253 stories by "Richard Anthony Baker"
Judy Carne was already a successful actress by the time she became a star on a show that was the rage of
Although he was an actor of vast experience, David McAlister was best known for playing the philanthropist Daddy Warbucks in the American
After working as a stage manager at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow and on out-of-town productions of musicals heading for the West
The winner of the Olivier award in 1982 for his portrayal of the title role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's eight-and-a-half hour
With 17 appearances at the London Palladium to his credit, Jim Bailey was the most famous American female impersonator in Britain. He
Regularly seen on old-time variety bills and in summer shows and pantomime, comedian Don Smoothey reckoned that the high point of his
Although never a headliner, Vince Starr was part of the backbone of the old-time variety theatre. Together with his wife, Rita, he
Known throughout the world of old-time variety as the Tiddley Winkie Girl, the honey-blonde singer, dancer and impressionist Mavis Whyte established herself entertaining British troops overs…
For 10 years, Kenny Ireland was the artistic director of the Royal Lyceum theatre in Edinburgh, presenting a wide range of plays from Shakespeare to Arthur Miller. His departure in 2003 was …
Although a stage and film actress, cabaret performer, pantomime entertainer and socialite, Sally Farmiloe was best known playing the tarty barmaid Dawn Williams in the Sunday night BBC Telev…
A well-known face in television drama, Ray Lonnen is best remembered for the Cold War spy drama The Sandbaggers (1978-80), the first of the genre that was more concerned with political intri…
A true overnight success was scored when Noel Coward brought the actress Elaine Stritch to London in 1962 to play the leading role of a cruise ship hostess in his musical Sail Away at the…
A novelty act in music hall, on television and in variety shows and cabaret around the world, the puppeteer Frank Mumford made a controversial star of his most famous creation, a sexy French…
Although epic in dimension, several new plays were written by Peter Whelan for the Royal Shakespeare Company to stage in smaller theatres. Many of his works were based on events in real l…
As a rival to Muffin the Mule, the puppet loved by countless numbers of children watching television in the 1950s, Mr Turnip was created by Joy Laurey. Smartly dressed with his happy face to…
From old-time variety to post-war success in the West End and the world of Steven Spielberg: these were the high points of the career of the actress Anna Turner. As a youngster, she underwen…
To appear in one successful television role registers the fame of actors for the rest of their careers, even though they may have accomplished much more besides: that was the fate of Patsy B…
President of Equity from 1992 to 1994, Jeffry Wickham had a long and distinguished career as an actor in the theatre and cinema and on television. A slim, tall, fair-haired man, he was a flu…
Two different audiences were captivated by actor Francis Matthews. Children knew him as the voice of Captain Scarlet in the Gerry Anderson puppet series for Associated Television, while adul…
Specialising in playing dim-witted losers, Sam Kelly created key supporting roles in two of Britain's most successful television comedy series. The first was Ronnie Barker's show about priso…
Actor Sam Kelly, best known for his roles in the television comedies Porridge and 'Allo, 'Allo!, has died at the age of 70. His agent, Lynda Ronan, said he had died peacefully after a “…
An unlikely DJ, who began her career somewhat late in life, Mamy Rock captivated audiences in many of Europe's top nightclubs. Born in Bristol, she played her first gig when she was nearly 7…
A much admired viola player, Gerald Gentry was also a conductor with the BBC, taking charge at the height of his career of 178 concerts in a single year. As he said himself: "There were̷…
An important figure in the alternative theatre movement in the 1970s, Chris Bowler developed enormous enthusiasm for promoting the multicultural life of the Hackney area of north-east London…
The owner of the Flamingo Club in Soho, a vital rendezvous for jazz and rhythm and blues fans, Jeff Kruger promoted many tours of Britain by US stars and nurtured his own record label. He…
