Winifred Beech - Postcard, 1910
Title
Winifred Beech - Postcard, 1910
Date
12 December 1910
Description
Promotional postcard of Winifred Beech, starring as Sylvia in Gaston Mayer's 1910 touring production of The Brass Bottle.
What's the story?
Winifred Beech starred as Sylvia in the play The Brass Bottle at the Theatre Royal from 12 to 17 December 1910.
The Brass Bottle is a comedy play, adapted from the 1900 comedy novel by F. Anstey about a man who awakens a genie from a magic bottle. The story was remade into a 1964 film, which in turn inspired the popular American sit-com, I Dream of Jeannie.
The Nottingham Journal posted a positive review of the show on 13 December 1910 …
“ ‘ The Brass Bottle’ proved to be a most amusing farce, and gave a rollicking time to a considerable audience at the Theatre Royal last night … ‘The Brass Bottle’ is quite in keeping with the spirit of the rapidly approaching festive season, and should greatly assist the gaiety of Nottingham during the week”
Winifred Beech later became Winifred, Lady Fortescue, having married historian Sir John Fortescue in 1914. She gave up her stage career and became an interior decorator, dress designer and later a writer.
As well as her autograph on this postcard, Beech leaves a very personalised message, stating that this is her “second happy visit to Nottingham”.
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 Brass Bottle is a comedy play, adapted from the 1900 comedy novel by F. Anstey about a man who awakens a genie from a magic bottle. The story was remade into a 1964 film, which in turn inspired the popular American sit-com, I Dream of Jeannie.
The Nottingham Journal posted a positive review of the show on 13 December 1910 …
“ ‘ The Brass Bottle’ proved to be a most amusing farce, and gave a rollicking time to a considerable audience at the Theatre Royal last night … ‘The Brass Bottle’ is quite in keeping with the spirit of the rapidly approaching festive season, and should greatly assist the gaiety of Nottingham during the week”
Winifred Beech later became Winifred, Lady Fortescue, having married historian Sir John Fortescue in 1914. She gave up her stage career and became an interior decorator, dress designer and later a writer.
As well as her autograph on this postcard, Beech leaves a very personalised message, stating that this is her “second happy visit to Nottingham”.
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
