On This Day 19 August 1981 Jessie Matthews died. A favourite at the Streatham Hill Theatre
Matthews began as a dancer. There is a plaque in Berwick Street market commemorating her childhood, when she danced in the street to a barrel-organ. In the 1930s she became Britain's top musical film star. She starred in Noël Coward's This Year Of Grace, in which she introduced 'A Room With a View' and 'Teach Me To Dance Like Grandma'. She came to the Gaiety Theatre in 1931 in Hold My Hand, with music by Noel Gay. Her films, especially Evergreen, It's Love Again and First A Girl retain all their charm. In the 1960s she found new fame on BBC Radio as Mrs Dale.
(Image Sketch 7 June 1933 © Illustrated London News Group) here to edit.
Matthews began as a dancer. There is a plaque in Berwick Street market commemorating her childhood, when she danced in the street to a barrel-organ. In the 1930s she became Britain's top musical film star. She starred in Noël Coward's This Year Of Grace, in which she introduced 'A Room With a View' and 'Teach Me To Dance Like Grandma'. She came to the Gaiety Theatre in 1931 in Hold My Hand, with music by Noel Gay. Her films, especially Evergreen, It's Love Again and First A Girl retain all their charm. In the 1960s she found new fame on BBC Radio as Mrs Dale.
(Image Sketch 7 June 1933 © Illustrated London News Group) here to edit.
