Mabel Russell - Postcard, 1909
Title
Mabel Russell - Postcard, 1909
Date
11 October 1909
Description
Promotional postcard of Mabel Russell, appearing in George Edwardes' touring production of The Merry Widow in 1909.
What's the story?
Mabel Russell performed in the operetta The Merry Widow, which ran at the Theatre Royal from 11 to 16 October 1909.
Set in Paris in 1905, The Merry Widow is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár and concerns a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband.
This operetta has had popular success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna (title – Die Lustige Witwe), with its English adaptation by Basil Hood opening in London in June 1907, where it ran for 778 performances, followed by a UK tour.
Mabel Russell was a noted actor during the pre-war World War One period, however, in 1923 she commenced a second career as a politician, becoming the MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed. She was only the third woman to become a member of Parliament since it became legal to do so in 1918.
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.
Set in Paris in 1905, The Merry Widow is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár and concerns a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband.
This operetta has had popular success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna (title – Die Lustige Witwe), with its English adaptation by Basil Hood opening in London in June 1907, where it ran for 778 performances, followed by a UK tour.
Mabel Russell was a noted actor during the pre-war World War One period, however, in 1923 she commenced a second career as a politician, becoming the MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed. She was only the third woman to become a member of Parliament since it became legal to do so in 1918.
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
