I was my mother's war effort. Apart from giving her butter ration to me and her bacon to Dad, she felt that she wasn't doing enough for the war effort. Theatres, which had been closed for a time during the war, were now open again with their value considered of great importance for morale and normality for the continuing war. Concerts were being held in church halls and town halls. This had got her thinking.
Living opposite the local hospital, it was soon obvious that an available and willing audience was close at hand for the beginning of Isabel's planned war efforts. From an upstairs bedroom window, she could watch the wounded arriving. "Surely they could do with some cheering up," she thought. "Joan's speech has improved. As has her singing and dancing. Miss Hand could play piano for her...a nice, bright costume could be made..."
Living opposite the local hospital, it was soon obvious that an available and willing audience was close at hand for the beginning of Isabel's planned war efforts. From an upstairs bedroom window, she could watch the wounded arriving. "Surely they could do with some cheering up," she thought. "Joan's speech has improved. As has her singing and dancing. Miss Hand could play piano for her...a nice, bright costume could be made..."
By this stage, Eileen Hall's direction and training had made a big difference in my life. I had confidence and ability. I could dance in both disciplines of ballet and tap. I could also sing, and I could recite poetry with appropriate actions.
And so it began. The patients loved the break in hospital tedium and loved to be entertained. Miss Hand accompanied me on piano for many of these 'war effort' performances, as did Mr. Tinkler, a professional pianist, whenever he was able. Mr. Tinkler was a friend of Miss Hand's, and lived in the next street from us. He was quite well-known in Walsall and had been involved with a few BBC Broadcasts.
With war-time rationing in full swing, suitable costumes had to be made from the recycling of old dresses. For special materials, the family banded together in the donation of clothing coupons so that my costumes could be at their best, especially when I became 'in demand'. Entertainment was a more then welcome diversion and was especially important in those dark days. The famous quote from Victor Hugo (1802-1885), although well before it's time as far as promoting entertainment as a war-time morale booster, sums this up succinctly: "The stage is a grand and serious thing. It has a national mission, a social mission, a human mission." Never was this more true than during the Great Wars and their impact, particularly World War Two, on the British home front and for its use as a morale booster and welcome diversion for the troops on the war front.
Isabel and my Grandmother Meers, Nanny, made the costumes. Nanny had been trained as a gentleman's tailor, so her costume-making was of the highest standard. My costumes were wonderful and anything else I needed was found in Isabel's wardrobe. Nanny worked in a tailor's shop for many years. It was how she met my Grandfather. I used to love to hear the story.
Grandad Meers, Joseph, visited the tailor shop and ordered a pair of trousers. The task was given to my Grandmother, Mary, which she was thrilled about due to the colour of the fabric--an unusual, almost violet shade. As she worked, hand-stitching the garment, she imagined the young man who would wear them. "Very handsome...," she thought. Some time later, when the trousers had been purchased, Mary was helping out in her mother's store. A gentleman had just been served by her mother with the purchase of a box of chocolates for his girlfriend and was about to leave the store when Mary entered from the back room. Upon sight of the purple trousers, she exclaimed without a backward thought "Oh! You're wearing my trousers!" Laughter ensued, with the end result being that the chocolates were given to her and, just like that, the girlfriend was deserted!
I was soon performing for factory workers, doing lunch-time shows in their canteens. These were mainly the local factories converted to build or repair aircraft, such as Helliwells where Dad was sent as his part in the Home Guard, and for the manufacture of bullets and bombs. Eileen Hall had to work in one of these factories at this time and I remember thinking that it was unfair.
I performed at the Town Hall and as part of Summer shows at Arboretum Park, which featured an open-air theatre. There were many performances in church halls and, sometimes, I would entertain in schools for their end-of-year Christmas parties. I hated these school shows, however, as there were times when the boys would tease me for showing my legs in short costumes.
Jean and Malcolm did not make a fuss of my stage life, hardly ever mentioning it. It was just accepted as part of who I was. But, in the school-yard, I would have the occasional child point at me and say "I saw you in the play at Arboretum Park...," or wherever it happened to be. I remember being upset when one boy accused "You showed your legs!". My costumes were often very short.
There was a song and tap dance routine I used to do where I would use a stick and wear a top hat. I hated having to do that one--and not because of the song and dance but because of the attention the accessories drew as we walked down the street on our way to the concert. My mother would carry the top hat, with the stick under her arm. The children who saw us, and sometimes their parents, would call out "Going to another concert, are you?". I was really sensitive about being looked at and pointed out, although I was fine on the stage.
Living in England's working class midlands meant being influenced and surrounded by the somewhat harsh north country accent. It is argueably one of the worst accents in England and added another facet to my speech problems and to being teased. All of the improvements made by Miss Hall, meant that I was teased at school for 'putting on airs'. They would say "Yo don arf talk funny, yo!"
A military band played for me when we travelled to a nearby army camp for a big show. I was introduced to the band at rehearsals, as well as to their mascot, a dog named B Flat. The dog was not stage-shy and would be joining me at the performance. Throughout the concert, he sat attentively on stage, looking out to the audience. At the end of the show, B Flat joined me for a bow, obviously for his part. I loved that.
The Savoy Theatre, the biggest in Walsall, was also a big part of my childhood performances, and Isabel's war efforts. Mr. Arthur Taylor, the manager, loved all things theatrical and was involved in performances himself. He had wanted to make use of the large stage to present live entertainment between movie sessions and as introductory entertainment before a movie. On Sundays, there was to be a concert with stars heading the bill and supported by local acts. It was not long before his dream became a reality.
Isabel and my Grandmother Meers, Nanny, made the costumes. Nanny had been trained as a gentleman's tailor, so her costume-making was of the highest standard. My costumes were wonderful and anything else I needed was found in Isabel's wardrobe. Nanny worked in a tailor's shop for many years. It was how she met my Grandfather. I used to love to hear the story.
Grandad Meers, Joseph, visited the tailor shop and ordered a pair of trousers. The task was given to my Grandmother, Mary, which she was thrilled about due to the colour of the fabric--an unusual, almost violet shade. As she worked, hand-stitching the garment, she imagined the young man who would wear them. "Very handsome...," she thought. Some time later, when the trousers had been purchased, Mary was helping out in her mother's store. A gentleman had just been served by her mother with the purchase of a box of chocolates for his girlfriend and was about to leave the store when Mary entered from the back room. Upon sight of the purple trousers, she exclaimed without a backward thought "Oh! You're wearing my trousers!" Laughter ensued, with the end result being that the chocolates were given to her and, just like that, the girlfriend was deserted!
* * * *
I was soon performing for factory workers, doing lunch-time shows in their canteens. These were mainly the local factories converted to build or repair aircraft, such as Helliwells where Dad was sent as his part in the Home Guard, and for the manufacture of bullets and bombs. Eileen Hall had to work in one of these factories at this time and I remember thinking that it was unfair.
I performed at the Town Hall and as part of Summer shows at Arboretum Park, which featured an open-air theatre. There were many performances in church halls and, sometimes, I would entertain in schools for their end-of-year Christmas parties. I hated these school shows, however, as there were times when the boys would tease me for showing my legs in short costumes.
Jean and Malcolm did not make a fuss of my stage life, hardly ever mentioning it. It was just accepted as part of who I was. But, in the school-yard, I would have the occasional child point at me and say "I saw you in the play at Arboretum Park...," or wherever it happened to be. I remember being upset when one boy accused "You showed your legs!". My costumes were often very short.
There was a song and tap dance routine I used to do where I would use a stick and wear a top hat. I hated having to do that one--and not because of the song and dance but because of the attention the accessories drew as we walked down the street on our way to the concert. My mother would carry the top hat, with the stick under her arm. The children who saw us, and sometimes their parents, would call out "Going to another concert, are you?". I was really sensitive about being looked at and pointed out, although I was fine on the stage.
Living in England's working class midlands meant being influenced and surrounded by the somewhat harsh north country accent. It is argueably one of the worst accents in England and added another facet to my speech problems and to being teased. All of the improvements made by Miss Hall, meant that I was teased at school for 'putting on airs'. They would say "Yo don arf talk funny, yo!"
A military band played for me when we travelled to a nearby army camp for a big show. I was introduced to the band at rehearsals, as well as to their mascot, a dog named B Flat. The dog was not stage-shy and would be joining me at the performance. Throughout the concert, he sat attentively on stage, looking out to the audience. At the end of the show, B Flat joined me for a bow, obviously for his part. I loved that.
The Savoy Theatre, the biggest in Walsall, was also a big part of my childhood performances, and Isabel's war efforts. Mr. Arthur Taylor, the manager, loved all things theatrical and was involved in performances himself. He had wanted to make use of the large stage to present live entertainment between movie sessions and as introductory entertainment before a movie. On Sundays, there was to be a concert with stars heading the bill and supported by local acts. It was not long before his dream became a reality.
I did a lot of those concerts at The Savoy and became known as 'Baby Joan'. As any child does, I disliked being labelled as 'Baby' but I realised I must have looked very small on that huge stage, marching in front of a troupe of tall, high-kicking girls. I would stride onto the stage wearing an air-force blue suit to sing, with a cute lisp "Out of the blue, here we come again. We are the lads of the bright blue sky...." and worked with numerous famous people including George Formby and Jessie Matthews.
I didn't take much notice of these people at the time--they were simply part of the performance I was in. In fact, I'm not sure if I even knew that they were famous. I remember George Formby carrying me onto the stage in the finale of one of the shows and I can recall Jesse Mathews smiling at me. I remember thinking she was very pretty but I was not 'star struck'. These performers were well-known in variety theatres and, sometimes, radio, whereas the only shows I went to were Ivor Novello musicals, the ballet and pantomimes.
Judy Garland appeared for a fleeting performance in one of the Savoy Theatre shows. I remember this because she was late and, according to Mr. Taylor, did not want to perform. "Too much drink inside her," he said.
Ivor Novello's leading lady, Vanessa Lee, was another performer there. She was lovely and sang beautifully. The comedy act, 'Old Mother Riley and Daughter Kitty' was another. They were a husband and wife team , Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane, and these were their stage names. From the late 1930s, they were the most popular British box office act and their comedy routines were much loved and very funny. From 1937-1952, they appeared in film, making Lucan one of Britain's top ten stars. In real life, as witnessed back stage, they argued a lot and were not the happy couple they were otherwise believed to be!
With so many performances at the Savoy under my belt, Mr. Taylor put me forward to perform as Miss New Year at the annual pageant held at the Walsall Town Hall to see in the New Year. I was nine years old and the year was 1942. At this time I also did several appearances for the Walsall Town Council, as well as being driven around the town in a horse-drawn coach.
Mr Taylor played the part of Old Father Time in the annual pageants and knew when the role of Miss New Year had become available. I did this for five consecutive years, with the last one being in 1946. It also meant that I had my first photographs in the local newspaper as well as more appearances to dance and sing at The Savoy. I would either pop out of a huge, scenic egg, be pulled onto the dance floor in a sleigh or be escorted by Father Time. I can't recall all of my entrances but I do remember having to lift my arms in the air and shout "HAPPY NEW YEAR!", followed by the throwing of kisses as I danced around the stage.
I didn't take much notice of these people at the time--they were simply part of the performance I was in. In fact, I'm not sure if I even knew that they were famous. I remember George Formby carrying me onto the stage in the finale of one of the shows and I can recall Jesse Mathews smiling at me. I remember thinking she was very pretty but I was not 'star struck'. These performers were well-known in variety theatres and, sometimes, radio, whereas the only shows I went to were Ivor Novello musicals, the ballet and pantomimes.
Judy Garland appeared for a fleeting performance in one of the Savoy Theatre shows. I remember this because she was late and, according to Mr. Taylor, did not want to perform. "Too much drink inside her," he said.
Ivor Novello's leading lady, Vanessa Lee, was another performer there. She was lovely and sang beautifully. The comedy act, 'Old Mother Riley and Daughter Kitty' was another. They were a husband and wife team , Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane, and these were their stage names. From the late 1930s, they were the most popular British box office act and their comedy routines were much loved and very funny. From 1937-1952, they appeared in film, making Lucan one of Britain's top ten stars. In real life, as witnessed back stage, they argued a lot and were not the happy couple they were otherwise believed to be!
With so many performances at the Savoy under my belt, Mr. Taylor put me forward to perform as Miss New Year at the annual pageant held at the Walsall Town Hall to see in the New Year. I was nine years old and the year was 1942. At this time I also did several appearances for the Walsall Town Council, as well as being driven around the town in a horse-drawn coach.
Mr Taylor played the part of Old Father Time in the annual pageants and knew when the role of Miss New Year had become available. I did this for five consecutive years, with the last one being in 1946. It also meant that I had my first photographs in the local newspaper as well as more appearances to dance and sing at The Savoy. I would either pop out of a huge, scenic egg, be pulled onto the dance floor in a sleigh or be escorted by Father Time. I can't recall all of my entrances but I do remember having to lift my arms in the air and shout "HAPPY NEW YEAR!", followed by the throwing of kisses as I danced around the stage.
