Tommy Ladd had many loves and many different dancing partners. In addition to being a famous acrobatic dancer he was also a singer. Much of his early life is a mystery and establishing his later life and career is made doubly difficult because there was another American actor also named Tommy Ladd active at about the same time. After a glittering career in Europe, he finally settled down in California, where he came from, with his wife, the comedienne Helen Boice.
Tag Archives: 1920s London Revue
Dolly Tree Interview in the Daily Express 26th January 1922
I recently found a detailed interview with Dolly Tree in the Daily Express from January 1922 in the British Newspaper Archive. This feature was not available during the research for my biography Dolly Tree: A Dream of Beauty and so the information it provides was not included. So here is the text and commentary as it does show some invaluable and interesting points.
Continue reading Dolly Tree Interview in the Daily Express 26th January 1922
Brighter London at the London Hippodrome, 1923
Julian Wylie’s 1923 London Hippodrome show Brighter London was in fact the second longest running revue in London during the 1920s, being overtaken by The Whirl of the World (1924) at the Palladium. The show had no real story but comprised a series of episodes with Cupid setting out to brighten London culminating in the appearance of the celebrated American band leader Paul Whiteman and his orchestra.
Continue reading Brighter London at the London Hippodrome, 1923
Crysede and Dolly Tree
Sometime in mid 1921 the theatrical costume designer Dolly Tree became associated with the famous Cornish textile company Crysede and the owner Alec Walker.
Leap Year at the London Hippodrome, 1924
Leap Year at the London Hippodrome, 1924
George Robey was the star of Julian Wylie’s third Hippodrome revue Leap Year described as ‘one of the best revues that London has ever seen’. Launched at the London Hippodrome on 20th March 1924 it ran for 471 performances. The show had no cohesive plot but was designed to showcase the talent of Robey as a comedian and he appeared in at least 11 of the scenes, which means that in fact Leap Year was constructed around him.
Julian Wylie’s Revue Better Days
Julian Wylie’s last revue at the London Hippodrome was Better Days in 1925. Comprising 19 scenes, Better Days had a try-out at the Liverpool Empire from 9th March 1925 before its debut at the London Hippodrome on 19th March 1925. Continue reading Julian Wylie’s Revue Better Days
