A wonderful friendship-cum-autograph album and unique item of interwar theatrical memorabilia (1922-1949), featuring signatures by British stage actors and music hall performers, as well as inscriptions by mostly forgotten pantomime ensemble performers (esp. 1927-30), collected by Hilda Oglesby (“Whisk(e)y” in Goldilocks and Goody Two Shoes): brim-full of signatures (most notably, Ivor Novello (perhaps collected at a performance of his successful 1924 play, The Rat?), the “specialist in melodrama” Wilfred Shine, comedian Harry Weldon, male impersonator Ella Shields, best known for ‘Burlington Bertie from Bow,’ (see left-hand illustration to title page) and Shakespearean actor Godfrey Tearle (1928)), as well as affectionate, witty and pithy inscriptions and promotional photographs from Oglesby’s fellow pantomime performers (including a lock of (faux) golden hair!). Promotional photographs include Ella Shields, the Louise Sisters, posing as toys with one in a Golliwog costume, plus earlier entries, including colour pencil and pen drawings by her family and friends (c.1922).
It appears that Sheffield-born, Blackpool-based Hilda Florence Oglesby (1908-1990) moved from being a fan of the stage to work as an ensemble actor who performed at various British regional venues, appearing as “Whisk(e)y” in Goldilocks and William de Lacy’s Goody Two Shoes, amongst other pantomimes. Companies, performances and venues mentioned include: Gypsy Vagabond Co. at Leeds Empire Theatre, Idle Times Revue at Olympia Theatre Dublin and Empire Woolwich, William de Lacy’s Goody Two Shoes at the Hippodrome Accrington, Seafarers Co. at Empire Kingston, Carry on Sammy Co., Empire Bristol. Her co-performers include H.B. Walls, Patricia Andre as ‘Free and easy boy’, Mary and Eddie Grovesnor, Thelma Hamilton as ‘Fairy’ in Goldilocks, and Marie Benson as ‘Colin’. [ref: 3495]