The history of the Players' is a microcosm of British theatrical history, and many famous names have appeared on its stage. At its conception in 1936, the Players' was intended as a club, covering many aspects of theatrical entertainment. The founders, Leonard Sachs and Peter Ridgeway, acquired premises from Dorita Curtis Hayward, on the top floor of 43 Kings Street, Covent Garden, in premises which from the 1870s onwards had been one of the first music halls managed by the well known W. G. Evans. He had acquired the premises from a Mr. Joy and it becames knows as Evans's late Joy's. Leonard Sachs (born 26 September 1909 in Roodeport, Transvaal, died 15 June 1990) was a British actor. ... Covent Garden is a shopping and entertainment complex in central London. ... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ...

Messrs. Ridgeway and Sachs rapidly established the Players' as a notable 'little theatre'. In 1937, seeking a Christmas show, they were persuaded to present an evening of Music Hall entertainment recreating as far as possible a night at 'Evans's'. This was the very first programme of early Victorian delights, offered under the title 'Ridgeway's Late Joys'. The show was an instant success, the original cast including Patricia Hayes, Meg Jenkins, Richard Hayden and Harold Scott. The Late Joys was a play on the original premises name as the shows then began very late (around 11.00pm) mainly because it allowed both members and performers, of whom many were on the stage, to get there for the start after their own performances. 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ... Patricia Lawlor Hayes (December 22, 1909 - September 19, 2002 (1998?)) was a British comedy actress. ...

Within a few months, subsequent editions had persuaded Ridgeway and Sachs that Music Hall was the club's future. Peter Ridgeway died shortly afterwards of TB, at the age of 34. Leonard Sachs continued on his own, his gift for discovering new talent being a major factor in his success. Among the new recruits came Robert Eddison, Bernard Miles, Alec Clunes, and Frith Banbury and Peter Ustinov (auditioning at 11 am, onstage by 11 pm) in his professional debut. Apart from attracting gifted artists and musicians as performers, two artists destined to become famous in their own right added their talents to the mix. Rex Whistler designed sets and scenery, whilst Felix Topolski did much to decorate the theatre with his wonderful draughtsmanship. A Rex Whistler backcloth is situated on the wall at the side of the stairs leading to the auditorium in the final Players' Theatre that was underneath the railway arches of Charing Cross. Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ... Lord Miles of Blackfriars, born Bernard James Miles (27 September 1907 - 14 June 1991) was an English character actor. ... Alec Clunes was the actor father of Martin Clunes(Men Behaving Badly). ... Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (born Peter Alexander von Ustinov) (April 16, 1921 – March 29, 2004) was a British-born and raised actor, writer, dramatist and raconteur. ... Rex Whistler (1905 - 1944) was an artist who came to public attention in 1925 when at the age of twenty he painted the mural in the Tate Gallery restaurant in London. ...

The Players' was recognised by public and critics as 'The most original entertainment in London'. It was even endorsed as one of the clubs to which the subalterns of the Household Brigade were permitted to belong. The Churchill family were great supporters - Sarah Churchill helping as a programme seller. Sir Maurice and Lady Violet Bonham-Carter, together with their son, Mark, are to be found amongst the early membership, which included many leading members of London society. The club flourished, offering performances every night at 11.00 pm and at 2.00 am on at least two evenings per week! St. ... Churchill redirects here. ...

Leonard Sachs continued to recruit clever artistes. The scions of well-known Edwardian theatrical families (including Huntley Wright, Sterndale Bennett, and later J. N. Maskelyne), added an inherited touch of authenticity to the proceedings. Later still, some of the performers from that earlier age returned to the music-hall stage via The Players' - including Ada Reeve, Ruby Millar, Albert Whelan and Billy Merson, (who acted as Chairman). Sir William Sterndale Bennett (April 13, 1816 - February 1, 1875) was an English musical composer. ...

The outbreak the second World War in 1939 inevitably caused serious problems. The Players' premises, on the top floor of an old building with a glass roof and a hydraulic lift, were not an ideal venue during an air-raid. Eventually, after two short-term arrangements (including a number of performances in a member's drawing-room in St. John's Wood), the Players' found a refuge in Albemarle Street in the former El Morocco Night Club. T his was in a basement in one of the few concrete buildings in London. Thanks to this good fortune, the Players' (along with The Windmill) 'never closed' throughout the War.

Leonard Sachs was called up for military service and (riding in a taxi to Waterloo to join his troop train) he made over the Players' Theatre Club to Jean Anderson, already an established actress and Players' artiste. Jean contrived to keep the Club open and solvent for the next five years, before going on to a very distinguished career both on stage and on television in series such as 'Tenko' and 'The Brothers'. Under her management, the Players' became a haven for Londoners suffering the Blitz, as well as a home from home for many of the allied forces also living in London.

Americans, Australians, Canadians, Czechs, Danes, Dutch, the Free French, Indians, New Zealanders, Norwegians, Poles, Rhodesians, South Africans - all were to be found among the Players' audience. Indeed, to this day, every Players' audience usually contains a number of 'visitors from abroad' who are duly greeted and teased. In addition, nearly every Sunday saw a contingent of Players' artistes entertain in hospitals, at gun-sites and searchlight emplacements. James Robertson Justice made his debut as Chairman and launched his film career at this time. James Robertson Justice (15 June 1905 - 2 July 1975) was a popular character actor in British films of the 1950s and 1960s. ...

With the end of the War, Leonard Sachs returned to take up the reins again and was immediately obliged to seek yet another location. Having rented a small flat in Craven Street, he was looking out of a rear window one day at the brick face of the Hungerford Arches under Charing Cross Station, when he faintly discerned the legend "Forum Cinema". Sending Bill Draper, the Stage Carpenter, round to investigate, they found that this 'arch and a half' had indeed been a theatre from 1910 onwards. The name Charing Cross, now given to a district of central London in the City of Westminster, comes from the original hamlet of Charing, where King Edward I of England placed a memorial to his wife, Eleanor of Castile. ... 1910 in topic: Arts Architecture- Art- Film- Literature- Music- Television Science and technology Aviation- Rail transport- Science Other topics Australia- Canada- Ireland- South Africa- Sport Births- Deaths Lists of leaders: State leaders - Religious leaders 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

During the War, it had been turned into storage for the Army Corps of Cinematography. Of greater importance, was the discovery that this arch had originally been in the music hall created by the Gatti Brothers. The Gattis had owned two music-halls, Gattis' 'Underneath the Arches' in Villiers Street and Gattis' 'The Road' in Westminster Bridge Road. The building in Villiers Street had been known as the Hungerford Music Hall, dating back to 1865. Although this provenance was very exciting, the building had been very neglected and lacked any theatre fittings or equipment. 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Enquiries at the War Office put Leonard in touch with a sympathetic Senior Officer who remembered the Players' company's visits to the sites and camps. Orders were given, and the building was released within a matter of days. Players' members and artistes rallied round and, incredibly, the building was open for business within three weeks. For a time, the Membership lists over-subscribed, as the Club went from strength to strength. New talent was discovered or returned to theatrical life.

Hattie Jacques, Bill Owen, Ian Carmichael, Clive Dunn, Ian Wallace and John Hewer appeared regularly on the bill. They provided a strong lead to the brilliant newcomers joining the company - Daphne Anderson, Patsy Rowlands, Maggie Smith, Marian Studholme, Marion Grimaldi, and Margaret Burton being but a few. Josephine Edwina Jacques (February 7, 1922 - October 6, 1980), better known by the stage name Hattie Jacques, was a comedy actress. ... Bill Rowbotham (March 14, 1914 - July 12, 1999), better known as Bill Owen, was a British actor and songwriter. ... Ian Carmichael as Lord Peter Wimsey Ian Carmichael OBE (b. ... Clive Dunn (born January 9, 1920) is a British actor, best known for his role as Lance-Corporal Jones in the BBC sitcom, Dads Army. Born in London, a cousin of actress Gretchen Franklin, Dunn played small film roles from the 1930s onwards, but it was in television comedy... Ian Wallace can refer to the following people: Ian Wallace (author) - science fiction author Ian Wallace (illustrator) - illustrator of childrens books Ian Wallace (drummer) - drummer with King Crimson, Bob Dylan, and many others Ian Wallace (singer) - singer and contestant on My Music Ian Wallace (footballer) - Scottish international footballer Ian... Patsy Rowlands (born 19 January 1934, died 22 January 2005) was a British actress. ... Dame Maggie Smith in Gosford Park Dame Margaret Natalie Smith Cross, DBE, (born December 28, 1934 in Ilford, Essex), better known as Maggie Smith, is a British film, stage, and television actress. ... Margaret Elizabeth Burton was an American missionary who traveled to China and Japan in 1909. ...

Leonard was asked to present a similar show at the Festival Gardens, for the Festival of Britain. So favourable was the response, that the great theatre chain of the time, Moss Empires, invited Sachs to undertake a long tour of all the major variety theatres in the United Kingdom. This triggered the interest of BBC Leeds, and in due course "The Good Old Days" reached BBC television. Originally only a few programmes went out, and Don Gemmel (Leonard's successor as Director of the Players') was Chairman. Such was public acclaim, that the show was scheduled for first four, then thirteen, then twenty-six weekly editions. It remained a part of the BBC light entertainment for 32 years and was frequently to be found in the 'top ten' in terms of ratings. The Good Old Days was a popular BBC television light entertainment television programme, which had an exceptionally long run, from 1953 to 1983. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was formed in 1927 by means of a royal charter. ...

In 1954, The Players' commissioned a short 'end-piece' designed to fill the third part of the usual Players' evening. The author and composer was Sandy Wilson - the work he provided was 'The Boy Friend'. From its first appearance, barely forty-five minutes long, the merit and charm of the piece was self-evident. After a triumphant four-week run, Sandy was asked to expand the piece. The full-length version again earned immense acclamation, but West End Management would not offer the play a transfer. 1954 was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sandy Wilson (born May 19, 1924) is a British composer and lyricist, best known for his musical, The Boyfriend (1954). ... The Boyfriend (or The Boy Friend) is a musical by Sandy Wilson, first performed in the West End in 1954. ...

Courageously, Don Gemmel, Gervase Farjohn and Reginald Woolley arranged a short Christmas season at Swiss Cottage's Embassy Theatre. Once again, audience and critics were in total accord, and on the morning the reviews appeared, 'The Boy Friend' was offered five or six West End theatres. It eventually transferred to the Wyndhams Theatre, where it played to more than 95% capacity for five years, and made a star of Julie Andrews in New York. The Boyfriend (or The Boy Friend) is a musical by Sandy Wilson, first performed in the West End in 1954. ... Julie Andrews as Maria, with the Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki (R) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ...

More recently, on the occasion of the Players' Diamond Jubilee in 1996, Sir Peter Ustinov was installed as Honorary President in front of a capacity audience. Many members of the Royal Family to have passed through our doors including Prince Charles, Prince Phillip, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (born Peter Alexander von Ustinov) (April 16, 1921 – March 29, 2004) was a British-born and raised actor, writer, dramatist and raconteur. ... Prince Charles may refer to: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, current heir-apparent to the British throne Any of the previous British royals named Charles, Prince of Wales The former Belgian regent, Prince Charles of Belgium This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might... HRH The Duke of Edinburgh His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark), styled HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (born 10 June 1921), is the consort of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... Princess Anne may refer to more than one person: Anne, Princess Royal (born 15 August 1950), daughter of Elizabeth II of the UK Anne, Princess of Orange (1709‑1759), daughter of George II of Great Britain Anne (1637‑1759), daughter of Charles I of England Princess Anne may refer to... HRH The Earl of Wessex His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (Edward Antony Richard Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Earl of Wessex (born March 10, 1964), is a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title...

The Members of the Players Theatre Club, almost as well rehearsed as the cast, would join in with the performances, answering the Chairman and singing along with some of the most famous songs in Music Hall. These could be be supplemented by any one of the some 30,000 lesser-known songs from the vast archive.

The Players' was unique, however, in more ways than one. Although, essentially a members' theatre, the restrictive licensing laws of yesteryear were relaxed and any casual visitor was able to buy a ticket for £15.00.

The evenings' entertainment continued to be billed as 'Ridgeways Late Joys': an evening of revival Victorian Music Hall and that is exactly what it was - a selection of professional artistes, past masters at putting over a minor musical masterpiece in costume. The simple accompaniment remained that of a grand Steinway pianoforte and the company combined at the end of the show for a rousing ensemble finale, concluding with 'Dear Old Pals' - sung at every performance for 64 years. The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles during the Victorian era: Neoclassicism Gothic Revival Italianate Second Empire Neo-Grec Romanesque Revival (Includes Richardsonian Revival) Renaissance Revival Queen Anne Jacobethan architecture (the precusor to the Queen Anne style) British Arts and Crafts movement painted... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ...

The whole evening was compered from the stage by a distinguished Chairman. This would often be the former Director of The Players', Dominic Le Foe, who dubs himself "as British as the Flag" but could equally have been Alan Curtis, Michael Kilgarriff, Johnny Dennis or in earlier days Robin Hunter, John Hewer, Don Gemmell, Fred Stone and many others. The sartorial elegance of the chairman was matched by the performers. The humour was strictly Victorian, but with astute observations on life, as relevant now as they ever were in Queen Victoria's day. There were two short intervals during which the audience would be invited to visit the bars and help swell the coffers of this merry throng by indulging in a few libations, toasting the health of Her Majesty awhile. Her Majesty Queen Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria von Wettin, née dEste) (24 May 1819 London – 22 January 1901 Isle of Wight) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January 1877 until her death. ...

Every year the Players' presented an original Victorian Pantomime, often by J R Planché. Pantomime may refer to two different types of performing arts. ...

The Players' Theatre Club was unique and had survived unfunded and unsponsored since it was founded in 1936, until its misfortunes in 2002. Due to monumentally bad management by the one remaining director (Le Foe) the Club foundered and eventually went into liquidation. 1936 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

At this point there happened a large schism. A new club was formed called The New Players' Theatre Club. Although attracting a large number of the old membership it has, to date, failed to find a permanent home and has therefore only put on occasional, albeit successful, shows at such places as The Shaw Theatre and The Jeanetta Cochran Theatre.

A second 'Players' Theatre' club was also formed by Le Foe and Bill Halson and a restoration committee was formed and after a phenomenal amount of work by many people, This Players' is now once more delighting audiences in the West End,putting on shows on Sunday afternoons in 'The Venue' theatre thanks to the generosity of The Venue's proprietor, a long-time supporter of The Players', Parry Masterton. A long lease of a building in Craven Street (the other side of the Charing Cross station tracks) has been purchased with the aim of constructing a completely new theatre.

While there are two Players' clubs operating at a distance apart there is really not much hope of ever returning to its former glory. In fact, with the changes in life styles, tastes in entertainment, values etc. it is unlikely that any organisation could sustain shows in a 200+ seat theatre 6 nights out of seven. One of the biggest problems for both of the Players' clubs has been attracting new and younger membership. That is the dilemma. If either change the style or pace or format of the shows too much, in order to attract younger membership, then it ceases to be 'Victorian' Music Hall. If they don't then they can only rely on a dwindling number of former members, many of whom are now of a 'certain' age.

The Players' Theatre club is an important part of British Music Hall tradition. Let's hope that it survives.