Newspaper clipping from Theatre Digs Visitors' Book, 1935
Title
Newspaper clipping from Theatre Digs Visitors' Book, 1935
Date
1935
Description
This is a newspaper clipping from the Visitors' Book kept by Mr and Mrs Waplington in their lodgings at 5 Dryden Street, Nottingham.
What's the story?
From the 1930s, Mr and Mrs Waplington ran a theatre lodging at No. 5 Dryden Street Nottingham for many of the performers who played at the Theatre Royal Nottingham. Here is a newspaper clipping that was attached to the book, which contained entries written by performers who visited the Theatre Royal during the Second World War. With a warm welcome, a generous meal and a good night’s sleep the quotes highlighted how important it is for the theatrical landlady to provide a real home from home for the busy touring actor.
The newspaper entry here read as follows:
"The king gets by"
Linden Travers
I wonder how many of those young performers who lodged with Mr and Mrs Waplington during the Second World War came from a family with theatrical history. Did they know that Florence Linden Travers, stage name Linden Travers, had such a pedigree? Perhaps they had even seen her on the silver screen themselves.
Linden Travers was born in 1913 in Co Durham. Her father was a manager of theatres in Tyneside and by 1933 she was playing the lead role in Ivor Novello’s “Murder in Mayfair” in London’s West End. She made her cinematic debut two years later and in 1938 appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s film “The Lady Vanishes”. This would go on to be ranked in a 2017 poll of 150 actors, directors, writers, producers and critics for “Time Out” magazine as the 31st best British film - ever! In her busy career, she appeared in a long list of stage plays and films, and her final TV appearance was in a 1999 BBC tribute to Alfred Hitchcock celebrating the centenary of his birth. Linden died in 2001 at the age of 88, with her daughter, Susan, and granddaughter Charlotte Lucas continuing the family line and becoming actors. Her younger brother Bill Travers had also played his part, starring in the 1966 film 'Born Free’.
I wonder if Mr and Mrs Waplington were aware that this beautiful and talented young actor was also the great granddaughter of the confectionary founder George Wheatley, and that the family were still churning out lollipops, fudge and rock during the war. Did she bring any of the famous “black bullets” sweets to share in the lodging house?
I am sure that Theatre Royal audiences in 1942 were fans of Linden Travers and would have been well aware of her star qualities. It’s wonderful that her photograph graces our Heritage website and hopefully brings a renewed interest in her career to a modern audience.
The newspaper entry here read as follows:
"The king gets by"
Linden Travers
I wonder how many of those young performers who lodged with Mr and Mrs Waplington during the Second World War came from a family with theatrical history. Did they know that Florence Linden Travers, stage name Linden Travers, had such a pedigree? Perhaps they had even seen her on the silver screen themselves.
Linden Travers was born in 1913 in Co Durham. Her father was a manager of theatres in Tyneside and by 1933 she was playing the lead role in Ivor Novello’s “Murder in Mayfair” in London’s West End. She made her cinematic debut two years later and in 1938 appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s film “The Lady Vanishes”. This would go on to be ranked in a 2017 poll of 150 actors, directors, writers, producers and critics for “Time Out” magazine as the 31st best British film - ever! In her busy career, she appeared in a long list of stage plays and films, and her final TV appearance was in a 1999 BBC tribute to Alfred Hitchcock celebrating the centenary of his birth. Linden died in 2001 at the age of 88, with her daughter, Susan, and granddaughter Charlotte Lucas continuing the family line and becoming actors. Her younger brother Bill Travers had also played his part, starring in the 1966 film 'Born Free’.
I wonder if Mr and Mrs Waplington were aware that this beautiful and talented young actor was also the great granddaughter of the confectionary founder George Wheatley, and that the family were still churning out lollipops, fudge and rock during the war. Did she bring any of the famous “black bullets” sweets to share in the lodging house?
I am sure that Theatre Royal audiences in 1942 were fans of Linden Travers and would have been well aware of her star qualities. It’s wonderful that her photograph graces our Heritage website and hopefully brings a renewed interest in her career to a modern audience.
Type
Newspaper cutting
Location of item
Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall
Rights
Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall
Contributor
Researcher: Kelly Hart & Kate Kiely
