An extract from the 1959 Northwich Guardian Newspaper, Ex-music hall stars look back on happy stage career One of the funniest music hall acts in this country for many years was that of Professor Sparks and Thelmina. Customers of Mr. George Rathbone, the Northwich electrical engineer, would never guess that the mild-mannered Mr. Rathbone is the Professor Sparks who had audiences at every large theatre in England, including the London Palladium, rocking with laughter. A native of Northwich, Cheshire, Mr. Rathbone, studied electronics at Glasgow Technical College, and by the time he was 30, had 25 patents to his credit. At the age of 18 he had his own laboratory in Boundary Street, Northwich, Cheshire. Little wonder, therefore, that this brain could contrive the machines and gadgets that brought him national fame in later years. Mr. Rathbone told us of his outstanding act. "The idea was for members of the audience to wash an electrical baby. Every time any one tried to scrub the baby they ended up by scrubbing themselves,'' he said. The baby was so rigged that it could not be touched with water. A novel idea of Mr. Rathbone's was to fix tiny bulbs in Thelmina's accordion, so that whenever a key was pressed the appropriate light flashed on and off. He said this was most impressive on the darkened stage. Mrs. Rathbone, who lighted a batch of bulbs from her mouth, performed a trick that had the audience gasping. Her husband previously charged her with electricity. Among the many friends Mr. and Mrs. Rathbone made in show business were Max Wall, Tommy Trinder and George Formby, none of whom would follow their act in the same bill. They worked with the Crazy Gang at the London Palladium before the 2nd world war, and, during the course of their stage career appeared at every music hall throughout the British Isles. One of their fondest memories is of their appearance at the Argyle Theatre, Birkenhead, where the first radio broadcast was made. But the "baby" was put away in the late 1950's, when Mr. Rathbone at the age of 67 set up as an Electrical Engineer in his hometown of Northwich. He died in 1972 at the Grand old age of 80. Shortly afterwards, his wife and Music Hall partner "Thelmina" joined him in that Great Music Hall above. George Rathbone, b. 1892, d. 1972 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.252 / Virus Database: 125 - Release Date: 09/05/2001