"Many Happy Returns"

The best touring show to hit Gisborne for many a long year....this was the verdict commonly heard after Harry Wren's "Many Happy Returns", a bright and colourful vaudeville entertainment, had played to packed audiences at the Opera House. The tickets ran to 25/- a time but the value was there in glamour, music, and the brilliant items of top--drawer artists.

These included the "Flat Tops", the Trio Hoganas, Don Williams, Fountain Fantasy, Jenny Howard, the Rivieras, Diana Marquez, Spanish singer, Montego (a juggler surely without peer), three comedians (Terry Scanlon, Keith Petersen and John O'Dowd) whose items were so hilariously fast-paced that nobody had time to stop laughing while they were on stage, and of course the farewell appearance of that famous queen of song, Miss Gladys Moncrieff.

Because of the difficult conditions for photography, these pictures by a "Photo News" cameraman do not include all the acts. Notable omissions are Diana Marquez and Montego.

Rollerskating tap-dancer, Don Williams, a veteran performer, thrilled the crowd

The lovely "Picture in Porcelain" tableau

Young Tommy Riviera was a wizard with his accordion.

The Trio Hoganas from Sweden were one of the most popular performers. Their slack-wire act had the audience applauding continuously. Especially when the beautiful Bende went through her routine on a wire held in the teeth of her partners, Egon and Gert, as in the pix on this page.

Top billing of the show was Gladys Moncrieff who was on her farewell tour. After 50 years of bringing untold joy to her fans, "Our Glad" was giving one of her last performances. She is pictured here with Don Williams the master-mind of the spectacular dancing fountain.

The chief mirth-makers of the show were John O'Dowd, Keith Petersen, and Terry Scanion...pictured here in the "Three Teddy Bears".

The "Flat Tops", Australians Ross Edgerton and Tom Parker, were loaded with talent and laughs. The crowd would have liked to see more of these boys.

The show had plenty of glamour for the boys too

Former English comedy star, Jenny Howard, nearly brought the house down with her inimitable actions and songs.

A scene from Don Williams' Fountain Fantasy

Direct from Paris came The Rivieras, billed as the World's foremost Apache Dancers.

Artist Keith Petersen proved to model Alison Schouter that he was not what he purported to be....and how.

Previous article Issue contents Next article

The Gisborne Photo News

No 86 : August 10, 1961

"Many Happy Returns"