Louis Bradfield - Postcard, 1910
Title
Louis Bradfield - Postcard, 1910
Date
4 April 1910
Description
Promotional postcard of Louis Bradfield, appearing in George Edwardes' touring production of The Dollar Princess in 1910.
What's the story?
Louis Bradfield performed in the musical comedy, The Dollar Princess which ran at the Theatre Royal from 4 to 9 April 1910.
The Dollar Princess by A. M. Willner and Fritz Grünbaum is based on the operetta Die Dollarprinzessin, first performed in Vienna in November 1907. The English adaptation opened in London in September 1909, where it ran for 428 performances, followed by this UK tour.
Its title refers to the demeaning nickname in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to American heiresses arriving in Britain at that time. A review of the first performances in Playgoer and Society Illustrated stated "to the average playgoer there is something very attractive in watching the antics of the vulgar when surrounded by the refinement of art which he can neither understand nor appreciate”
Louis Bradfield was a popular actor and singer, both in London and on tour. Bradfield’s first performance on stage was at the Theatre Royal Nottingham in 1889 in the Pantomime Sinbad the Sailor. Billed as W. Louis Bradfield he played Shipwreckeros.
This postcard forms part of a large scrapbook collection donated to the Theatre Royal archive by Diane Meadwell from Sandiacre. Her great grandfather was Bernard Hill, the former landlord of The Sun Inn on Parliament Street and who later became the Stage Door Keeper at the Theatre Royal. Bernard’s daughter Edith also worked at the Theatre Royal as an usherette.
Whilst in his stage door job, Bernard collected a large number of postcards of the numerous artists who performed at the venue, many of which he got them to autograph, as well as writing the date and if necessary the show on the reverse, making the future archivist’s job that little bit easier. We have then been able to cross-reference this information with the list of Theatre Royal shows being compiled by volunteer researcher Lynn Whitley.
We are grateful to Diane for sharing her family memories with us and for donating such a valuable resource to the archive.
The Dollar Princess by A. M. Willner and Fritz Grünbaum is based on the operetta Die Dollarprinzessin, first performed in Vienna in November 1907. The English adaptation opened in London in September 1909, where it ran for 428 performances, followed by this UK tour.
Its title refers to the demeaning nickname in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to American heiresses arriving in Britain at that time. A review of the first performances in Playgoer and Society Illustrated stated "to the average playgoer there is something very attractive in watching the antics of the vulgar when surrounded by the refinement of art which he can neither understand nor appreciate”
Louis Bradfield was a popular actor and singer, both in London and on tour. Bradfield’s first performance on stage was at the Theatre Royal Nottingham in 1889 in the Pantomime Sinbad the Sailor. Billed as W. Louis Bradfield he played Shipwreckeros.
This postcard forms part of a large scrapbook collection donated to the Theatre Royal archive by Diane Meadwell from Sandiacre. Her great grandfather was Bernard Hill, the former landlord of The Sun Inn on Parliament Street and who later became the Stage Door Keeper at the Theatre Royal. Bernard’s daughter Edith also worked at the Theatre Royal as an usherette.
Whilst in his stage door job, Bernard collected a large number of postcards of the numerous artists who performed at the venue, many of which he got them to autograph, as well as writing the date and if necessary the show on the reverse, making the future archivist’s job that little bit easier. We have then been able to cross-reference this information with the list of Theatre Royal shows being compiled by volunteer researcher Lynn Whitley.
We are grateful to Diane for sharing her family memories with us and for donating such a valuable resource to the archive.
Type
Postcard
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Contributor
Researchers: David Longford / Lynn Whitley
