SOMEWHERE IN POLITICS - SADLY STILL MISSING ...

Synopsis by Phil Williams -

"In the film Joe Smart (our Frank the TV repair man) is visiting Lady Hazelmere to repair her TV chances his luck in a supposedly "hilarious" love making scene - all done so he can persuade the important socialite to back his election campaign."

... incidentally, Philip reckons that Lady Hazelmere is played by Kay Compston, (picture here with Josef Locke) ... and until the film turns up no-one would argue with that!

WHERE IS THIS FILM?????? Apart from Randle and Locke the film also stars Jimmy Clitheroe, Tessie O’Shea, Syd & Max Harrison, Bernard Youens, Sally Barnes and Anthony Oakley

Cuthbertonian David Trigg shares with us this DONOVAN & BYL tale from a rare book titled 'RED ROSES EVERY NIGHT', an account of LONDON Cinemas under fire during the war by Guy Morgan with a forward by Herbert Morrison MP ... on page 50 David found this vivid story:

"...One of the first flying bombs on London fell within 35 yards of the Granada, Clapham Junction, on June 17, 1944. Gunfire tilted it downwards just above the roof of the theatre. Second Operator Ron Hawkins was spotting on the roof at the time and made a dive for the cat ladder. The blast took him through the door into the roof void. It was Saturday afternoon, and there were 1,000 people inside the building. The main feature, 'The Housekeeper's Daughter' had just finished, and there was a variety act on stage. Not wanting to interrupt the act, Manager Knott had not given the alert, and it was lucky he had not, because everyone leaving would have been blown to pieces. The front doors and all the exit doors were blown in, the doorman was hurtled across the foyer into the telephone kiosk. Glass flew across the auditorium and there were cries of, "Someone's cut !" On the stage DONOVAN AND BILL*, singers and tumblers, continued with their act, though one spotlight was focused on the wings and the other on the ceiling. Knott, still suffering from concussion, followed the act on to the stage and said, "Whatever it was, we've had it" and the audience laughed. Mackenzie Reed and Dorothy, a popular accordionist team, followed without a break and kept the show going. "It was a real test of audience mentality" says Knott, "to see the orderly way they queued up for pass out checks before going home. We opened up again three days later - without exit doors; anyone could have walked in free, but no one did."

We agree with David's summing up of this wonderful story - "You can see the drama - Donovan & Byl tumbling as the flying bomb hits - the manager suffering from concussion & telling the audience in perhaps true Robb Wilton style - "Whatever it was, we've had it"- the doors blown off - glass flying all over the place - and the doorman with his head stuck in the telephone box - then on come the accordionists!!!"

DONOVAN & BYL - For anyone unfamiliar with this eccentric tumbling act, a favourite of the Cuthbert Club and John E Blakeley, you can see them perform HERE and read about their part in the Mancunian Films history in the Stars section of Itsahotun.

Many thanks again to David Trigg for sending this photo, an old 6" x 9" original sepia photograph from his own collection of a "young" DAN YOUNG embossed in the left hand corner by the theatrical photographic studio of Fielding, Albion Place, Leeds, and signed in blue ink "To Wally Best Wishes Dan Young 1930" - An image to treasure, thanks David.

Thanks also to Lee and Val Mannering for sending in this wonderful pic too! Also big fans of the exquisite Mr Dan Young - how wonderful that we can all share in the treasure of such collections!

October 2009

With thanks to Trevor Hoyle, playwright of 'Randle's Scandals', who on 6 November 2006 provided the following wonderful image of himself with Keith Clifford and Sue Johnston at the Sony Radio award ceremony. First aired on Radio 4 on 28/11/93, Trevor's award-winning play is being repeated on Saturday, 7th July 2007. Also see below copies from Trevor's collection of Mancunian Salary Cards:

ROBBY VINCENT (ENOCH) looks different in these various poses (note the spelling and yet in many books and films it's spelt Robbie) - This montage is from a Variety fan's scrap book and has been sent to us by David Trigg - Many thanks David! (added 23 July 2006)

23 May 1944 - PALACE THEATRE - MANCHESTER

Those of you following the Donovan & Byl updates in the Stars section will enjoy this next programme - it features Donovan & Byl!

These 3 following posters feature the different incarnations of Donovan & Byl and were lent to us for copying at the meeting of Byl's daughters at Cuthbert Towers in January 2006.

and this poster reveals another name for the act: Bil & Bil!

Dan Young at the Theatre Royal, Rochdale in 1953 - glimpsing into 1960!!

07 June 1943 - PALACE THEATRE - HUDDERSFIELD

November 2005 - Grateful thanks to Mr Gerald Smith of Essex. He kindly sent us this theatre programme of the Palace Theatre in Huddersfield (which is great, see Norman Evans is in the show!) ... But for those who wondered which Palace Theatre is featured on the wonderful poster from the itsahotun Postcard Set series 1, Mr Smith has established that the manager at the Huddersfield Palace Theatre in 1943 was one Henry Knowles - his name appears on both the programme (see below) and on the poster! So if you thought it was the Bradford Palace (as we did!) - the Bradford Palace closed in 1938 and we can be sure it is Huddersfield.

The letter below is a copy of a letter kindly forwarded to us by J P Mallett - the letter was sent to his mother because Bernard (Cpl Popley) was with her first husband in Anzio when he was killed during the war.

A SONG SHEET OF BERNARD YOUEN'S CORONOATION STREET CO-STAR BETTY DRIVER -

RADIO TIMES JUNE 10-16 1951

NORMAN EVANS - WITH PUPPET

Nottingham Empire - Norman Evans in the Family Variety Show - 1956