GRACIE FIELDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1939, Page 8

GRACIE FIELDS

A BRILLIANT CAREER. ENGLAND'S MOST POPULAR STAR. Gracie Fields. England's greatest film star, as a little girl, shawl round her shoulders and clogs on her feet, used to sing in streets of Rochdale, hoping someone would hear her and make her a star. Neighbours told her to "go home to her mother and stop making 'foony' noises." She used io go backstage at the local theatre with her mother when returning the theatrical company’s laundry. She picked up tunes and sang, eventually making her first public appearance at a Rochdale cinema in 1906. She appeared with a juvenile troupe subsequently, earning a shilling a week. At 15 she applied for a job as a chorus girl, but the photograph was returned with "hardly suitable 1 ” written in the corner. Her father decided that a travelling life was unhealthy, and took her back to Rochdale where she worked for some months as a mill girl. In 1914 she played his first pantomime engagement as the of Morocco in “Dick Whittington.’’ She played in several revues, but macle her first really important success in “Mr Tower of London,” a modest little show which was booked for small provincial halls all over England, made enormous sums of money, eventually reached the London stage and ran to 4000 performances, of which Gracie did not miss one. She followed with performances at the Alhambra Theatre in London, and was so sought after that at one time she was doing six shows a day—three shows at the Alhambra, two shows at the Coliseum, appearing as Lady Weir on legitimate stage with Sir Gerald du Maurier in “5.0.5.,” finishing up with a midnight cabaret engagement. In 1926, she appeared in “By Request,” which ran for three years. She appeared at many variety theatres and became one of the most successful music hall artistes. She appeared at a Royal Command performance at the Coliseum in 1928. Many successful stage appearances and song recitals followed, and in 1935 she went to South Africa where her arrival was stupendous —traffic in Cape Town was disorganised when hundreds of thousands clamoured to welcome her. Her tour was a complete triumph. Having tasted travel, she has a longing to travel all over the world. She was voted the most popular of all British screen stars by exhibitors poll in 1936. She- is the highest paid woman screen star in the world.

Her greatest interests outside stage and screen work are her family and the Gracie Fields’ Orphanage which she founded at Peacehaven, near Brighton, in April, 1935. Her ambition is to earn enough money to endow the orphanage permanently. She does more for charity than any other stage or screen artiste in England. She has made several return visits to Rochdale, where she received a tumultuous welcome, and gives a week’s performances for local charities, raising as much as £4,000 in a visit. She has never forgotten her old friends in Rochdale and is adored by them all. When she goes there she stays with old friends, such as the old clog-maker who used to make clogs for her and her sisters when they were children. At the time of the Coronation of King George VI. she was given the freedom of the Borough of Rochdale. This announcement was received with wild enthusiasm by the townsfolk. It is a great honour, as she is the first woman to be added to the “Roll of Freedom." Apart from her amazing talent and versatility she owes her enormous popularity to the fact that she is completely unspoilt by success and is thcmost human of stars.

Her British films include “Sally in our Alley,” "Looking on the Bright Side," “This Week of Grace," “Love, Life and Laughter,” "Sing As We Go,” "Look Up and Laugh," “Queen of Hearts,” “The Show Goes On," "We're Going to be Rich" and “Keep Smiling." The latter picture in particular has captivated the world and will be shown at the State Theatre on Friday.