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The transcript is an interview with Frank Hall as transcribed by Microsoft Word and summarised by ChatGPT and subject to errors.
Family Background
- Full name: Frank Warwick Hall, known locally as Warwick.
- His mother was from Lancaster, with a strong artistic background. She was related to Ethel Warwick, a well-known London stage actress and silent film performer in the early 20th century.
- His father worked at Ramsbottom Paper Mill and was also a skilled pianist and music teacher.
- Frank was the youngest of four sons in a very musical household:
- Miles – pianist, later trumpet/cornet player in local bands.
- Jack – pianist and organist, became a professional on the South Coast.
- Billy – gifted treble singer and violinist.
- Frank (the speaker) – comic singer/dancer, entertainer.
Early Exposure to Theatre
- First theatre visit in 1925: saw cousin Ethel Warwick in A Royal Divorce in London.
- Grew up surrounded by music and performance; family gatherings often included singing, instruments, and impromptu concerts.
Childhood Performances
- At age 7, performed Never Mind What the Doctors Say at school and at the opening of Nuttall Park (1928).
- This led to frequent invitations to perform at charity events, concerts, and smoking evenings.
- Earned small amounts of money or gifts, which often went into the local penny bank.
Local Entertainment Scene (1920s–30s)
- Widespread amateur concerts, church hall performances, dances, and charity fundraisers.
- Popular songs of the day included Ramona, Carolina Moon, and Tiptoe Through the Tulips.
- Cinemas in Ramsbottom, Bury, and Tottington showed silent films, then talkies and musicals from 1929.
- Local theatres (e.g., Cooperative Hall, Empire Theatre) hosted variety acts and amateur operatics.
Family Involvement with Theatre
- The Hall household often lodged professional performers appearing locally, giving Frank access to costumes, rehearsal practices, and musical culture.
- His father regularly accompanied him and his brothers at concerts on piano.
Concerts & Repertoire
- Frank and Billy performed as a comic-and-singer duo, often for charity.
- Typical concert programme included a mix of songs, comic sketches, instrumental solos, and humorous acts.
- Recalled amusing mishaps, such as forgotten props or jokes that offended local ministers.
Dance & Festivals
- Took dancing lessons with Miss Pickup’s School of Dance in Ramsbottom.
- Performed in local carnivals, charity galas, and the annual hospital fundraising shows.
- Participated in Blackpool Dance Festival (1932), winning 3rd prize in solo comedy song and dance among much older competitors.
Charity & Community
- Family concerts supported causes like the Poor Children’s Treat, local hospitals, and sanatoriums.
- Performed regularly at children’s Christmas parties, hospitals, and unemployment relief events.
Later Recognition
- His photograph appeared in the Blackpool Gazette.
- Invited to perform at high-profile events such as the opening of the Astoria Ballroom.
- His talents kept him involved in entertainment for over 50 years, mainly on the amateur stage.
Overall, the transcript is both a memoir of Frank Hall’s performing life and a social history of Ramsbottom between the wars. It illustrates how music, theatre, and community performance shaped working-class culture, especially during the Depression years.
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