?
😁 I remember ringing my wife up in the interval at 10:30 to tell her, but before I could say anything she said "OK, I'll come and pick you up", thinking the show was over.
"No!" I said, "I'm ringing to tell you the first half has only just finished!"
Learn about some of the composers, theatre managers, music hall performers, actors (including a matinee idol), vocalists, playwrights and a critic buried in Brompton Cemetery (Fulham Rd, London, SW10 9UG) - with an added touch of gossip!
Your volunteer guide, Derek Lamden, entered show biz at the age of 12 in the original London stage production of The Sound of Music and has worked in the world of entertainment ever since. Currently, he is a guide at the Royal Albert Hall. He is accompanied on the tour by Sarah, his conjurer's assistant, providing recorded music and photographs.
Leaving from North Lodge at 2.00pm.
Tickets are £10 per person plus £1.50 booking fee if booked on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/musical-and-theatrical-tour-of-brompton-cemetery-tickets-980512508307?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Billy, what do you know about Teddy Brown - have seen him in various films/docs and he always fascinates me and makes me smile
He featured on the TPTV Blue Plaque doc with Mike Read, this week..........................