We love being entertained ....
This section is reserved for our interest in the various forms of Entertainment other than Films and Television (which appear elsewhere on this site) and this introductory page will feature cameos of our favourites starting with an old Music Hall Act based on a tongue-in-cheek interpretation of Egyptian Hieroglyphics by :
Wilson Keppel and Betty
The Portrait of the entertainers featured above shows them at the height of their popularity and out of their accustomed 'disguises'.
The Daily Mail runs a section which encourages Questions and Answers on any subject - in this case the question is "What happened to Wilson, Keppel and Betty, a music hall act who dressed as Egyptians and performed a comic dance routine?" - Sally Short of Twickenham responded to this question and a copy of the article can be found here. Further proof of their long-lasting popularity in this comprehensive response dated December 22nd 2010.
Wilson, Keppel and Betty as we are more accustomed to seeing them!
2011 - BBC Radio 4 - Wilson, Keppel & Several Bettys
On Thursday, 17th November 2011 - the BBC broadcast a radio tribute to Wilson Keppel and Betty, narrated by Barbara Windsor. The full transcript can be found here
The BBC website promoted the programme as shown below:
Barbara Windsor tells the story of the popular variety act Wilson, Keppel and Betty.
Wilson, Keppel and Betty formed one of the greatest eccentric dance acts of all time. Their names are so familiar and yet amazingly their fascinating story has never been told on radio before. As with many tales of the stars of music hall and variety, it is one which is shrouded in contradictions and myth.
The programme includes new research into their early days as a duo in Australia and America - and reveals how the act was catapulted to stardom when Wilson and Keppel met Betty.
Liverpudlian Jack Wilson and Irishman Joe Keppel were doleful, gangling, moustachioed and skinny-legged. They wore parodies of Eastern dress, usually a fez and a short nightshirt, revealing their scrawny legs. The third member was the glamorous Betty - who over the years was played by several different women. They performed a side-splitting sand dance based on poses familiar from Egyptian tomb art, with Betty as the central seductress. Their complete seriousness added to the hilarity.
From the early 1930's the trio became an established feature of British variety shows and were chosen for several Royal Variety Performances. Because the act was visual and hence instantly understandable to anyone, they received many offers from Europe. In 1938 it was reported that whilst performing at the Berlin Wintergarden they upset Goebbels who was disgusted at the display of bare legs, calling them 'bad for the morals of Nazi Youth'. Mussolini, however, is said to have loved the act.
Contributors include Bill Pertwee, Mark Colleano, Jean Kent, Georgy Jamieson and relatives of the trio. The programme is written by Alan Stafford and produced in Manchester by Stephen Garner.
'The Navy Lark'
The cast and crew of the Navy Lark from Series 2 onwards - no sign of Dennis Price who ruled as 'no. 1' in the inaugural series - image courtesy of and sourced from The Navy Lark Guide with thanks
(Back row 1st and 2nd left Robbie Barker and Jon Pertwee, Centre Row first right Leslie Phillips and Front Row l to r Heather Chasen and Judy Cornwell)
The Navy Lark is a comedy radio series which ran on BBC radio from 1959 to 1977. It starred Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee, Judy Cornwell, Heather Chasen, Ronnie Barker, Dennis Price, Stephen Murray, Richard Caldicot, Michael Bates and Tenniel Evans.
(The Enchanting World of) 'Hinge & Bracket'
Dame Hilda Bracket & Dr Evadne Hinge - image courtesy of and sourced from britishclassiccomedy with thanks
The Enchanting World Of Hinge And Bracket, 1977 - We join the Dear Ladies: Hinge and Bracket as they go about their daily lives in the fictional village of Stackton Tressel, Suffolk.
Dr Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket were two fictional characters created and played by two male actors, George Logan and Patrick Fyffe. After a 1974 appearance at the Edinburgh Festival and several years touring 'The Enchanting World Of Hinge And Bracket' was the duo’s first radio series.
The 'Meerkats'
'Peter Pan'
'Torvill & Dean'
Olympian Torchbearers in 2012 - Day 41 - The Olympic Torch Continues Its Journey Around The UK
NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 28: In this handout image provided by LOCOG, Torchbearer 100 Jayne Christensen (nee Torvill) and Torchbearer 107 Christopher Dean light the Cauldron at the end of Day 41 of the Torch Relay on June 28, 2012 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by LOCOG via Getty Images)
FSKATING-BIH-OLYMPIC-ANNIVERSARY
Great Britain's figure skaters, Jane Torvill (L) and Christopher Dean (R) skate on the ice at the Zetra Olympic hall in Sarajevo, on February 13, 2014. Torvill and Dean take part in celebration of the 30th anniversary of 14th Winter Olympic Games, hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital in 1984, when the famous British duo won the Olympic gold medal. AFP PHOTO / ELVIS BARUKCIC (Photo credit should read ELVIS BARUKCIC/AFP via Getty Images)
'The Producers'
An unusual poster for the original 1967 film - image sourced from posteritati with thanks
'Charley's Aunt'
'Mapp and Lucia'
Page refreshed : 15th January 2021 (G)