NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Gracie Fields

Dame Gracie Fields, DBE (January 9, 1898–September 27, 1979), born Grace Stansfield, was an English/Italian singer and comedienne who became one of the greatest stars of both cinema and music hall. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Stage Door Canteen is a 1943 film. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Rochdale (disambiguation). ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Capri (Italian pronunciation CÃ¡pri, usual English pronunciation CaprÃ) is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... A comedian (also comedienne, female) is a person who attempts to make people laugh through a variety of methods, normally through joke telling. ... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ...

Early life

Born over a fish and chip shop owned by her grandmother in Molesworh Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, she made her first stage appearance as a child in 1905. Her two sisters, Edith and Betty, and brother, Tommy, all went on to appear on stage, but Gracie was the most successful. Her professional debut in variety took place at the Rochdale Hippodrome theatre in 1910 and she soon gave up her job in the local cotton mill. Fish and chips in modern packaging Fish and chips or fish n chips, is a popular British take-away food, which consists of deep-fried fish in batter or breadcrumbs with deep-fried potatoes, traditionally sold wrapped in newspaper. ... For other uses, see Rochdale (disambiguation). ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... A variety show is a show with a variety of acts, often including music and comedy skits, especially on television. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

She met comedian Archie Pitt and they began working together. Pitt would come to serve as her manager and the two married in 1923. Their first revue in 1915 was called Yes I think so and the two continued to tour Britain together until 1922 in the revue Mr Tower of London.

Fame

Fields came to major public notice when Mr Tower of London came to the West End. Her career rapidly accelerated from this point with straight dramatic performances and the beginning of a recording career. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

One of her most successful productions was at the Alhambra Theatre in 1925. The show, booked by Sir Oswald Stoll, was a major success and toured for ten years. She made the first of ten appearances in Royal Variety Performances in 1928, gaining a devoted following with a mixture of self-deprecating jokes, comic songs and monologues, as well as cheerful "depression-era" songs all presented in a "no-airs-and-graces" northern, working class style. Fields had a great rapport with her audience, which helped her become one of Britain's highest paid performers, playing to sold out theatres across the country. The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held in the United Kingdom once each year, and often in a theatre in Londons West End although it is increasingly being held outside of London. ... A monologue, pronounced monolog, is a speech made by one person speaking his or her thoughts aloud or directly addressing a reader, audience, or character. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The north, the midlands and the south Northern England, The North or North of England is a rather ill-defined term, with no universally accepted definition. ... The term working class is used to denote a social class. ...

Her most famous song, which became her theme, "Sally," was worked into the title of her first cinema film, Sally in Our Alley (1931), which was a major box office hit. She went on to make several films initially in Britain and later in the United States (for which she was paid a record fee of US$200,000 for four films), despite never enjoying the process of performing without a live audience. The term box office can refer to either: A place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to a venue The amount of business a particular production, such as a movie or theatre show, does. ...

Ironically, the final few lines of the song 'Sally' were writted by her husband's mistress, and Gracie sang this song at nearly every performance she made from 1931 onwards.

Charity work

The late 1930s saw her popularity peak and she was given many honours: the Order of Officer Sister of St. John of Jerusalem (for charity work), the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) (for services to entertainment) in 1938, and the Freedom of the Borough of Rochdale. This page deals with the order after its revival in the 19th century. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...

She donated her house, "Tower," (NOT 'The Towers' or 'The Tower') in London's The Bishop's Avenue (which she had not much cared for and which she had shared with her husband Archie Pitt, and also his mistress) to a maternity hospital after the marriage broke down. At the time, she was seeing Irish painter John Flanagan, who she later said that he was the only other person apart from Boris who she loved. The Bishops Avenue London, N2 in the London Borough of Barnet is one of Londons most exclusive residential thoroughfares. ...

In 1939, however, she became seriously ill with cervical cancer. The public sent over 250,000 goodwill messages and she retired to her villa on Capri to recover. After she recovered, she recorded a very special 78 record simply called 'Gracie's Thanks' in which she thanks the public for the many cards and letters she received whilst in hospital, and she also sings a new track called 'I Love The Moon.' Her voice never falters. -She recorded this song only twice more. Once in a live broadcast and once on her final album 'The Golden Years.' Cervical cancer is a malignant cancer of the cervix. ... Capri (Italian pronunciation CÃ¡pri, usual English pronunciation CaprÃ) is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula. ...

World War II

World War II was declared whilst she was recovering and Fields travelled to France to entertain the troops. In 1940 she married film director Monty Banks, following her divorce from Pitt. However because Banks remained an Italian citizen and would have been interned in the United Kingdom, she was forced to leave Britain for North America during the war. Although she continued to spend much of her time entertaining troops and otherwise supporting the war effort outside Britain, this led to a fall-off in her popularity at home where she was portrayed by the press as a traitor and deserter. Nevertheless, she performed many times for Allied troops, travelling as far as the islands of New Guinea, where she received an enthusiastic response from Australian personnel.[1] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... â€œRAFâ€ redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... Monty Banks (July 18, 1897 - January 7, 1950) was a French comedian and film director. ... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ...

Post-war

After the war, Fields continued her career on a less active basis. She began performing in Britain again in 1948 and starred at the 1951 Festival of Britain celebrations. She proved popular once more, without ever regaining the status she achieved in the 1930s. She continued recording, but made no more films, moving more towards light classical music as popular tastes changed. The Festival of Britain emblem, designed by Abram Games, from the cover of the South Bank Exhibition Guide, 1951 The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition which opened in London and around Britain in May 1951. ...

Although there is some doubt that her British citizenship was ever re-granted after the war [2](she lost it due to her marriage), she did a great deal of charity work, and established a permanent home on the Isle of Capri, Italy. Monty Banks died in 1950. Fields was married again, to Boris Alperovici, two years later. After that she began to work even less but still sold out theatres even into her seventies. Capri (Italian pronunciation CÃ¡pri, usual English pronunciation CaprÃ) is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula. ...

In 1978, she opened the Gracie Fields Theatre in Rochdale, Lancashire, it is located next to Oulder Hill Community School She made a final appearance at the Royal Variety Show at the age of 80; it was her last performance. In February 1979 she was created a Dame Commander of the British Empire seven months before her death at her home on Capri, aged 81. She is buried in the non-Catholic cemetery on Capri. For other uses, see Rochdale (disambiguation). ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... Oulder Hill Community School High School is a mixed gender comprehensive community school secondary school and sixth form for 11 - 18 year olds, located in Rochdale in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Lancashire, England. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in decreasing order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand...

Famous songs

Now Is The Hour is a popular song adapted from a traditional MÄori song. ... Isle of Capri is a popular song. ...

Filmography

// Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff Ingagi, starring Sir Hubert Winstead Mata Hari, starring Greta Garbo and Lionel Barrymore City Lights starring Charles Chaplin Best Picture: Cimarron - MGM Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore - A Free Soul Best Actor: Wallace Beery - The Champ Best Actor: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. ... See also: 1931 in film 1932 1933 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events Shirley Temples film career begins Disney released Flowers and Trees their first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film. ... See also: 1932 in film 1933 1934 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events British Film Institute founded. ... See also: 1932 in film 1933 1934 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events British Film Institute founded. ... Love, Life and Laughter is a 1923 British film, written and directed by George Pearson. ... See also: 1933 in film 1934 1935 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn (of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) finally purchased the film rights to The Wizard of Oz from Frank J. Baum for $40,000. ... Bitish musical film (1934) starring Gracie Fields, Stanley Holloway Script: Gordon Wellesley, J.B. Priestley Director: Basil Dean Considered by many to be British music hall star, Gracie Fields, finest vehicle, this film was written for her by leading novelist J.B. Priestley. ... See also: 1934 in film 1935 1936 in film 1930s in film years in film film Events Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). ... See also: 1935 in film 1936 1937 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events January 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon September 28 - The Marx Brothers Harpo Marx marries actress Susan Fleming Top grossing films in North America Red River Valley Academy Awards Best Picture: The Great... See also: 1936 in film 1937 category:1937 films 1938 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events April 16 - Way Out West premieres in the US. May 7 - Shall We Dance premieres in the US. Top grossing films Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Conquest Damaged Lives... See also: 1937 in film 1937 1939 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events January â€” MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of Dorothy in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. ... See also: 1937 in film 1937 1939 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events January â€” MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of Dorothy in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. ... The year 1939 in film involved some significant events. ... The year 1943 in film involved some significant events. ... Stage Door Canteen is a 1943 film. ... The year 1943 in film involved some significant events. ... Holy Matrimony is a 1943 comedy film directed by John M. Stahl and released by 20th Century Fox. ... // Paramount Studios releases theatrical short cartoon titled The Friendly Ghost, featuring ghost named Casper With Rossellinis Roma CittÃ aperta, Italian neorealist cinema begins. ... // Paramount Studios releases theatrical short cartoon titled The Friendly Ghost, featuring ghost named Casper With Rossellinis Roma CittÃ aperta, Italian neorealist cinema begins. ... Paris Art Nouveau Metro sign The Paris Métro is the metro (underground) system in Paris, France. ...

Key Facts and Notes

References

Footnotes

Categories: 1898 births | 1979 deaths | Capri | Comedy musicians | Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire | English actors | English comedians | English female singers | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Music hall performers | People from Rochdale Arthur Askey (June 6, 1900 - November 16, 1982) was a prominent British comedian. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... A comedian (also comedienne, female) is a person who attempts to make people laugh through a variety of methods, normally through joke telling. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Rochdale (disambiguation). ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Capri (Italian pronunciation CÃ¡pri, usual English pronunciation CaprÃ) is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula. ...

Contents

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