All star Royal Air Force show
Title
All star Royal Air Force show
Description
A programme for a variety show, a review of the show in aid of the Women's Land Army Benevolent Fund and a description of the show performed at the launch of a fundraising week on behalf of the merchant navy.
Date
1944
Temporal Coverage
Language
Type
Format
Two newspaper cuttings and one folded printed sheet on two album pages
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
SHowardHF1158144v10062, SHowardHF1158144v10063
Transcription
THE SPOTLIGHT VARIETY PLAYERS
Present
SPOTLIGHT ON VARIETY
THE ALL-STAR R.A.F. SHOW.
By kind permission of Air Officer Commanding.
AT THE ODEON THEATRE, AYLESBURY,
SUNDAY, MARCH 5th, 1944.
“Worth 2d. of anyone’s money.” – “DAILY LIAR.”
“It’s a riot – bring your gas mask!” – “A.R.P. POST.”
“The audience screamed ! ! !” – “BEHIND TIMES.”
“Fills the stage!” – “LOCAL FERKIN.”
Price – 6d.
Proceeds in aid of Aylesbury and District Merchant Navy Comforts Service Week.
[page break]
“SPOTLIGHT ON VARIETY”
Arranged and produced by . . . HENRY HOWARD and WALLIE OKIN.
Compare . . . JEFFREY PIDDOCK.
1. SPOTLIGHT FOCUSES
2. “PICKLED PARODIES” . . . WALLIE OKIN
3. JOSEPH GOTTLIEB . . . Operatic Tenor
4. JIM CUMMINGS . . . The Variety Vicar
5. WALLY SPENCER . . . The Variety Impressionist
6. DIANA MALE . . . Soprano
7. “JOKING APART” . . . HENRY HOWARD
8. THE MUSCLE MECHANICS . . . TONY MANSELL, CURLY BULL, DICK LAWTON
9. THE INCOMPЀRABLE . . . JEFFREY PIDDOCK
10. SYDNEY FAZAKERLEY . . . Pianoforte
11. “AN ALL-BRITISH DRAMA”
The Booster . . . WALLIE OKIN
The Wife . . . FRANKIE MIDDLETON
The Lover . . . HENRY HOWARD
The Husband . . . JIM CUMMINGS
12. DIANA MALE and JOSEPH GOTTLIEB . . . Duet
13. “SOFT AND BARMY” . . . WALLIE and HENRY
14. SPOTLIGHT FADES.
Accompanist – SYDNEY FAZAKERLEY
[page break]
WOMEN’S LAND ARMY BENEVOLENT FUND
SPOTLIGHT VARIETY PLAYERS’ GESTURE.
At the Public Hall on Friday, the Spotlight Variety Players presented their popular production “Spotlight on Variety,” in aid of the benevolent fund of the Bucks Branch of the Women’s Land Army, of which Mrs Cross is president and Mrs E.M. Fellowes chairman. There was an excellent number present to enjoy this, the 33rd presentation of this show, produced by Henry Howard and Wallie Okin, who have now produced and appeared in some 300 different shows in aid of charity, for the Services, the Ministry of Labour and on isolated gun sites.
Included in the company were the well - known operatic tenor, Joseph Gottlieb, who has been broadcasting since 1924; Diana Male, soprano, who recently appeared in a command performance at Windsor Castle; Wally Spencer, from Lew Stone’s Band; and Phyllis Dare, from “Black [deleted] Beauty [/deleted] [inserted] Velvet.” [/inserted] The compére was Jeffrey Piddock and the accompanist Sydney Fazackerley.
The stage work and lighting were carried out by Sergt. Higgins and Corpl. Verstage, while Mr. S.J. Stevens also helped.
The audience was kept rocking with laughter from start to finish. There was no break in the performance, the first and second parts of the programme being separated by a gymnastic display, in which the graceful movements of Kay Punter called for much admiration.
The programme was as follows:- Spotlight Focuses by the Company: Pickled Parodies by Wally Okin: Joseph Gottlieb; Spotlight on Variety – the announcers, Wally Spencer, Joe Gottlieb, Jim Cummings, Dr. Porus Plaster, Jeffrey Piddock, Major Knapsack, Henry Howard, Mr Albert Cable and Wally Okin; The Variety Vicar, Jim Cummings; Wally Spencer, the Variety Impressionist: Diana Male; Joking Apart, Henry Howard; “Let the People sing,” by the Company; The Muscle Mechanics, Dick Laughton, Curly Bull and Kay Punter; Jeffrey Piddock and Phyllis Dare, duet: Sidney Fazackerley, playing Chopin’s “Polonaise” and “Kitten on the Keys”: an All-British Drama, The Booster Wallie Okin, the Wife Frankie Middleton, the Lover Henry Howard, and the Husband Jim Cummings; Diana Male and Joesph Gottlieb duet; Soft and Balmy, Wallie and Henry: Spotlight Fades by the Company.
The Women’s Land Army Benevolent Fund will receive a substantial contribution as a result of this excellent performance.
[break]
OFFICIAL LAUNCHING CEREMONY
ADMIRAL GOODENOUGH’S PRAISE OF THE MERCHANT NAVY
The Week was officially launched on Sunday afternoon, at the Odeon Theatre, Cambridge Street. An address was delivered by Admiral Sir William Goodenough, K.C.B., C.B., etc., who, as a member of the Port of London Authority, has come into close touch with merchant seamen. In the last war he commanded the 1st (afterwards the 2nd) Light Cruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland. He was introduced by the Earl of Courtown.
Amongst those present were: The Mayor of Aylesbury, Alderman Mrs. Paterson, who is president of the Merchant Navy Week committee; the Countess of Courtown, who is chairman, the Town Clerk, Mr H. Crookes: the Clerk to the County Council, Col. G. Crouch, and Mrs Crouch. An apology for absence had been received from the Chairman of A[missing letters]bury Rural District Council (Councillor R.J. Tompkins).
A film [missing word] “Our Merchant Seamen” w[missing letters] screened. All the parts were taken by genuine seamen. It related how a young member of the Merchant Navy squared accounts with the Nazi U-boat Service after the torpedoing of his ship.
A variety programme, described as “Spotlight on Variety.” the all-star R.A.F. show, was given by the Spotlight Variety Players of Halton. Each of the acts was loudly applauded by an appreciative audience. The compére was Jeffrey Piddock and the items were given by Wallie Okin, comedian: Joseph Gottlieb, operatic tenor; Jim Cummings, comedian; Wallie Spencer, impressionist; Diana Male, soprano; Henry Howard; Kay Punter, Dick Lawton and “Curly” Bull, gymnastics The sketch, “An All-British Drama” was presented by Wallie Okin. Frankie Middleton, Henry Howard and Jim Cummings. The accompanist for the show was Sydney Fazakerley, and the producers Henry Howard and Wallie Okin.
A collection was taken by members of the Civil Defence Wardens Service.
During the afternoon the Mayor moved a vote of thanks on behalf of those present to Admiral Goodenough for coming along to remind them of what the Merchant Navy was doing for them: to the management of the Odeon Theatre, Mr Laing (the manager) and his staff, for their usual co-operation for any good cause: to the distributors of the film (General Film Distributors, Ltd). and last, but certainly not least, to the Spotlight Variety Players, who had given their services that afternoon.
The sale of programmes was carried out by the local Sea Cadets and the Girls Training Corps members.
Present
SPOTLIGHT ON VARIETY
THE ALL-STAR R.A.F. SHOW.
By kind permission of Air Officer Commanding.
AT THE ODEON THEATRE, AYLESBURY,
SUNDAY, MARCH 5th, 1944.
“Worth 2d. of anyone’s money.” – “DAILY LIAR.”
“It’s a riot – bring your gas mask!” – “A.R.P. POST.”
“The audience screamed ! ! !” – “BEHIND TIMES.”
“Fills the stage!” – “LOCAL FERKIN.”
Price – 6d.
Proceeds in aid of Aylesbury and District Merchant Navy Comforts Service Week.
[page break]
“SPOTLIGHT ON VARIETY”
Arranged and produced by . . . HENRY HOWARD and WALLIE OKIN.
Compare . . . JEFFREY PIDDOCK.
1. SPOTLIGHT FOCUSES
2. “PICKLED PARODIES” . . . WALLIE OKIN
3. JOSEPH GOTTLIEB . . . Operatic Tenor
4. JIM CUMMINGS . . . The Variety Vicar
5. WALLY SPENCER . . . The Variety Impressionist
6. DIANA MALE . . . Soprano
7. “JOKING APART” . . . HENRY HOWARD
8. THE MUSCLE MECHANICS . . . TONY MANSELL, CURLY BULL, DICK LAWTON
9. THE INCOMPЀRABLE . . . JEFFREY PIDDOCK
10. SYDNEY FAZAKERLEY . . . Pianoforte
11. “AN ALL-BRITISH DRAMA”
The Booster . . . WALLIE OKIN
The Wife . . . FRANKIE MIDDLETON
The Lover . . . HENRY HOWARD
The Husband . . . JIM CUMMINGS
12. DIANA MALE and JOSEPH GOTTLIEB . . . Duet
13. “SOFT AND BARMY” . . . WALLIE and HENRY
14. SPOTLIGHT FADES.
Accompanist – SYDNEY FAZAKERLEY
[page break]
WOMEN’S LAND ARMY BENEVOLENT FUND
SPOTLIGHT VARIETY PLAYERS’ GESTURE.
At the Public Hall on Friday, the Spotlight Variety Players presented their popular production “Spotlight on Variety,” in aid of the benevolent fund of the Bucks Branch of the Women’s Land Army, of which Mrs Cross is president and Mrs E.M. Fellowes chairman. There was an excellent number present to enjoy this, the 33rd presentation of this show, produced by Henry Howard and Wallie Okin, who have now produced and appeared in some 300 different shows in aid of charity, for the Services, the Ministry of Labour and on isolated gun sites.
Included in the company were the well - known operatic tenor, Joseph Gottlieb, who has been broadcasting since 1924; Diana Male, soprano, who recently appeared in a command performance at Windsor Castle; Wally Spencer, from Lew Stone’s Band; and Phyllis Dare, from “Black [deleted] Beauty [/deleted] [inserted] Velvet.” [/inserted] The compére was Jeffrey Piddock and the accompanist Sydney Fazackerley.
The stage work and lighting were carried out by Sergt. Higgins and Corpl. Verstage, while Mr. S.J. Stevens also helped.
The audience was kept rocking with laughter from start to finish. There was no break in the performance, the first and second parts of the programme being separated by a gymnastic display, in which the graceful movements of Kay Punter called for much admiration.
The programme was as follows:- Spotlight Focuses by the Company: Pickled Parodies by Wally Okin: Joseph Gottlieb; Spotlight on Variety – the announcers, Wally Spencer, Joe Gottlieb, Jim Cummings, Dr. Porus Plaster, Jeffrey Piddock, Major Knapsack, Henry Howard, Mr Albert Cable and Wally Okin; The Variety Vicar, Jim Cummings; Wally Spencer, the Variety Impressionist: Diana Male; Joking Apart, Henry Howard; “Let the People sing,” by the Company; The Muscle Mechanics, Dick Laughton, Curly Bull and Kay Punter; Jeffrey Piddock and Phyllis Dare, duet: Sidney Fazackerley, playing Chopin’s “Polonaise” and “Kitten on the Keys”: an All-British Drama, The Booster Wallie Okin, the Wife Frankie Middleton, the Lover Henry Howard, and the Husband Jim Cummings; Diana Male and Joesph Gottlieb duet; Soft and Balmy, Wallie and Henry: Spotlight Fades by the Company.
The Women’s Land Army Benevolent Fund will receive a substantial contribution as a result of this excellent performance.
[break]
OFFICIAL LAUNCHING CEREMONY
ADMIRAL GOODENOUGH’S PRAISE OF THE MERCHANT NAVY
The Week was officially launched on Sunday afternoon, at the Odeon Theatre, Cambridge Street. An address was delivered by Admiral Sir William Goodenough, K.C.B., C.B., etc., who, as a member of the Port of London Authority, has come into close touch with merchant seamen. In the last war he commanded the 1st (afterwards the 2nd) Light Cruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland. He was introduced by the Earl of Courtown.
Amongst those present were: The Mayor of Aylesbury, Alderman Mrs. Paterson, who is president of the Merchant Navy Week committee; the Countess of Courtown, who is chairman, the Town Clerk, Mr H. Crookes: the Clerk to the County Council, Col. G. Crouch, and Mrs Crouch. An apology for absence had been received from the Chairman of A[missing letters]bury Rural District Council (Councillor R.J. Tompkins).
A film [missing word] “Our Merchant Seamen” w[missing letters] screened. All the parts were taken by genuine seamen. It related how a young member of the Merchant Navy squared accounts with the Nazi U-boat Service after the torpedoing of his ship.
A variety programme, described as “Spotlight on Variety.” the all-star R.A.F. show, was given by the Spotlight Variety Players of Halton. Each of the acts was loudly applauded by an appreciative audience. The compére was Jeffrey Piddock and the items were given by Wallie Okin, comedian: Joseph Gottlieb, operatic tenor; Jim Cummings, comedian; Wallie Spencer, impressionist; Diana Male, soprano; Henry Howard; Kay Punter, Dick Lawton and “Curly” Bull, gymnastics The sketch, “An All-British Drama” was presented by Wallie Okin. Frankie Middleton, Henry Howard and Jim Cummings. The accompanist for the show was Sydney Fazakerley, and the producers Henry Howard and Wallie Okin.
A collection was taken by members of the Civil Defence Wardens Service.
During the afternoon the Mayor moved a vote of thanks on behalf of those present to Admiral Goodenough for coming along to remind them of what the Merchant Navy was doing for them: to the management of the Odeon Theatre, Mr Laing (the manager) and his staff, for their usual co-operation for any good cause: to the distributors of the film (General Film Distributors, Ltd). and last, but certainly not least, to the Spotlight Variety Players, who had given their services that afternoon.
The sale of programmes was carried out by the local Sea Cadets and the Girls Training Corps members.
Collection
Citation
“All star Royal Air Force show,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed May 19, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/42925.