ENTERTAINMENT – Dancing Georgians, Miss Betty Brown

Accreditation Cleveland Standard 25/05/1935

Miss Betty Brown’s Enterprise
“DANCING GEORGIANS” TO
BE LAUNCHED

   Betty Brown the promising young Redcar dancer, is to launch her own road show in a few weeks’ time. “Dancing Georgians” is the title she has chosen and she hopes to fill the show with Redcar talent. She is so confident of the success of the enterprise that she has turned down several London offers from well-known stage magnates, determined to fight her own way to fame.

   Betty is only sixteen.

   If fulfilled, the ambitions of this young dancer will put Redcar on the map. Her stage knowledge is amazing in one so young, and in “Dancing Georgians” she plans a score of new and novel touches which will equal the efforts of better known producers. In it, she will introduce a dancing scene from “The Gay Divorcee,” and she herself will play the role which has added to the fame of Ginger Rogers.

   Betty hopes to give her show a “try-out” in Redcar, and if it is possible to complete the show before the bookings she will do so.

   Betty Brown had danced since she was 11 years old. Last season she was understudy to Phyllis Godden, the principal boy in Francis Laidler’s pantomime “Little Red Riding Hood,” which had a successful run at the Albambra, Bradford. She has toured Ireland with a dancing troupe, and it was there she caught the eye of British film makers working on “Man of Aran,” and she was given a small dancing part in the picture.

TAUGHT BESSIE PRATT

   When Betty joined Bradford pantomime, Bessie Pratt, the principle girl could not dance a single step of buck dancing. She begged Betty to teach her, and in a few day’s time Miss Pratt is to broadcast step-dancing number the same step that our Betty taught her.

   “When speaking in London stage producers I never hesitate to tell them I’m a Redcar girl,” explained Betty. “The Cleveland district has a reputation for turning out good dancers, and coming from Redcar means a lot down there. London girls can’t dance; they can kick their legs and make a show but that’s all.”

   She informs us that an old partner of hers, 17 years old Norman Wharton of Redcar, is forging ahead on the London stage. He recently shared a broadcast with June Inverclyde.

   “I do hope that I shall have an opportunity of dancing before a Redcar audience again this year,” she told the “Standard” reporter. “If I am in Redcar while any of the benefit concerts are given I shall be delighted to help.

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dean June 3, 2010 People & Characters