Hi Dave, Don't understand about replying to you directly. Tried your address as below which failed. Could you reply so that at least you contact can be established. Cheers Sue in LLantrisant********************** ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Jassie" <dave.jassie@ntlworld.com> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 4:47 PM Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Message Board, etc. > Hi folks, > This is partially in reply to Chris' e-mail regarding the Message Board. > The THEATER (Rootsweb's spelling, not mine!!) Message Board that I set up > recently can be accessed at ~ > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=topics.occupations.theater > > Unfortunately, I am not permitted to have it gatewayed to this list as > Rootsweb won't allow it between a general board and a regional (UK) mailing > list. > > While I'm here - if anyone has anything they would like included on the > Theatre-UK website, please contact me privately. > Sincerely, > Dave Jassie - List Administrator > > Visit Gen-Links at - > http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.com/~jassie/index.html > > Proud to be part of the FreeCen Project > http://freecen.rootsweb.com > >

Thanks Neal, I'm off on holiday for a couple of weeks now (have I missed the summer?) so look forward to hearing from you. Ann

And one final thing (which maybe you knew about). I've just discovered that the Templeman Library at the University of Kent is home to the Melville Collection. You can find out about it at http://library.kent.ac.uk/library/special/html/specoll/mel2s.htm which has a wealth of information about the Melvilles. Isn't Google a wonderful thing :-) Cheers -- Neal Broadband from an unbeatable £19.99! http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/index2.html?code=ha-nl-11ac

Hi Derek Some more on Frederick Melville. I knew it would come to me eventually. Ever since your first posting, the name has been nagging at me because I knew that it was familiar. I'd looked through all Dad's programs and not found a thing, so concluded that maybe it was something I'd seen at my Mum's house. And then it came to me, actually, had been quite literally staring me in the face. I have a few posters of my Dad's framed in our dining room. I'd already looked through them, but you know how much writing some of these old posters have. And there it was: Brixton Theatre - Two minutes from Brixton Railway Station Lessee and manager: Fredk Melville Monday, Feb 20th, and every evening at 7.45 Finest performances on any stage of a new and original play about modern life entitled His Child Wife By Frank Lindo and Arthur Skelton ..." (A title, indeed, worthy of Fred and Walter!) This was in 1910. I don't think the Brixton Theatre is mentioned in the Who's Who. But there's more. I looked through some brief notes I'd taken about my Dad's memoirs, and found I'd written down his name, twice. I looked up the references, and, briefly, here's what I found: For two weeks -- Oct 23rd and Oct 30th 1922, my Dad was in a farce called "Here Comes the Bride" by Arthur Shirley, at the Brixton Theatre. To get the part, he had to go and see Fred M at the Lyceum. So Fred M obviously still had the Brixton Theatre in 1922. Skip to just over a year later, and there's another story about both the Melvilles. If you'll indulge me, I'll tell it in my Dad's own words, because it's quite amusing: --- During this tour, I had a letter from Fred Melville saying "How much do you want to play Pantomime? Possibly in Brixton." I knew more or less what salaries would be at Brixton, so I replied saying £30 a week, and quite expecting to be knocked down to £25. I was invited to call at the Lyceum and was ushered up to the office where Fred introduced me to Walter, his brother. "Let's see, what was it you were asking Harry?" (He always called me Harry Weldon) "£30" I replied. "Oh yes. 30. Hmm. Well I think I'd better have a contract made out for him now, don't you Walter?" Walter nodded. He got on the phone to the lower office and in a few minutes up came a contract. "Now, if you'd sign here." I looked at the contract. "But this is for the Lyceum Theatre, London" I gasped. "Well, where did you think it was for?" "You said Brixton" I replied. "I said POSSIBLY Brixton, " he retorted with a grin. I paused. "Well, you'll have a much better dressing room here" he said. It was no use arguing. I had taken too much for granted, so I signed on the dotted line, and they knew as well as I did that if they hadn't mentioned Brixton it would have cost them another £20 a week --- The pantomime ended up being Jack and the Beanstalk, with Sybil Arundale, Dick Henderson, George Jackley, and Sybil Coulthurst. I have lots of memorabilia from that panto, including a few backstage photos, and it looked like he didn't have too bad a time in the end ;-) I think that's all I have on the Melvilles, but hope it's been useful. By the way, you asked, and I forgot to tell you, Dad's name was Bertram Dench. Definitely NOT Harry Weldon! (Where did that come from, I wonder?!) Hope you're successful in your bid on e-bay. Cheers -- Neal ----- Original Message ----- From: "derekive" <derek@ive999.fsnet.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 7:03 PM Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Bad Girl of the family by Fredk Melville > Hi Neal, many thanks for the information, it wasn't in my 1947 version of > Who Who in the Theatre. I would like the info on Walter as well if possible > please. Thankyou also for the ebay info, I've put in a bid. If you let me > know who you're father was. I'll keep my eyes open. I'm always looking at > ebay and the net. > > Thanks again. > regards > Derek

There's a postcard of the lovely Mona Magnet for sale for 3 pounds at: http://www.carlton-antiques.com/SubjectPCards/theatre4.htm Janice Toowoomba

Hello again Whirligigers! You registered to be informed of updates to the WHIRLIGIG 1950's BRITISH TV AND RADIO NOSTALGIA site. August 2003 Newsletter. Firstly the news; and artist and TV presenter Rolf Harris is to celebrate his 50th. anniversary in television with a golden jubilee concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. The Australian star is expected to perform orchestral versions of some of his best known hits, such as Two Little Boys and Jake the Peg. The event, which will be held on 29 September and raise money for the Prince's Trust, will be shown on BBC One. Rolf said: "The show at the Royal Albert Hall will be drawn from everything I've done over the years, both musically and artistically, which will be a fantastic experience. "I can't believe how quickly the years have flown since my first television appearance here in 1953," he said. He will also draw and paint live during the concert. More information here: http://www.rolfharris.com/ David Webster who was an early Panorama producer has died aged 72. He was fortunate to have pursued a BBC career as a producer and editor in the 1950s and the 1960s when the television arm of the organisation was expanding. At the BBC, Webster first came to prominence as a globe-trotting producer on the BBC's flagship programme Panorama, at that time anchored by Richard Dimbleby and with such distinguished reporters as Robert Kee, John Morgan, Ludovic Kennedy and Robin Day. http://www.dailytelegraph.com/news/main.jhtml? &xml=/news/2003/08/19/db1902.xml Greg Dyke, director general of the BBC, has announced plans to give the public full access to all the corporation's programme archives. The service, the BBC Creative Archive, is intended to be free and available to everyone, as long as they are not intending to use the material for commercial purposes. If what Mr. Dyke said is accurate and this really is FULL access, then this is extremely welcome news and I look forward to the day when we are able to browse through the archives, at our leisure, online. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3177479.stm One new clip has been added and another updated on the TV site in the past month. The new one is a short audio clip of the Spinning Wheel Interlude music and the updated clip is the Horses Ploughing Interlude video clip has been enhanced with the music that should have accompanied it. http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/history/interludes.htm#Interludes The radio series Orbiter X has been promoted to its own page on the Radio site after a lot of new information in the form of an article from the Radio Times of 25th September 1959 was donated by a site visitor with an interest in the series. http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/radio/orbiterx.htm I have also added two new 'In Town Tonight' audio clips on the Radio site. One is an example of a feature from the programme which involved Brian Johnston being shut inside a letter box at Christmas and telling the audience what is happening on the inside. The second clip is from the close of the programme and includes the famous "Carry on London!" cry. http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/radio/intown.htm A new 'Snippet' has also been added to the radio site. The Listeners' Brains Trust was an experiment carried out in January 1943 when the original Brains Trust members were asked to submit questions to be answered by ordinary members of the public. You can read all about it here: http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/memories/snippets/index.htm That's about it, until next month! =================================================================== As usual, if you think of anything that is missing or incorrect, have any more information about the programmes featured or just want to share your memories, do drop me a line to terry@whirligig-tv.co.uk Alternatively place them on the Message Board which I monitor daily at: http://go.ezboard.com/bwhirligigtv I'll be back at the end of September with more '50s broadcasting nostalgia. Terry Guntrip (aka Mr. Turnip) http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk http://www.TurnipNet.com -------------------------------------------------------- See the "What's New" Pages at: http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/whatsnew.htm http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/radio/whatsnew.htm with links to all new major updates or use the A TO Z SITE INDEX at: http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/siteindex http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/radio/siteindex --------------------------------------------------------

Hi, I am trying to find information about my Aunt born IDA TRESEDER.1894/5 she married in early 1920'sand became Ida SIMPSON. She divorced and became Ida BARKER and as such died in St Mary's Paddington in November?1947+/-5years. She was known as SYLVIA TRESS in the theatre world and was I believe an opera? singer of some ability who performed on the London stage. She was also involved in a famous production of LES MISERABLES for which she worked on the script/translation. She was a colourful character who was also involved in a Court case in which Frank BRISSON / BRYSSON , A Film producer figuered.1n 1920/30 Her name was also linked in some productions with other members of the TRESEDER Family. She was probably buried in Mill Hill Cemetry. I would be grateful for any information about IDA or suggestions where I could research . Regards Sue in LLantrisant

Hi folks, This is partially in reply to Chris' e-mail regarding the Message Board. The THEATER (Rootsweb's spelling, not mine!!) Message Board that I set up recently can be accessed at ~ http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=topics.occupations.theater Unfortunately, I am not permitted to have it gatewayed to this list as Rootsweb won't allow it between a general board and a regional (UK) mailing list. While I'm here - if anyone has anything they would like included on the Theatre-UK website, please contact me privately. Sincerely, Dave Jassie - List Administrator Visit Gen-Links at - http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.com/~jassie/index.html Proud to be part of the FreeCen Project http://freecen.rootsweb.com

Hi Chris Thanks for the reply - I don't think they would have used the word Deighton. thanks again Rev Bob Maus Maesteg, South Wales

Robert I have checked very carefully for the signatures and the names of the Companies. The only one I have found that is close is A G Deighton with O'Hoolighan's Holiday Coy. Is there any chance they would have used that spelling? Chris Boyer

Carole I'll keep your e-mail in mind as my uncle, grandson of the Ann Collier whose Notebook I have with actors messages in, married a Miriam Deakin in Macclesfield in the early 1930s. I'll have to contact my cousin for the date and any more info about Miriam's family. Chris Boyer

I would like to know if I am at the right place for information re a band leader/musician of the 40s and 50s. His name was Herbert "Tony" Fisher. He died in the 80s. He lived in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. He was my father. Any help would be gratefully received. Christine from Canada

Thanks, Dave. Chris

I'm going to put all the messages from the actors in Ann Collier's book on a disk in alphabetical order so I can either check for names for people or send the list as an attachment to a particular e-mail address. It will take me a bit of time so if anyone has a specific name let me know. By the way, I'm so new to this that I'm replying to folks but I don't actually know what to enter to get access to the message board!! Call me dippy or what? Can someone tell me how to access the Message Board, please. Thanks Chris Boyer

Hi Derek Here's the bio for Walter: MELVILLE, Walter, author, actor, and theatrical manager; b London 874; s of Andrew Melville, for many years manager of the Standard Theatre; m Eva Dare; in Jan 1889, entered his father's office at the Grand Theatre, Birmingham; was subsequently business-manager of the same house; author of numerous well-known melodramas, including "The Worst Woman in London", "A Girl's Cross Roads", "The Girl Who Lost Her Character", "The Girl Who Took The Wrong Turning", "The Girl Who Wrecked His Home", "The Female Swindler", "A Disgrace To Her Sex", "That Wretch Of A Woman", "A World Of Sin", "On His Majesty's Service", "The Great World Of London", "The Beggar Girl's Wedding", "The Sins of London", "The Shop-Soiled Girl", "The Female Hun"; has managed the Aldwych Theatre, and from 1909, in conjunction with his brother Frederick, the Lyceum Theatre; in Dec 1911, opened the New Prince's Theatre, which, in conjunction with his brother, he had built. Address: Lyceum Theatre, Strand, WC2. I think the theme running through both his and his brother's plays is hilarious, though I wonder whether many women of the day did. They were probably shocking to Victorian/Edwardian audiences, and provided a much needed moral lesson :-) Was Eva Dare, to whom he was married, related to the Dare sisters (Phyllis and Zena), I wonder? Cheers -- Neal ----- Original Message ----- From: "derekive" <derek@ive999.fsnet.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 7:03 PM Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Bad Girl of the family by Fredk Melville > Hi Neal, many thanks for the information, it wasn't in my 1947 version of > Who Who in the Theatre. I would like the info on Walter as well if possible > please. Thankyou also for the ebay info, I've put in a bid. If you let me > know who you're father was. I'll keep my eyes open. I'm always looking at > ebay and the net. > > Thanks again. > regards > Derek > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Neal Dench <ndench@tinyworld.co.uk> > To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 5:29 AM > Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Bad Girl of the family by Fredk Melville > > > Hi Derek > > Here's a bio from the 1930 edition of the Who's Who (sorry it's taken a few > days for me to get round to doing) > > MELVILLE, Frederick, dramatic author and manager; b Swansea, 1876; s of > Andrew Melville, for many years manager of the Standard Theatre; m Jane > Eyre; at the age of ten was office-boy, with his father at the Queen's and > Grand Theatres, Birmingham; in Jan 1889, was engaged at the Grand, > Birmingham, of which his father was then lessee; was an actor for several > years, and played in a number of melodramas; is the author of "Her Forbidden > Marriage", 1904; "The Ugliest Woman on Earth", 1905; "The Beast and the > Beauty", 1905; "Married to the Wrong Man", 1908; "The Bad Girl of the > Family", 1909; "The Monk and the Woman", 1912; "Monte Cristo" (with Walter > Melville), 1912; co-lessee and manager, with his brother Walter, of the > Lyceum, since 1909, and of the Prince's Theatre, since 1911. Address: Lyceum > Theatre, Strand, WC2. > > Quite by chance, I also came across the following on e-bay the other day (I > tend to keep an eye on it for any programs of interest that might have my > father in them): > > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2189254059&category=921 > &rd=1 > > (it's a set of 4 postcards of "Married to the Wrong Man") > > There's also a bio of Walter Melville in the 1930 edition. Let me know if > you'd like that too. > > All the best > > -- > Neal > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "derekive" <derek@ive999.fsnet.co.uk> > To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 1:10 PM > Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Bad Girl of the family by Fredk Melville > > > > Hi everyone, I have just acquired 6 postcards of a play called "The Bad > Girl of the Family" by Frederick Melville. > > I have found out the following information:- > > > > It was first put on at The Elephant and Castle 4th Oct 1909 and then at > Aldwych Theatre from 27 Dec 1909. It lasted for 452 performances. The author > was Frederick Melville who died 5 Apr 1938 aged 62. He left £314,228 in his > will. (Info from Whos Who in the Theatre) > > > > Someone called D'Arcy Kelway played Jerry Holmes in the play from Dec 1909 > until Oct 1910 (he was formerly with the D'Oyly Carte). > > > > I found the following site > > > > http://library.kent.ac.uk/library/special/html/specoll/badlist.htm > > > > but currently the links don't work. > > > > There was a Waltz used in the play which was written by E Friedman. The > pictures on the sheet music show Mr George Marlow, Miss Ethel Buckley and > Miss Nellie Fergusson. See the following > > > > http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an10835029 > > > > > > can anyone add any further information? > > > > regards > > Derek Ive > > > > >

Hi Ann Your comments about education ring bells. My Dad's education was, to say the least, ermm, sparse. One of the things he always said he was most proud of was that when he joined the army in 1915, he decided he wanted to train as an officer. So he went to whatever interviews were necessary and filled in whatever forms were needed, and when it came to education he put down "Barnard Castle School", knowing full well that this would be taken to be _the_ school at Barnard Castle. The truth of the matter was that he had gone to _a_ school at Barnard Castle, and that only for a few weeks. And beyond that, he didn't get very much formal education at all. Anyway, while doing officer training at Gidea Park, he made a couple of friends with whom he could share his secret, and they basically helped him cram for the exams, and he passed. Anyway, you're going to send me back to his notes again, because I know he mentions a lot of names from his "portable" days, people he knew and played with as a child and what have you. The only Mona that I know of off-hand whose parents were in portables was Mona Magnet. I know little about her except that she was in Robinson Crusoe with Dad at the Grand Theatre, Nottingham, during the 1913 Xmas season. I have a fantastic poster that he kept of it hanging on my wall! However, I've often thought that Mona Magnet sounded like a stage name. Nah, couldn't be the same person. Anyway, I'll take a look through his stuff and look for names. Might take a while though. Cheers -- Neal ----- Original Message ----- From: "annthoralcott" <annthoralcott@sagainternet.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 5:08 PM Subject: [THEATRE-UK] East Lynne > Dear Neal, > Guess what! Alan's mother also played Little Willie in East Lynne. As a > child she travelled with the Denvilles and was roughly the same age as their > own three children. They were 'educated' together (although this probably > meant that they attended school just for the odd week or so here and there, > although there was a report of them having a governess at one time). Other > plays mentioned were Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Face at the Window, The Bohemian > Girl. > Would be most grateful if you could look for the names as the family > continued acting on and off until the beginning of the First World War as > Charlie couldn't keep away from the boards. > Also forgot to mention a Mr and Mrs Holmes that they were friendly with - Mr > Holmes (possibly Charles) hanged himself from the four-poster bed when work > dried up about that time. I've never managed to find out who they were. > There was a daughter also, possibly Mona Holmes. > Many thanks > Ann Hartley >

Hi Neal, many thanks for the information, it wasn't in my 1947 version of Who Who in the Theatre. I would like the info on Walter as well if possible please. Thankyou also for the ebay info, I've put in a bid. If you let me know who you're father was. I'll keep my eyes open. I'm always looking at ebay and the net. Thanks again. regards Derek ----- Original Message ----- From: Neal Dench <ndench@tinyworld.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 5:29 AM Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Bad Girl of the family by Fredk Melville Hi Derek Here's a bio from the 1930 edition of the Who's Who (sorry it's taken a few days for me to get round to doing) MELVILLE, Frederick, dramatic author and manager; b Swansea, 1876; s of Andrew Melville, for many years manager of the Standard Theatre; m Jane Eyre; at the age of ten was office-boy, with his father at the Queen's and Grand Theatres, Birmingham; in Jan 1889, was engaged at the Grand, Birmingham, of which his father was then lessee; was an actor for several years, and played in a number of melodramas; is the author of "Her Forbidden Marriage", 1904; "The Ugliest Woman on Earth", 1905; "The Beast and the Beauty", 1905; "Married to the Wrong Man", 1908; "The Bad Girl of the Family", 1909; "The Monk and the Woman", 1912; "Monte Cristo" (with Walter Melville), 1912; co-lessee and manager, with his brother Walter, of the Lyceum, since 1909, and of the Prince's Theatre, since 1911. Address: Lyceum Theatre, Strand, WC2. Quite by chance, I also came across the following on e-bay the other day (I tend to keep an eye on it for any programs of interest that might have my father in them): http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2189254059&category=921 &rd=1 (it's a set of 4 postcards of "Married to the Wrong Man") There's also a bio of Walter Melville in the 1930 edition. Let me know if you'd like that too. All the best -- Neal ----- Original Message ----- From: "derekive" <derek@ive999.fsnet.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 1:10 PM Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Bad Girl of the family by Fredk Melville > Hi everyone, I have just acquired 6 postcards of a play called "The Bad Girl of the Family" by Frederick Melville. > I have found out the following information:- > > It was first put on at The Elephant and Castle 4th Oct 1909 and then at Aldwych Theatre from 27 Dec 1909. It lasted for 452 performances. The author was Frederick Melville who died 5 Apr 1938 aged 62. He left £314,228 in his will. (Info from Whos Who in the Theatre) > > Someone called D'Arcy Kelway played Jerry Holmes in the play from Dec 1909 until Oct 1910 (he was formerly with the D'Oyly Carte). > > I found the following site > > http://library.kent.ac.uk/library/special/html/specoll/badlist.htm > > but currently the links don't work. > > There was a Waltz used in the play which was written by E Friedman. The pictures on the sheet music show Mr George Marlow, Miss Ethel Buckley and Miss Nellie Fergusson. See the following > > http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an10835029 > > > can anyone add any further information? > > regards > Derek Ive >

Dear Neal, Guess what! Alan's mother also played Little Willie in East Lynne. As a child she travelled with the Denvilles and was roughly the same age as their own three children. They were 'educated' together (although this probably meant that they attended school just for the odd week or so here and there, although there was a report of them having a governess at one time). Other plays mentioned were Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Face at the Window, The Bohemian Girl. Would be most grateful if you could look for the names as the family continued acting on and off until the beginning of the First World War as Charlie couldn't keep away from the boards. Also forgot to mention a Mr and Mrs Holmes that they were friendly with - Mr Holmes (possibly Charles) hanged himself from the four-poster bed when work dried up about that time. I've never managed to find out who they were. There was a daughter also, possibly Mona Holmes. Many thanks Ann Hartley

Hi Ann Unfortunately, my father's playbills only start around the early part of the 20th C. I think the earliest stuff I have of his is a set of daybills from a season in his father's portable theatre in 1903. (Exactly 100 years old -- I've been spending the summer going "exactly 100 years ago to this moment, my Dad was going on stage to play Little Willie in East Lynne", and similar phrases. A very strange sensation, I can tell you ...) Anyway, I won't have anything from the dates you mention, though I'll certainly have a look through his stuff for the names anyway. My Dad certainly knew Alfred Denville -- I suspect through his own father -- but whether either of them actually played with the Denville players I'm not sure. I do know that Dad had moved away from portables by about 1904. There are people on the list who know more about the Denvilles than I do, so maybe they'll have some info? Cheers -- Neal ----- Original Message ----- From: "annthoralcott" <annthoralcott@sagainternet.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 11:00 AM Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Neal Look up please > Dear Neal, > Your mention of North East Theatres interested me and I wondered if you > could have a look at your father's playbills for any mention of my husband's > ancestors. > His grandfather was known as Charles HILT and we have him in 1887 playing a > minor part in Elliston and Arthur's 'A Mother's Sin' which toured the > country but particularly the northern theatres. He was also assistant stage > manager with the company. > In 1890 he married Ellen Sophia Wallett known as Nellie and they acted with > travelling theatres throughout the 1890s until settling in Felling, > Gateshead in about 1902. They were in Houghton le Spring in Jan 1895, > Earsdon in Northumberland in Feb 1897 and in Chester le Street in the 1901 > census (just before the Theatre there burnt down!). Their daughter, Ada > Roberts (or Hilt) travelled with Alfred Denville and the Denville players as > a child actress from the early 1900s until about 1915. > Many thanks > Ann Hartley >

Hi Derek Here's a bio from the 1930 edition of the Who's Who (sorry it's taken a few days for me to get round to doing) MELVILLE, Frederick, dramatic author and manager; b Swansea, 1876; s of Andrew Melville, for many years manager of the Standard Theatre; m Jane Eyre; at the age of ten was office-boy, with his father at the Queen's and Grand Theatres, Birmingham; in Jan 1889, was engaged at the Grand, Birmingham, of which his father was then lessee; was an actor for several years, and played in a number of melodramas; is the author of "Her Forbidden Marriage", 1904; "The Ugliest Woman on Earth", 1905; "The Beast and the Beauty", 1905; "Married to the Wrong Man", 1908; "The Bad Girl of the Family", 1909; "The Monk and the Woman", 1912; "Monte Cristo" (with Walter Melville), 1912; co-lessee and manager, with his brother Walter, of the Lyceum, since 1909, and of the Prince's Theatre, since 1911. Address: Lyceum Theatre, Strand, WC2. Quite by chance, I also came across the following on e-bay the other day (I tend to keep an eye on it for any programs of interest that might have my father in them): http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2189254059&category=921 &rd=1 (it's a set of 4 postcards of "Married to the Wrong Man") There's also a bio of Walter Melville in the 1930 edition. Let me know if you'd like that too. All the best -- Neal ----- Original Message ----- From: "derekive" <derek@ive999.fsnet.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 1:10 PM Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Bad Girl of the family by Fredk Melville > Hi everyone, I have just acquired 6 postcards of a play called "The Bad Girl of the Family" by Frederick Melville. > I have found out the following information:- > > It was first put on at The Elephant and Castle 4th Oct 1909 and then at Aldwych Theatre from 27 Dec 1909. It lasted for 452 performances. The author was Frederick Melville who died 5 Apr 1938 aged 62. He left £314,228 in his will. (Info from Whos Who in the Theatre) > > Someone called D'Arcy Kelway played Jerry Holmes in the play from Dec 1909 until Oct 1910 (he was formerly with the D'Oyly Carte). > > I found the following site > > http://library.kent.ac.uk/library/special/html/specoll/badlist.htm > > but currently the links don't work. > > There was a Waltz used in the play which was written by E Friedman. The pictures on the sheet music show Mr George Marlow, Miss Ethel Buckley and Miss Nellie Fergusson. See the following > > http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an10835029 > > > can anyone add any further information? > > regards > Derek Ive >