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Draft:Jack Radcliffe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jack Radcliffe (1900–1967) was the stage name of Charles Smith, born at Cleland, North Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1900. He worked as a coal miner in the Lanarkshire pits, becoming a celebrated singer, actor and comedian. His highly successful career spanned decades of revue, variety theatre and pantomime, from the mid-1920s onwards, including a Royal Variety Performance in 1951, and covered a film role as well as the early days of both radio and TV broadcasting. He died on 26 April 1967.[1][2]

Early Life

[edit]

Radcliffe was the son of James Smith and Jean Ratcliffe. Born in Cleland, he grew up in nearby Bellshill. He was the youngest of the family, and had a brother and five sisters. He had a fine baritone singing voice and, according to a press report in 1937, he won medals for his singing.[2][3] He left school on his fourteenth birthday intending to become an electrical engineer, but did not complete his apprenticeship and, after some labouring jobs, worked in the pits both above and below ground.[4] [5]

Career

[edit]

Beginnings & Inter-war years

[edit]

In the 1920s, Radcliffe joined a local concert party called "The Merritests", billed as a "Hebrew and Italian Comedian" in a performance in Bellshill in 1925 in aid of the Total Abstinence Union.[6]

Radcliffe performed at the Airdrie Hippodrome in the spring of 1929, billed as "Airdrie's Own Komik".[7] He appeared in Aberdeen and in a show for the benefit of prisoners at Peterhead. He appeared in Glasgow at the New Metropole and with entertainers in Troon and in Letta's Show at Portobello.[8] He also took part in highly-rated shows produced by Pete Davis during the summer season at Barrfields Pavilion in Largs[9]. Excerpts from these seaside shows, prominently featuring Jack Radcliffe, were broadcast on radio in the early years of BBC Scottish Regional Radio in the 1930s. In December 1935 he took part in a radio broadcast of "some of his popular songs", from Edinburgh.[10][11][12][8]

There are varying accounts as to how Radcliffe's career as a professional performer came about.

The "Bellshill Speaker" in 1936 published a short article, noting that he was currently appearing at the Empress Theatre in Glasgow and was "making a name for himself" as a comedian, being better known in the district as Charles Smith, son of Nurse Smith of 374 Main Street, Bellshill. It recorded that his professional career dated from the closure of the Mossend Steel Works when he became unemployed for a time and turned his thoughts to the stage to which he had always had leanings. He was persuaded by the two Ronnie sisters of Airdrie to join their concert party, which led him to appearances in the music halls.[8]

In an interview in 1958, he recalled that his first appearance on stage was with a concert party in which he played the fiddle, sang and was a comic.[4]

Palace Theatre Kilmarnock

Glasgow writer and broadcaster Jack House, who knew Radcliffe, gives an account of the latter's stage beginnings in his book: "Music Hall Memories". In the first week of the General Strike in May 1926, The Merritests (7 performers) were hired to fill a cancelled review slot at the Airdrie Hippodrome. The week was a great success and led to a further booking at the Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock. As the general strike was in progress, Radcliffe hired an ice-cream van to get them there. The Kilmarnock show was less of a hit. In the first half, they appeared, to great acclaim, in pierrot costumes; Radcliffe played the fiddle and sang a popular Edwardian song of the day: "The Trumpeter". Then, wearing a kilt and with red on his nose, Radcliffe's attempt at stand-up comedy in the second half caused him to be booed off the stage and the whole act cancelled. According to this account, problems with the ice-cream van on the return journey resulted in Radcliffe failing to turn up on time for his shift at the pit, and he was sacked. In hard times, he decided to try and make a career out of performing. House aptly comments: "He is probably the only man who has been booed on to the stage".[5]

Radcliffe is also said to have been introduced to Glasgow theatrical agents by Mrs Margaret Hendrie (Maggie Goldie). She died in Airdrie in July 1956. Up to the mid 'thirties she had performed extensively as a music hall singer both in Scotland and England. She was a regular at the Airdrie Hippodrome.[13]

For a time he worked as straight man to many Scots comics, before becoming involved in setting up a group of performers, which toured extensively around Scotland and included the young Lex Maclean and Tommy Morgan. In this for the first time he was a principal, modestly advertising himself as "The Greatest Comic in Scotland".[5]

In the mid-1930s Radcliffe formed a professional partnership with Helen Norman as his straight woman, which endured for decades.[5] Helen Norman came from a theatrical family, and had played principal boy in pantomime from a young age. She was a niece, and one time assistant, of "Dr" Walford Bodie, the celebrated hypnotist and illusionist.[14] Coincidentally or not, Bodie had, like Mrs Hendrie, performed at the Airdrie Hippodrome.[15]

By 1938, he was topping the bill at a summer show in the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh at a fee of £45.[16]

At the Empress Theatre in Glasgow, Radcliffe came under the influence of actor Harold Dayne and Jimmy Neilson who helped shape his act and his career as a character comedian.[4][5]

Second World War

[edit]

During the war, Radcliffe served with ENSA at Scapa Flow. Ships from this base supplied allied submarines in the North Sea. ENSA put on several shows a day in a small floating theatre seating about 350 people. Jack Radcliffe led these entertainers, performing along with Dave Jackley, Bob and Alf Pearson the celebrated English double-act, soprano Ina Harris, Billy Crocket, and a troupe of dancing girls.[17]

Post-War

[edit]

Five Past Eight Shows and pantomime at the Alhambra

In the 1950s, Jack Radcliffe starred along with Jimmy Logan, Eve Boswell, Harry Gordon and sometimes the young Stanley Baxter, in these popular summer shows at the Alhambra in Glasgow, which were known as "Half Past Eight", and later "Five Past Eight", though neither title exactly reflected the time of the actual performances. They attracted huge audiences from south of the border as well as within Scotland. Extravagant sets, lavish costumes and dancing girls were essential elements.[18][19]

Jimmy Logan described these shows in his autobiography. They combined glamour and style with Scottish humour, and tickets were in high demand:

"Fortunes were spent on beautiful costumes and wonderful scenery, and by the time I did my first one in Edinburgh in 1954 they had become the top shows around. They were magnificent, glamorous affairs full of great comedy, and lively singing and dancing. The 32-piece orchestra was conducted by the great Geraldo, and the dancers' hair and clothes were all styled and designed to suit their own individual personality. The cost of producing the shows was phenomenal, but the standard was superb. People came from London to see what this wonderful spectacle was about.

Alhambra programme cover 1962

I did Five Past Eight every year until 1961, and I had a ball. I built up strong working relationships and friendships with people like Jack Radcliffe and Stanley Baxter. In the early days there would be about eight different programmes in the 22-week season, and we had a lot of gags and sketches to fill each one up. A lot of our time was taken up just thinking what the hell we were going to do next. But we also had great writers like Stan Mars who would take our ideas and turn them into great comedy. Trying to find good writers was very difficult because they had to not only be able to write good comedy, but write comedy that suited your personality. Often we were working so hard, we didn't realise just how wonderful it was to be a part of this great show".[19]

A regular sketch on the Five Past Eight show featured Jack Radcliffe and Helen Norman as Mr and Mrs McAuley with Jimmy Logan playing the part of their boy.[20]

Radcliffe took part, along with other Scottish stars, in a charity concert in the Usher Hall attended by Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on a visit to Edinburgh in March 1949.[21] He also appeared in pantomime at the Alhambra - notably in Dick Whittington in 1956.

He was one of the original shareholders in Scottish Television, along with Jimmy Logan, having been entertained to dinner by the Canadian owner and media magnate Roy Thomson after he attended a Five Past Eight performance. [22]

Royal Command Performance 1951

On 13 October 1951 details of a forthcoming Royal Command Variety Show hit the press. It was announced that Jack Radcliffe would be among the stars selected to appear. He appears to have been honoured as the only Scottish representative in the show. On 30 October 1951, he duly appeared in a performance at the Victoria Palace in London attended by Queen Elizabeth, her daughter Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Gloucester. The show was relayed by radio transmission to the ailing King George VI at Buckingham Palace. It featured many of the most illustrious entertainers of the day: Gracie Fields, Florence Desmond, Patricia Morison, Caroll Gibbons, Eric Yorke, Vera Lynn, Anona Wynn, Pearl Primum, Cicely Courtneidge, Eddie Gray, Arthur English, Billy Thorburn, Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, The Crazy Gang, Jimmy Edwards, Charlie Kunz, The John Tiller Girls, Stanley Black, Sally Anne Howes, Harry Secombe and Joaquin Perez- Fernandez. The performance raised more than £12,000 for the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund.[23][24]

In November 1952 Radcliffe appeared in the first televised Scottish Music Hall show, broadcast from the Metropole Theatre Glasgow. starring alongside, among others, Harry Gordon and Gracie Fields. While this was judged to be "very long" and at times "tedious", Radcliffe's contribution in a character sketch was praised as the most entertaining and the most uncompromisingly Scottish.[25][26]

He toured the United States in 1953 and also undertook a visit to Korea where he took part In shows for the British forces there.[27]

By contrast with many Scots comedians at the time, Radcliffe's brand of humour transcended the border and he appeared with considerable success in a number of theatres in England.[28] He worked at times, as did Robert Wilson, Tommy Morgan and Dave Willis, with the celebrated Irish tenor, Josef Locke.[29]

1955 Geordie

In 1955 Radcliffe played Rev. McNab in the film Geordie, starring Alastair Sim and Bill Travers. The film was based on a novel by David Walker. Radcliffe was allocated feature billing. Geordie was largely filmed around the Aberfoyle area in the summer of 1954.[30] Interviewed about this afterwards, Radcliffe said he did not go to the pictures himself and, as at 1958, had not in fact seen Geordie.[4]

Royal Scottish Variety Performance 1958

Jack Radcliffe acted as compère of the first ever Scottish Royal Variety show at the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow on 3 July 1958, attended by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. The performance was in aid of the Scottish Theatrical and Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund. This spectacular show produced by Dick Hurran featured, among others, soprano Jacqueline Delman, Tommy Cooper, Alan King, Alicia Markova, David Hughes, Robert Wilson, Jimmy Shand and his band, Kenneth McKellar, Alec Finlay, Alistair McHarg, the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band and the Band of the Royal Scots Greys. Radcliffe and Mrs Radcliffe (sub-convener of the ladies' committee of the charity) were among those presented to the royal couple after the performance.[31]Hurran built a swimmng pool holding about 20,000 gallons of water into the stage in order to present a Riviera scene. Music Hall historian Gordon Irving who was present described it as an occasion which "few of those privileged to be present will ever forget...Of all the great nights at Howard & Wyndham theatres, this was surely one of the greatest"[32]

Radcliffe achieved a long-held ambition in 1962, as a straight actor playing the title role of Biedermann in the first complete British performance of "The Fire Raisers" by Max Frisch, at the Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow, with Helen Norman in the role of Biedermann's wife Babette.[33]

In 1965, he had to cancel an intended South African tour when he took ill.[28]

His last stage appearance was with Jimmy Logan in the Jimannijack revue at the Glasgow Metropole Theatre in 1966. In the course of that year, despite some problems with his health, he continued to participate in the making of a BBC adaptation of "Blandings Castle" playing the part of the Scottish gardener to Lord Emsworth played by Sir Ralph Richardson.[1] After recording two episodes, he took ill and underwent a period of two months' treatment in hospital. He returned to work after that, announcing that this was the best therapy for him, but then died at his home in Glasgow,[34] after a short illness, on 26 April 1967.[28]

His funeral took place in the chapel of the Western Necropolis, Glasgow, on 28 April 1967. About 300 mourners attended, including Alex McCrindle, actor and chairman of Equity, Larry Marshall, Jimmy Logan, Charlie Sim, Alex Findlay, and former football star George Young.

Songs

[edit]

The Trumpeter - Trumpeter what are you sounding now?[5]

Larboard Watch Ahoy (duet with Harry Secombe)[4]

About a quarter to nine

My shadow misses your shadow

In the big blackout[35]

Personal Life

[edit]

Radcliffe's first wife Ray died in 1940, when he was himself too ill to attend her funeral, and would otherwise have been performing at the Kings Theatre in Edinburgh[28]. His second wife, Diana, who had been ill for some months, died on 15 May 1959 at their home at 6 Balvicar Drive Glasgow, S2[36]. Diana was from Glasgow and had taken a particular interest in the Scottish Theatrical Variety Artists Benevolent Fund and other charitable work.[37] Radcliffe loved his cars and drove, among others, a Silver Cloud Rolls Royce with the registration number "JR13".[28] In February 1952 he had a holiday in Aberdeenshire, fishing on Deeside from the comfort of the Ardoe House Hotel.[38]

Radcliffe enjoyed fishing and gardening, and DIY joinery and electrical work around the house. In an interview in 1958, he declared that his dog was his best friend. He said he bought 60 cigarettes a day of which he smoked 10, half-smoked 40, and burned the furniture with the rest. Despite his celebrated portrayal of the archetypal Glasgow drunk, his favourite drink was tea.[4] On one memorable occasion, Radcliffe entertained the entire cast of the then current show to a day out on the Clyde based around the (Jimmy) Logan family hotel at Rhu.[39]

The young Radcliffe pursued his career in the face of strong parental opposition.[8]

According to an article in the Bellshill Speaker in 1936, "As Mr Smith in private life he is very quiet and domesticated, an entirely different being from the stage personality. Mrs Smith is a native of Calderbank and she travels with him wherever he goes. They have three young children, all of whom listened with keen delight when their father was on the air".[8]

Jack Radcliffe was a close friend of Sir Harry Lauder. He attended Sir Harry's funeral and remained friendly with his niece Greta, who was her uncle's principal pall-bearer. [40]Following the death of Sir Harry in 1950, Radcliffe made a gift to Jimmy Logan of a Highland dirk and sgian dubh inscribed "To Jack Radcliffe from Sir Harry Lauder".[41]

Legacy and influence

[edit]

Logan ranked Radcliffe as one of the greatest stars of the Scottish Music Hall, outshone only by Sir Harry Lauder, Will Fyffe and Harry Gordon.[42]Ken Dodd, bracketing him with Chic Murray and Les Dawson, rated Radcliffe as truly funny.[2] Ronnie Corbett cited Jack Radcliffe as an influence on his own career, in an interview with Radio Times in 2011.[43]

Table of (some) Live Performances

[edit]
Date Place Theatre Time Duration Show Others Comments Source
21 November 1925 Union Street, Bellshill Co-operative Hall 7.30 "Catch My Pal" Total Abstinence Union Merritests: Nan, Peggy & May Whyte, Madge Henderson, Tom Gardiner JR billed as "Hebrew and Italian Comedian" Bellshill Speaker 20 November 1925[6]
June 1926 Irvine Tivoli Merritests concert party "the popular Jack Radcliffe presents his famous concert party.." Irvine Herald 18 June 1926[44]
October 1926 Airdrie? JR and the Merritests Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 9 October 1926[45]
December 1927 Irvine Tivoli The Rascals Revuette Irvine Herald 16 December 1927[46]
August 1928 Irvine Jack Radcliffe Comedian Coming shortly Irvine Herald 2 August 1928[47]
1928 Dundee Pantomime Daily Record 26 April 1967[28]
March 1929 Irvine Tivoli JR performing Irvine Herald 1 March 1929[48]
April 1929 Irvine Tivoli "Doon the Watter - a Scotch Comedy Revue All-star cast + Jock M'Farlane & the Sarony Girls "JR the popular comedian" Irvine Herald 5 April 1929[49]
July/August 1929 Kirkcaldy/Leven Sheil Anderson, Tommy Morgan Fife Free Press 27 July 1929 and Leven Advertiser 17 August 1929[50]
October 1929 Bridge of Allan/Callander Song & Dance show As above in Fife Bridge of Allan Gazette & Callander Advertiser[51]
May 1930 Bridge of Allan/Callander "I'm that Happy - The great Laughter Revue" Tommy Morgan Bridge of Allan Gazette & Callander Advertiser[51]
10 June 1930 Aberdeen Pavilion Ivy Lawton, the Meltonian Syncopators et al. Daily Record 10 June 1930[52]
24 June 1930 Leven JR "able" assistant to principal comedians Leven Advertiser 24 June 1930[53]
12 September 1930 Irvine Tivoli Week "favourite comedian Jack Radcliffe...always takes well" Irvine Herald 12 September 1930[54]
7 October 1930 Banff Town Hall "a return visit of favourite artiste Jack Radcliffe" Banffshire Journal 7 October 1930[55]
23 December 1930 Banff Town Hall "polished show" Banffshire Journal 23 December 1930[56]
12 June 1935 Largs Barrfields Pavilion Harry Kemp's Jubilee The Largs Entertainers[8] Herald 12 June 1935[57]
1935/January 1936 Glasgow Empress The Optimists of 1935 Bellshill Speaker 10 January 1936[8]
February 1937 Glasgow Empress 8 weeks Revels of 1937 Harold Dayne, Dale sisters, Nell Crichton, Mackenzie Reid & Dorothy and the Sarony Girls. Tenor Tom F. Moss JR "topping the bill for the first time in his career". Recently completed 8 week run Dundee Evening Telegraph 27 February 1937[3]
March 1937 Perth Broadway Revels of 1937 Dundee Evening Telegraph 27 February 1937.[3]
23 December 1937 Motherwell Child Welfare Clinic Clinic Christmas Party Motherwell Times 24 December 1937[58]
18 February 1939 Airdrie Town Hall S.M.T. Annual dance Accordionist Carlisle Joe Both described as "famous" music hall artistes Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 18 February 1939[59]
1940 Edinburgh Kings Theatre Daily Record 26 April 1967[28]
April 1943 Glasgow Empire 5.50 & 8.5 + Saturday Matinee at 2 Two weeks Radcliffe Revels Bob & Alf Pearson + Rawicz & Landauer Herald 6,8 & 13 April 1943[60]
January 1947 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 Radcliffe Revels Robert Wilson + Bob & Alf Pearson Horace H. Collins presents... Herald 3 January 1947[61]
April 1947 Glasgow Pavilion 6.25 & 8.40 Radcliffe Revels Helen Norman + Dave Jackley and Roy Allan Herald 7, 15 & 25 April 1947[62]
January 1948 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 More Radcliffe Revels Robert Wilson + Bob & Alf Pearson Herald 7 January 1948[63]
24 January 1948 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 Still More Radcliffe Revels Next week last week. Herald 24 January 1948[64]
January 1949 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 Crackerjack Robert Wilson 1st wk. of 2nd prog. Bkg 3rd prog. to 29th Jan. Herald 5 January 1949[65]
February 1949 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 Crackerjack Robert Wilson 1st wk. of 4th and final programme Herald 4 February 1949[66]
1 March 1949 Edinburgh Usher Hall Royal performance for benevolent fund Dave Willis, John Tainsh, Elizabeth Lockhart, Janet Howe, Robert Wilson. Concert for Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip Herald 2 March 1949[21]
14 January 1950 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 Crackerjack Robert Wilson, George Elrick 2nd week of 2nd programme Herald 14 January 1950[67]
29 January 1950 Glasgow Citizens Theatre Stardust Glasgow University Students variety show. Compère Herald 30 January 1950[68]
February 1950 Glasgow Empire Crackerjack Robert Wilson, George Elrick Final week Herald 7 February 1950[69]
March 1959 Belfast Grand Opera House Crackerjack Robert Wilson Belfast Telegraph 28 March 1959[70]
3 January 1951 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 Fine & Dandy The Merry Macs 1st week of 2nd programme Herald 3 January 1951[71]
29 January 1951 Glasgow Stardust Jimmy Logan, Stanley Baxter et al. Compère in students show Herald 30January 1951[72]
13 October 1951 Blackpool Opera House Happy Go Lucky Run at Blackpool just ending Herald & Daily 13 Record 13 October 1951[73][74]
30 October 1951 London Victoria Palace Theatre Royal Command Performance Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, Cicely Courtneidge, Harry Secombe & others Attended by Queen and Princess Margaret and relayed to the King at Buckingham Palace Herald 30 October 1951[75]
6 November 1951 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 Lee Lawrence, Arnaut Bros Returning to Empire after a long engagement south of the border Herald 6/7 November er 1951[76][77]
1956 London Hippodrome Daily Record 26 April 1967[28]
20 January 1952 Glasgow Theatre Royal 7.30 Stardust Jimmy Logan, Neville Taylor, Stanley Baxter, Molly Urquhart Glasgow University Students charity show Herald 9 January 1952[78]
3 March 1952 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 G.H.Elliott, Billy West & Co, Maurice & May Herald 3 March 1952[79]
15 August 1952 Glasgow Empire 6.10 & 8.25 Evening with the Stars Jane Morgan, Elton Hayes, Nat Gonnella & the Georgians Herald 15 August 1952[80]
15 November 1952 Glasgow Metropole Music Hall Show Gracie Fields, Harry Gordon, Robert Wilson & others First televised Scottish Music Hall show Herald 28 October 1952[25][26]
28 November 1952 Glasgow Metropole Here's Tae Us Opening next week Herald 28 November 1952[81]
February 1953 Glasgow Empire Flood Fund Concert Jack Anthony, Molly Urquhart, Jimmy Logan, Stanley Baxter et al. Charity fundraising event Herald 13 February 1953[82]
May 1953 Glasgow Theatre Royal 23 weeks[83] Half-Past Eight Stanley Baxter, Molly Urquhart & Helen Norman Opened 14 May 1953 15 May 1953[84]
June 1953 Glasgow Theatre Royal Mon-Fri 8; Sat 5.30 and 8.15 Half-past Eight Stanley Baxter, Molly Urquhart Continuing 30 June 1953[85]
August 1953 Broxburn Charity concert Alex Findlay, Will Starr JR Compère. In aid of the Bobby Rogers Broxburn Welcome Home Committee Linlithgowshire Gazette 21 August 1953[27]
September 1953 Glasgow Theatre Royal Half-Past Eight Stanley Baxter, Molly Urquhart Continuing Herald 18 September 1953[86]
9 September 1953 Glasgow East Park Children's Home Charity event Stanley Baxter Appearing at opening Herald 8 September 1953[87]
24 October 1953 Glasgow Theatre Royal Half-Past Eight Stanley Baxter Last night Herald 24 October 1953[88]
18 December 1953 Edinburgh Lyceum Starlight for You Chad Chase, Geraldo, Helen Norman et al. Herald 19 December 1953[89]
December 1955 Glasgow Theatre Royal Dick Whittington Olga Gwynne, Andy Stewart Herald 29 October 2018[90]
3 July 1958 Glasgow Alhambra 1st Scottish Royal Variety performance Tommy Cooper, Robert Wilson, Jimmy Shand and his band, Kenneth McKellar et al. Produced by Dick Hurran. Attended by Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh. JR acting as compère. The Scotsman 4 July 1958[31]
January 1959 Glasgow Empire Babes in the Wood Jackie Denis, Sally Logan, Phyllis Holden Pantomime. Transferred from Edinburgh for a fortnight[91] Herald 21 January 1959[92]
23 March 1959 Glasgow Alhambra Twice-nightly One week Stars for Spastics Alec Finlay, Jack Anthony, Bob MonkhouseOlive Gilbert, Richard Hearne Charity show produced by Jimmy Logan Herald 20 March 1959[93]
14 May 1959 Glasgow Central Hotel One night Cabaret in aid of British Empire Cancer Campaign Others from the cast of the Five Past Eight show Heading the bill - cabaret for charity boxing tournament Herald 6 May 1959[94]
15 May 1959 Glasgow Alhambra 8.05

Two shows Wed & Sat

 Five Past Eight Jimmy Logan Geraldo, Eve Boswell, Sheila Paton, Dawn Peters et al. Produced by Dick Hurran Herald 15 May 1959[95]
19 June 1959 Glasgow Alhambra Five Past Eight As above, Entering its second edition - further 5 weeks. Herald 19 & 23 June 1959[96][97]
7 October 1959 Glasgow Alhambra 8.05

Two shows Weds and Sat

 Five Past Eight Definitely ending 24 October 1959 Herald 7 October 1959[98]
25 October 1959 Glasgow Concert for Auchengeich Dependants Duncan Macrae,

Jimmy Logan, Rikki Fulton, Eve Boswell and the Jig Time Girls

 Charity concert after mining disaster. Produced by Jimmy Logan Herald 9 October 1959[99]
27 October 1959 Glasgow C'a D'oro, Union Street 12.30pm Addressing the Canadian Club of Glasgow Herald 27 October 1959[100]
24 January 1960 Glasgow Alhambra 7.30 One night Charity Concert Many Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund Herald 19 January 1960[101]
11 February 1960 Glasgow One night Theatrical charity ball Edmund Hockridge, Penny Nicholls, Lindellen Jivers Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund Herald 12 February 1960[102]
6 April 1960 Glasgow City Chambers Coffee morning JR opening. Charity for handicapped children Herald 30 March 1960[103]
May 1960 Glasgow Alhambra 8.05 Five Past Eight of 1960 Jimmy Logan, Eve Boswell, Bluebell Girls Two shows Wed & Sat Herald 1 March 1960[104]
5 February 1961 Glasgow Empire Concert Andy Stewart, Lex MacLean, military bands In aid of Scottish Variety Artistes' Benevolent fund Herald 30 January 1961[105][106]
March 1961 Glasgow Alhambra Stars for Spastics Jack Anthony, Una McLean, Helen Norman et al. Director Eddie Fraser Herald 24 March 1961[107]
May 1961 Glasgow Alhambra Five Past Eight of 1961 Jimmy Logan, Eve Boswell, Bluebell Girls Herald 22 March 1961[108]
May 1962 Glasgow Citizens' Theatre "The Fire Raisers" Helen Norman Title role of Biedermann The Stage 31 May 1962[33]
April 1965 Glasgow Metropole Stars for Spastics Jimmy Logan Charity performance for Princess Alexandra & Angus Ogilvie Daily Record 9 April 1965[109]

Radio & Television

[edit]
Date Medium Channel/station Time Show Others Comments Source
22 June 1934 Radio Scottish Regional 8-8.45pm An Excerpt from Letta's Show Dave Bruce, Peter Sinclair et al JR described as "musical comedian". From the Pavilion Summer Theatre, Portobello. The Scotsman 22 June 1934[10]
7 August 1934 Radio Scottish Regional 9.30 An Excerpt from Letta's Show Dave Bruce, Dave Collins et al. From the Pavilion Summer Theatre Portobello The Scotsman 7 August 1934[11]
12 June 1935 Radio Scottish 8.45-9.30 Harry Kemp's Jubilee Many Relayed from Barrfields Pavilion Largs Herald 12 June 1935[12]
28 December 1935 Radio "Some of his popular songs" Broadcast from Edinburgh Bellshill Speaker 10 January 1936[8]
2 February 1938 Radio 9.40-10pm Revels of 1938 Harold Dayne, We Three Fellows, Jack Beattie, Helen Glen Campbell From the Empress Playhouse, Glasgow The Scotsman 2 February 1938[110]
12 March 1940 Radio Home Service 6.15-6.30 Jack Radcliffe & Helen Norman Helen Norman "Songs and Scottish Comedy" 12 March 1940[111]
November 1952 TV Televised Scottish Music Hall Harry Gordon, Gracie Fields, Dave Willis, Tessie O'Shea, Robert Wilson. JR regarded as the "highlight" Herald 17 November 1952[25][26]
31 December 1958 TV STV New year Party Larry Marshall, Jimmy Nairn Expanded White Heather Club format Herald 31 December 2018[112]
23 March 1959 TV STV 7.30 The All-New Radcliffe & Finlay Show Alec Finlay 900,000 viewers[113] Herald 23 March 1959[114]
1967 TV Blandings Castle Sir Ralph Richardson Played McAllister the Scotch gardener to Sir Ralph's Lord Emsworth Herald 2 July 2021[1]

Film

[edit]
Date Film Production Others Comments Source
1955 Geordie Alastair Sim; Bill Travers Played Rev. McNab in adaptation of novel by David Walker Daily Record 2 July 1955[30]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 Leadbetter, Russell (2 July 2021). "Jack Radcliffe, entertainer who began with ENSA". The Herald (Glasgow ed.).
  2. 1 2 3 Leadbetter, Russell (1 July 2021). "Remember when....Jack Radcliffe, comedian with a quiet Method".
  3. 1 2 3 ""Revels of 1937" at the Broadway". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 27 February 1937.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Interview - The Honest Truth". Sunday Post. 3 August 1958.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 House, Jack (1986). Music Hall Memories. Glasgow: Richard Drew Publishing Ltd. pp. 59–63. ISBN 0-86267-167-1.
  6. 1 2 "Catch My Pal - Total Abstinence Union". Bellshill Speaker. 20 November 1925.
  7. ↑ Littlejohn, J. H. (1990). The Scottish Music Hall. G.C. Book Publishers Ltd. p. 97. ISBN 1-872350 05 4.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "A Bellshill Comedian - "Jack Radcliffe" at the Empress". Bellshill Speaker. 10 January 1936.
  9. ↑ Irving, Gordon. The Good Auld Days. p. 187.
  10. 1 2 "Wireless Programmes". The Scotsman. 22 June 1934.
  11. 1 2 "Wireless Programmes". The Scotsman. 7 August 1934.
  12. 1 2 "Harry Kemp's Show". The Herald (Glasgow). 12 June 1935.
  13. ↑ "Death of Mrs Margaret Hendrie". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. 28 July 1956.
  14. ↑ "Women in Scottish Popular Theatre".
  15. ↑ "Theatres in Airdrie".
  16. ↑ Irving, Gordon (1977). The Good Auld Days - The story of Scotland's entertainers from Music Hall to television. London: Jupiter Press (London) Ltd. p. 79. ISBN 0904041-72-7.
  17. ↑ Logan, Jimmy & Billy Adams (1998). It's a Funny Life. Edinburgh: B&W Publishing Ltd. p. 32. ISBN 1-873631-76-6.
  18. ↑ Irving, Gordon. The Good Auld Days. pp. 116–7.
  19. 1 2 Logan & Adams. It's a Funny Life. pp. 102–3.
  20. ↑ Logan, Jimmy & Billy Adams. It's a Funny Life. p. 100.
  21. 1 2 "Royal Performance". The Herald (Glasgow). 2 March 1949. p. 5.
  22. ↑ Logan, Jimmy & Billy Adams. It's a Funny Life. pp. 135–6.
  23. ↑ "Royal Command Variety Show". The Herald (Glasgow). 30 October 1951. p. 6.
  24. ↑ "Jack Radcliffe Chosen for Royal Show". Daily Record. 13 October 1951.
  25. 1 2 3 "Music Hall Marred by Finale". Glasgow Herald. 17 November 1952.
  26. 1 2 3 "Scots Transmission". Glasgow Herald. 28 October 1952.
  27. 1 2 "Eastern District Jottings". Linlithgowshire Gazette. 21 August 1937.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gillies, Charles (26 April 1967). "Jack made thousands laugh". Daily Record.
  29. ↑ "Broth of a boy who put romance in a ballad". Glasgow Herald. 2 April 1992. p. 8.
  30. 1 2 "STARTALK - A Feather in our Mr R's Hat". Daily Record. 2 July 1955.
  31. 1 2 "Kilted Trumpeters Greet the Queen at Variety Show". The Scotsman. 4 July 1958.
  32. ↑ Irving, Gordon. The Good Auld Days. pp. 145–6.
  33. 1 2 "Jack Radcliffe Goes Legit". The Stage. 31 May 1962.
  34. ↑ "Farewell to Jack Radcliffe". Dundee Courier. 29 April 1967.
  35. ↑ "Suit against Comedian Settled". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 16 May 1950.
  36. ↑ "Intimations - Deaths". Herald. p. 12.
  37. ↑ "Death of Mrs Radcliffe". Herald. 16 May 1959.
  38. ↑ "Bon-Accord Gossip". Aberdeen Evening Express. 5 February 1952.
  39. ↑ Irving, Gordon. The Good Auld Days. p. 64.
  40. ↑ "Lauder cortège of 200 cars". Herald (Glasgow). 3 March 1950. p. 8.
  41. ↑ Logan, Jimmy & Billy Adams. It's a Funny Life. p. 275.
  42. ↑ Logan, Jimmy & Billy Adams. It's a Funny Life. p. 265.
  43. ↑ "Ronnie Corbett - Obituary". Herald. 1 April 2016. pp. M16.
  44. ↑ "Tivoli Theatre". Irvine Herald. 18 June 1926.
  45. ↑ "Jack Radcliffe and the Merritests". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. 9 October 1926.
  46. ↑ "Tivoli". Irvine Herald. 16 December 1927.
  47. ↑ "Coming shortly". Irvine Herald. 3 August 1928.
  48. ↑ "Jack Radcliffe". Irvine Herald. 1 March 1929.
  49. ↑ ""Doon the Watter"". Irvine Herald. 5 April 1929.
  50. ↑ "Show". Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette. 17 August 1929.
  51. 1 2 ""I'm that Happy"". Bridge of Allan Gazette & Callander Advertiser. 3 May 1930.
  52. ↑ "Entertainments". Daily Record. 10 June 1930.
  53. ↑ "Leven Advertiser and Wemyss Gazette". 24 June 1930.
  54. ↑ "?". Irvine Herald. 12 September 1930.
  55. ↑ ""A large audience..."". Banffshire Journal. 7 October 1930.
  56. ↑ "Polished show". Banffshire Journal. 23 December 1930.
  57. ↑ "Wireless Home Stations". Herald (Glasgow). 12 June 1935.
  58. ↑ "Personal appearance". Motherwell Times. 24 December 1937.
  59. ↑ "S.M.T. Annual Dance". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. 18 February 1939.
  60. ↑ "Glasgow Theatres - Empire". Herald (Glasgow). 13 April 1943. p. 6.
  61. ↑ "Entertainments - Empire". Herald (Glasgow). 3 January 1947.
  62. ↑ "Radcliffe Revels". The Herald (Glasgow). 25 April 1947. p. 1.
  63. ↑ "Entertainments - Empire - More Radcliffe Revels". The Herald (Glasgow). 7 January 1948.
  64. ↑ "Still More Radcliffe Revels". The Herald (Glasgow). 24 January 1948.
  65. ↑ "Empire - Crackerjack". The Herald (Glasgow). 5 January 1949.
  66. ↑ "Empire - Crackerjack". The Herald (Glasgow). 4 February 1949.
  67. ↑ "Empire - Crackerjack". The Herald (Glasgow). 14 January 1950. p. 1.
  68. ↑ "Students' Variety Show". The Herald (Glasgow). 30 January 1950.
  69. ↑ "Empire - Crackerjack". The Herald (Glasgow). 7 February 1950.
  70. ↑ "Scots Features at Belfast Opera House". Belfast Telegraph. 28 March 1950.
  71. ↑ "Empire - Fine & Dandy". The Herald (Glasgow). 3 January 1951.
  72. ↑ "Variety Concert". The Herald (Glasgow). 29 January 1951. p. 3.
  73. ↑ "Royal Variety Show Artists - Scots Comedian Included". The Herald (Glasgow). 13 October 1951.
  74. ↑ "Jack Radcliffe Chosen for Royal Show". Daily Record. 13 October 1951.
  75. ↑ "Royal Command Variety Show". The Herald (Glasgow). 30 October 1951. p. 6.
  76. ↑ "The Empire". Herald (Glasgow). 6 November 1951.
  77. ↑ "Entertainments - Empire". The Herald (Glasgow). 7 November 1951. p. 10.
  78. ↑ "In the Theatre Royal - "Stardust"". The Herald (Glasgow) p.1. 9 January 1952.
  79. ↑ "Entertainments - Empire p.10". The Herald (Glasgow). 3 March 1952.
  80. ↑ "Entertainments". Herald (Glasgow). 15 August 1952.
  81. ↑ "Next Week's Theatres". Herald (Glasgow). 28 November 1952.
  82. ↑ "Flood Fund Concert". Glasgow Herald. 13 February 1953.
  83. ↑ "Half-Past Eight". Glasgow Herald. 16 October 1953.
  84. ↑ "Half-Past Eight". Glasgow Herald. 15 May 1953.
  85. ↑ "Glasgow Theatres". 30 June 1953.
  86. ↑ "Next Week's Theatres". Glasgow Herald. 18 September 1953.
  87. ↑ "Public notices". Glasgow Herald. 8 September 1953.
  88. ↑ "Entertainments". Glasgow Herald. 24 October 1953.
  89. ↑ "Revue at Lyceum". Glasgow Herald. 19 December 1953.
  90. ↑ "Those were the days - 1955". Herald. 29 October 2018. pp. M14.
  91. ↑ "Jack Brightens up the Show". Herald. 3 February 1959. p. 5.
  92. ↑ "Theatres - Empire". Herald. p. 6.
  93. ↑ "Stars for Spastics". Herald. 20 March 1959.
  94. ↑ "Public Notices". Herald. 6 May 1959.
  95. ↑ "Five Past Eight Show has its Ups and Downs". Herald. 15 May 1959.
  96. ↑ "Carmen Amaya". Herald. 19 June 1959. p. 5.
  97. ↑ "Highly Coloured and Highly Mechanised". Herald. 23 June 1959. p. 8.
  98. ↑ "Entertainments". Herald. 7 October 1959. p. 6.
  99. ↑ "Concert for Auchengeich Dependants". Herald. 9 October 1959. p. 7.
  100. ↑ "Today's Engagements". Herald. 27 October 1959. p. 6.
  101. ↑ "Concerts - Alhambra Theatre". Glasgow Herald. 19 January 1960. p. 6.
  102. ↑ "Theatrical Ball". Glasgow Herald. 12 February 1960. p. 5.
  103. ↑ "Handicapped Children". Glasgow Herald. 30 March 1060. p. 5.
  104. ↑ "Theatres - Alhambra". Glasgow Herald. 1 March 1960. p. 6.
  105. ↑ "Theatrical Ball Cabaret". Glasgow Herald. 30 January 1961. p. 8.
  106. ↑ "Charity Show". Glasgow Herald. 6 February 1961. p. 9.
  107. ↑ "Theatre Notes". Herald. 24 March 1961. p. 14.
  108. ↑ "Theatres - Alhambra". Glasgow Herald. 22 March 1961. p. 8.
  109. ↑ "Jack Keeps 'em Laughing". Daily Record. 9 April 1965.
  110. ↑ "Wireless Programmes". The Scotsman. 2 February 1938.
  111. ↑ "Radio Programmes - Home Service". The Scotsman. 12 March 1940.
  112. ↑ "1962: Andy Stewart - Mr Hogmanay". Herald. 31 December 2018. pp. M12.
  113. ↑ "Television Commentary". Herald. 11 April 1959. p. 5.
  114. ↑ "New Scottish Television Comedy Show". Herald. 23 March 1959. p. 5.
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