C20th Julie Andrews - rise to fame

JULIE ANDREWS

a selling exhibition of her stage career

Part 2: The 1950's

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Feb 1950:

During the early 1950s Julie Andrews was in great demand on the variety circuit. She joined a bill which included Elsie and Doris Waters (radio's "Gert and Daisy") at the Forum Cinema in Jersey for a week from February 20th 1950.

May 1950:

Julie Andrews appeared with Ted & Barbara in variety in Peterborough, at the Embassy Theatre, during the week starting May 15th 1950. The bill was headed by the Western Brothers, and act whose path would cross Julie's many times in the coming months.

July 1950:

Julie Andrews continued with her work on the variety circuit, appearing at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth between July 3rd and 5th 1950. She shared the bill with Jack Train and Kay Cavendish in one of Harold Fielding's "Music For the Millions" variety shows which toured Britain in the 50's. The programme included a small picture of Julie playing with her toys, stressing her youth, despite the fact that she was already a teenager.

August 1950:

Julie Andrews was one of Harold Fielding's regularly featured performers. She appeared at the Winter Gardens in Margate for a week from July 17th, and then at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth again on August 21st, 22nd and 23rd, this time sharing the bill with the Western Brothers and Enso Toppano.

October 1950:

Julie shared the bill with the Western Brothers once more at the Belle Vue, Manchester on October 5th 1950 when they starred in a charity concert which also featured Charmian Innes, Bill Kerr, Robert Moreton, Tom Jenkins, Philip Slessor and the Clayton Aniline Works Band!

	December 1950: For the 1950-51 season, Julie Andrews again took the title role in a pantomime, "Red Riding Hood" at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. The show opened on 23rd Dec, running until 10th March 1951 and also starred the great British comedian Tony Hancock.

April 1951:

From April 9th Julie Andrews appeared in the Channel Islands, in a six-day variety show at the Forum Cinema in St.Helier, Jersey. This is the latest (known) date on which the act appeared as a trio. It appears that from about this time Julie starting working exclusively as a solo act, albeit often accompanied by Barbara at the piano. In Jersey she shared the bill with Richard Murdoch.

May 1951:

Another week of variety, accompanied by her Mother at the piano, at the Garrick Theatre in Southport.

June 1951:

Julie was working hard; billed as "The Phenomenal Singing Star" in another variety show at the Manchester Hippodrome, playing one week from June 11th. Albert Modley of "Variety Bandbox" was the star.

July 1951:

		Andrews, accompanied by her mother at the piano, appeared at the bottom of the bill on 15th July, a one-off Sunday evening of variety at the Shanklin Theatre on the Isle of Wight. Stars were Richard Murdoch, who she had worked with before, and Kenneth Horne, both stars of the radio show "Much-Binding-In-The-Marsh".

July 1951:

Julie Andrews followed her appearance at Shanklin in the South of England with a week of variety in the North, at the Winter Gardens in Morecambe. Albert Modley was again star of the show, while Julie, "The Phenomenal Singing Star", was tenth on the bill, accompanied by her mother. The show ran a week from 30th July.

Sept 1951:

On September 30th, 1951, Julie joined an array of stars at the Croydon Empire for a charity event in aid of an organisation which funded Boys' Clubs. Diana Dors, Jack Warner, Tommy Trinder, Winifred Atwell and Ralph Reader and many others were booked to appear.

October 1951:

		"Highlights of Radio" was a variety Show at the Liverpool Empire during the week of October 8th 1951. Max Wall was the star, appearing on the bill in two spots, and the popular male vocal group, "The Radio Revellers" were also featured. Julie was tenth on the bill, billed as "Juvenile Singing Star", and was accompanied by Barbara.

"Highlights of Radio" closed in Liverpool on 13th October, yet the very next night, Sun 14th, Julie and Barbara were back in London performing in the "All Star Gala Show" in aid of the Jamaica Hurricane Relief Fund at the Whitehall Theatre. Julie was joined on the bill by Max Wall, Muriel Smith, Betty Marsden, Beatrice Lillie, Adelaide Hall, and many other stars.

Autumn 1951:

"Educating Archie" was a popular radio-show of the period, built around ventriloquist Peter Brough and Archie Andrews, his cheeky schoolboy "doll". The Gaumont Theatre in Southampton hosted a week of variety from November 12th 1951, featuring many of the Archie Andrews cast live on stage: Peter Brough headlined, with Julie Andrews, Tony Hancock, harmonica virtuoso Ronald Chesney and the Tanner Sisters. Julie had appeared in a very similar show in Belfast, during the week of 22nd October, but was not featured in all the "Archie" stage shows.

December 1951:


	Back to the London Casino, for another panto, this time playing Princess Balroulbadour in "Aladdin". This rare illustrated brochure was produced for the traditional charity preview, on Tues 18th December, 1951, when Queen Mary was in attendance.


	The show opened to the public on 19th December, and ran for 103 performances, closing on 23rd Feb 1952. Nat Jackley played Widow Twankey and Jean Carson was Aladdin, with Julie getting third billing - quite a contrast from her previous Casino pantomime.

Public interest in panto tends to drop off rapidly after New Year, but Aladdin producer Emile Littler pulled a masterstroke on 2nd Feb, putting Julie on the cover of a booklet of "Julie Andrews' Eleven Favourite Nursery Rhymes" which was given free to readers of Woman's Companion magazine. Although it does not mention Aladdin, we can be pretty sure that the magazine itself informed Mothers that Julie could be seen on stage for another month !

Spring 1952:

After "Aladdin", Julie Andrews toured the provinces with "Look In", the second of her three British revues. Produced by Charles L. Tucker, it starred Alfred Marks, Naunton Wayne, Ossie Noble, Paddie O'Neill and Julie Andrews and was first seen at the Swindon Empire on 17th March 1952, although it was then called "Listen In". The title was changed the following week when the show opened on 24th March at the Theatre Royal in Portsmouth. "Listen In" was a phrase relating to the radio years, and the more modern "Look In" was clearly felt to be more contemporary. Few Brits owned a television before 1953 - note the TV imagery on the flyer for the revue.

Julie had a solo spot in the first half and participated in two numbers, "Fiesta" and "Repeat Performance" with the company, as well as in the finale. Initially announced for an eight month season, we don't know all the dates for the "Look In" tour. It played at the Nottingham Empire from 7th April, and was also seen in Blackpool and the Bristol Hippodrome that month. It was at the New Theatre in Cardiff from 5th May, and one of the Sherman Fisher Girls remembers playing on the beach with Julie in Swansea, so the show apparently ran until the weather was at least tolerably warm. By the end of May Alfred Marks had alternative employment, so "Look-In" has probably folded well in advance of initial expectations. We'd welcome information from anyone with programmes for dates not mentioned here.

May 1952:

On Sunday May 11th Julie Andrews joined Barbara and Ted in a one-night-only charity Variety show at the Victoria Palace, one of the top venues in London. "Calling All Ages" was organised by the Rats Revel Society and also featured a young Joan Collins as well as Norman Wisdom, Sophie Tucker and many other stars.

June 1952:

On 14th (or 21st?) June 1952, Julie was star guest at a fete organised by the Coulsdon & Purley Round Table, to raise funds for Reedham School. This was a surprisingly low key event, so we wonder whether Julie had some connection with the charity? On the other hand, perhaps the early close of "Look-In" had left Julie with an empty diary?

June 1952:

"Night Life", was the umbrella title for a series of twice-nightly variety shows at the Chiswick Empire in West London during the Summer Season of 1952. The concept was to create a West End Cabaret atmosphere in suburban Chiswick, with top acts taking the stage, introduced by host George Elrick. Julie Andrews was announced to appear in the first week of the experiment, starting 30th June 1952, and her name appears in the programme, still billed as "The Singing Star from Radio's "Educating Archie", and sharing the star spot with Alfred Marks from "Look In". However, although Marks did appear, a reviewer noted that Julie did not, being replaced (on opening night at least) by Kay Cavendish. It is not known whether Andrews took her rightful place later in the week.

August 1952:

Another of Harold Fielding's "Music For the Millions" variety shows, Julie Andrews billed as "Britain's Youngest Singing Star". She appeared in the penultimate spot on the bill during a two night stop at the Bath Pavilion on August 8th and 9th. Michael Bentine (of the radio show "The Goons") closed the first half, while Peter Cavanagh topped the bill. We'd welcome any information about other Fielding dates.

September 1952:

By September 6th Julie was still touring with Harold Fielding, but with a different line-up. At the Pier Pavilion in Llandudno, North Wales, she was sharing the bill with Max Bygraves, then a rising young comedian. Also appearing were Tommy Fields, Canfield Smith (an American ventriloquist) and puppeteers Paul and Peta Page. Later in the month, on 25th September, Julie appeared in variety at the Alma Theatre in Luton, sharing the bill with Terry Scott.

December 1952:

		Another year, another panto ! Opening on 23rd Dec 1952, the Coventry Hippodrome pantomime, "Jack and the Beanstalk", featured Julie as Princess Bettina. Julie Andrews co-starred with comedian Norman Wisdom and Eddie Henderson (in drag as Jack's mother). From her wages Julie bought her first car, a 1948 Hillman Minx, which she called "Bettina" !

February 1953:

Whilst appearing in "Jack and the Beanstalk" at the Coventry Hippodrome, both Andrews and co-star Norman Wisdom joined other artistes to perform a benefit performance at the Birmingham Hippodrome in aid of those affected by recent floods on the East Coast. For this one-night-only concert on Feb 22nd, she sang at the piano accompanied by her mother.

April/May 1953:

On 6th April Julie Andrews appeared at the New Royal in Bournemouth in a variety show with Max Wall and Freddie Frinton. On Saturday May 2nd she was at the Winter Garden in Margate for a one-off concert, but during the week commencing May 11th, she was back on a bill with Max and Freddie at the Empire Theatre in Kingston. As almost all of the others on this variety bill would appear together throughout the coming Summer, it is likely that this was, in effect, the birth of the revue, "Cap and Belles". It would be interesting to see a programme, to establish whether the numbers were indeed the same as would be performed in the revue.

Summer 1953:

"Cap and Belles" a "laugh, song and dance show", was Julie Andrews' third revue, the title a twist on the "cap and bells" worn by medieval jesters. The British physical comedian Max Wall starred and wrote both music and lyrics, with Julie billed as "Britain's Youngest Prima Donna". The cast also included Freddie Frinton, Joan Mann and the Hedley Ward Trio. The details of the show changed during the tour, but Julie always had two solo spots in the show, first performing, "My Heart is Singing", and then later assisted by the "Les Belles of the Ballet". The show toured for almost six months from its May 25th opening until it closed around 7th November, playing in many towns across the UK.

Known dates are as follows: Nottingham Empire (from 25/5); Bristol Hippodrome (8/6); Hull Palace (15/6); Sheffield Empire (22/6); Bradford Alhambra (29/6); Southport Garrick (6/7); Leeds Empire (13/7); Swansea Empire (20/7); Brighton Hippodrome (27/7); Portsmouth Royal (3/8); Derby Hippodrome (10/8); Manchester Hippodrome (17/8); Cardiff New (7/9); Birmingham Hippodrome (14/9); Chiswick Empire (21/9); Finsbury Park Empire (21/9); Blackpool palace (12/10); Newcastle Empire (19/10); Edinburgh Empire (26/10); Glasgow Empire (2/11). A gruelling schedule indeed. Please let us know if you can confirm any other dates on this tour.

December 1953:

Julie Andrews was back in her stride. Her Coventry panto had been well received and she was invited to the London Palladium to play the title role in "Cinderella, for the 1953/4 season. The script was written by a young team, including a then virtually unknown Spike Milligan.

The panto opened on 24th December and ran for 122 performances, closing on 6th March 1954. Julie was reunited with some old friends, Joan Mann of "Cap & Belles", and Richard Hearne from "Humpty Dumpty".

At least three variations are known of the flyer for the show, of which the rarest is the gatefold version shown at left.

To read some reviews of "Cinderella", including rare images of Julie Andrews on stage in the show, click the button on the left

April 1954:

It was announced in early April that Julie Andrews would make her cabaret debut "over Easter" at the new Café Dansant in the seaside resort of Cleethorpes. Good Friday fell on April 16th that year, and we'd love to see a programme. A more unlikely location for the cabaret debut of a future star it is hard to imagine.

May 1954:
Julie Andrews' first dramatic role was as the character Becky Dunbar in the UK tour of the new "play with music" by Howard Richardson & William Berney, "Mountain Fire". Julie sang three songs, "Blue Mountain Girl", "Lullaby to an Unborn Child" and "There's Time Enough", plus a duet with Jerry Wayne. Music was by Stefan de Haan. The show had its world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool one day later than initially planned, on Tuesday May 18th 1954. After a week it transferred to the Grand Theatre in Leeds for one week from May 24th, then to Bournemouth from 31st May, and finally a week at the Birmingham Theatre Royal, starting on June 7th.

SOLD

"Mountain Fire" was planned to open at the Strand Theatre in London on 16th June, but having received dreadful reviews throughout the tour, it was decided that a West End run would be too risky. It never came to London, although a flyer with Julie's photo on the back (left) and poster (right) were produced. Of course, had "Mountain Fire" been a hit, Andrews may not have been available to make her American debut !...

September 1954:

Julie Andrews hits Broadway ! She made the critics sit up and take notice when she opened in New York on 30th Sept at the Royale Theatre in Sandy Wilson's musical, "The Boy Friend". The show ran for 485 performances, though Andrews stayed in the cast for just a year. Her name on the title page of the playbill became significantly larger soon into the run !

Feb 1956 - August 1959:

"My Fair Lady"

With long runs in both New York and London, we have created a separate page with lots of memorabilia, dates and information.

Please click on either of these images to view the "My Fair Lady" page.

Jan 1957:

With "My Fair Lady" such a huge hit, it is no surprise that Julie Andrews was among the stars invited to appear in "Command Performance", the show produced at the First Night Ball as a "Serenade to the White House" and performed at the Waldorf Astoria on 27th Jan 1957. The show took the form of a series of twelve musical highlights, one for each of the administrations from 1890 to 1956. Among the stars were Lena Horne, Ethel Merman, Steve Allen, Rex Harrison, Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Sid Caesar, Bert Lahr and Judy Holliday. Andrews performed Rogers & Hart songs, typical of the Herbert Hoover era.

Nov 1958:

On Monday November 3rd, Julie appeared in her second of the annual Royal Variety shows, this time at the Coliseum Theatre. The cast of "My Fair Lady", including Andrews, Harrison and Stanley Holloway played some scenes in front of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. The company topped a bill which also included Eartha Kitt, Pat Boone, Tony Hancock and The Beverley Sisters.

Nov 1958:

Two weeks later, on November 16th, the Gallery First-Nighters' Club held a dinner to pay tribute to "My Fair Lady". The cover of the menu has a cartoon of Julie Andrews with Rex Harrison and Stanley Holloway. The show was toasted by the members, with Andrews and Holloway giving the response.

May 1959:

Perhaps the rarest of all Julie Andrews' programmes, this one was for a one-performance-only event, with just a small invited audience ! On 10th May 1959 Julie Elizabeth Andrews married Anthony John Walton (Tony Walton, theatre designer), at St Mary's Church at Oatlands,Walton-on-Thames. The couple honeymooned in Los Angeles.

Dec 1959:

On December 2nd 1959, the Malpasset Dam collapsed, causing a major flood in the town of Frejus, in Southern France, killing 420 people. On December 15th a Midnight Gala at the Lyric Theatre in London raised money for those affected, with many West End and American stars giving their services to the effort. Julie Andrews was introduced by Ralph Richardson. Others taking part included Vivien Leigh, Jayne Mansfield, Charlton Heston and Elisabeth Welch.

continue to the 1960's

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