SOUTH AFRICA 1956 - 1978)

 Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler immigrate to South Africa (July 1956)


The Hillman Minx outside their flat in Waverley, Highlands North, Johannesburg (1956)

 
"Night in Venice" (Strauss) with Johannesburg Operatic Society, 1956

                                                Durban Whysall Studios (1957)

 "The Amorous Prawn" (1961) with Joan Blake, Simon Swindell. Victor Melleney (producer) extreme right.

"Goodnight Mrs Puffin" with Jane Fenn at Alexander Theatre, Johannesburg (1963)

 "Colonel Fairfax" in "Yeomen of the Guard" at Alexander Theatre, 1963 (Johannesburg Operatic Society)

At the wedding of actress Margaret Inglis (1962/63)

 In the studio, Pritchard Street (1963)

 


Attending first night of Doris Boulton's "Merry Widow" (1966)

"The Bartered Bride" (PACT) 1966

Move to Knysna in 1967.

                                            Silva and Spinach on the couch at Knysna (1970) Photo: Dudley Holmes

 Directing "The Mikado" in East London, Border (1973

Move to Somerset West, Cape (1975)

House in Picardy Avenue, Somerset West. Photo: Dudley Holmes

WEBSTER BOOTH TIMELINE (1940 - 1949)

Messiah - 22 March 1940 in Queen's Hall, London

Good Friday Messiah. Royal Choral Society with Elsie Suddaby, Muriel Brunskill, Webster Booth, Robert Easton. Conducted by Dr Malcolm Sargent.

Gala Variety Performance

5 May 1940 in The London Palladium

Because of the war this show replaced the traditional Royal Command Performance.The concert was in aid of the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund.

Messiah

22 December 1940 in Hallé Concert Society, Manchester

Webster Booth was tenor soloist at this concert, conducted by Malcolm Sargent. Later that night a big bombing raid destroyed the Free Trade Hall.

Dream of Gerontius (Elgar)

10 May 1941 in Queen's Hall, London

Webster Booth, Muriel Brunskill and Ronald Stear were soloists in an afternoon performance with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Choral Society, conducted by Malcolm Sargent. That night a single incendiary bomb gutted the Queen's Hall.

Paddy Prior, second wife of Webster Booth (tenor) 1902-1984 entertaining troops during World War 2. — in London, United Kingdom.

Paddy Prior, Webster Booth's second wife who divorced him in 1938, entertains troops as a member of ENSA during the war.

Death of Sarah Booth, Webster's mother

November 1942 in Birmingham, United Kingdom

Webster and Anne had sung at Golders Green Hippodrome in "Clap Your Hands and Smile" with Charlie Kunz and others from 1 November 1943. Webster's mother died (aged 80) during that week.

Good Friday Messiah

23 April 1943 in Royal Albert Hall

Webster Booth sang in another Good Friday Messiah at the Albert Hall with soloists Isobel Baillie, Mary Jarred and Henry Cummings, conducted by Malcolm Sargent. In 1940 he and Anne Ziegler began touring in Variety as duettists and it is clear that he did not do as much serious singing because of this.

Edwin Booth remarries.

1947 in Birmingham, United Kingdom

In 1947 Edwin Booth married Irene Constance Louise Coles, who was born in Bristol in 1902, a few months younger than Webster. After Edwin Booth's death, Irene continued to attend Webster and Anne's concerts in Birmingham. The census form shows the Coles family in 1911 when Irene was 9 years old.

Funeral of Tommy Handley

January 1949 in Golders Green Crematorium

Members of Savage Club formed choir which included Webster Booth, Parry Jones, Walter Midgley, Dennis Noble, Frederic Gregory, George James & Edward Dykes. They sang "The Long Day Closes" by Arthur Sullivan.

Funeral of Tommy Handley at Golders Green Crematorium January 1949. Webster Booth was singing in choir with other Savage Club singers. — with Trefor Jones at Golders Green Crematorium.

Death of Edwin Booth 16 October 1949 in Birmingham Town Hall Webster's father had celebrated his 83rd birthday the day before. He was attending a concert featuring Webster & Anne Ziegler and was taken ill during the concert. Webster was not informed about his father's death until after the concert. His father referred to the concert at which he died as his "birthday concert".

WEBSTER BOOTH TIMELINE - 1902 - 1939

Subscribe to booth-ziegler

Powered by uk.groups.yahoo.com

21 January 1902 Birth.

Leslie Webster Booth was the youngest of six children born to Edwin Booth and his wife Sarah (neé Webster) at 157 Soho Road, Handsworth, Staffordshire. Above - 157 Soho Road today.

Soho Road in the early 1900s.

Accepted as a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral

1911 in Lincoln Cathedral

Webster Booth spent four years as a chorister at Lincoln until his voice broke in 1915.

His voice breaks so he returns home.

1915 in Birmingham, United Kingdom

His parents send him to do a commercial course at Aston Commercial School. The headmaster there is Edgar Keey. Later he married Edgar Keey's daughter, Winifred.

Leaves School

1918 in Birmingham, United Kingdom

After Webster left school he began working in an accounting office in Birmingham. At the same time he took singing lessons with Dr Richard Wassall, choirmaster at St Martin's, Birmingham and singing teacher at the Midland Institute.

First professional engagement

9 September 1923 in Theatre Royal Brighton

Webster Booth was accepted into the chorus of D'Oyly Carte Opera and made his stage debut as a yeoman in "Yeomen of the Guard". He remained with the company for four and a half years, singing in the chorus, playing small parts and understudying the leading tenor roles. He was known in the company as Leslie Booth. He did not use the name Webster Booth until he left the company in 1927.

Webster Booth sings Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes

Prince's Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

Marriage

June 1924 in Fulham Registry Office, Fulham, London

Webster Booth married his first wife, Winifred Dorothy Keey in the second quarter of 1924 at Fulham Registry Office.

Birth of Keith Leslie Booth

12 June 1925 in Birmingham, United Kingdom

Birth of his son, Keith Leslie Booth. Mother: Winifred Dorothy Booth (nee Keey)

6 September 1925. Webster Booth (Leslie W. Booth) as First Yeoman.

D'Oyly Carte Opera tour of Canada

24 December 1926 in SS Metagama, Liverpool

Webster Booth went to Canada as a member of the chorus of D'Oyly Carte for the tour of Canada aboard the SS Metagama. The tour opened in Montreal on 4 January 1927.

  Singing in Lyons' Cafés and Restaurants

May 1928 in Popular & Strand Lyons' Cafés, Holborn Restaurant

Webster Booth, still known as Leslie Webster Booth, was eking out a living singing in various Lyons' cafés and at Masonic dinners, as well as performing in panto and singing with the Opieros. The photo shows the Holborn Restaurant, a popular venue for staff dinners.

Holborn Restaurant

Recording contract with HMV

1929 in His Master's Voice Records

Webster Booth made his first recording with HMV in 1929. He continued recording with the company until his contract was cancelled in 1951. The first recording was A Brown Bird Singing and I Love the Moon.

December 1929. Gloucester Hippodrome

"The Three Musketeers" (Friml)

28 March 1930 in Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Webster Booth made his debut as the Duke of Buckingham in The Three Musketeers. Denis King played D'Artagnan. Others in the cast included Adrienne Brune and Lillian Davies.

2 September 1931

 

 

 Divorce from Winifred Booth (nee Keey)

October 1931 in London, United Kingdom

Winifred Booth deserted Webster and his young son in 1927. Webster tried to find her for many years but she had vanished. In October 1931, he sued for divorce, naming Trevor Davey as co-respondent.

Marriage to Dorothy Annie Alice Prior

10 October 1932 in Fulham Registry Office, Fulham, London

Webster Booth married his second wife, Dorothy Annie Alice Prior (stage name: Paddy Prior). Paddy was a soubrette, dancer and light comedienne.

Piccadilly Revels

May 1933 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Webster Booth, Paddy Prior, Violet Stevens, George & Kenneth Western and Edgar Sawyer starred in Murray Evans and Wilby Lunn's summer show. Paddy Prior is seated to the left of Webster Booth in the middle row.

Piccadilly Revels, 1933 with Webster Booth (tenor) 1902-1984, and second wife, Paddy Prior. — in 

·
Concert in Canterbury. 11 March 1934

 The Faust Fantasy

December 1934 in Bushy Heath

Webster Booth was chosen to play the part of Faust in this film. During the filming he met Anne Ziegler played the part of Marguerite. Unfortunately their meeting spelt the end of his marriage to Paddy Prior before it had really begun.

A Kingdom for a Cow (Kurt Weill)

28 June 1935 in Savoy Theatre

Webster Booth starred as Juan, with Jacqueline Francell as Juanita. The show included George Gee, Bobby Comber and Hay Petrie. Muir Matheson conducted the orchestra. The show received good notices but was not a success with the public. It closed after three weeks.

30 November 1935 - Samson and Delilah

Grand Concert, Regal Cinema, Chesterfield (circa 1936)

With Mr Flotsam and Mr Jetsam (B.C. Hilliam and Malcolm McEachern)

Is 'E an Aussie, Is 'E, Lizzie, 'E? (Flotsam and Jetsam) 

and Webster Booth, Chesterfield Male Voice Choir and the Belton Singers, a male quartet comprising Walter Hardwick. A. Bennett, J. Wheatley and A. Dethick.

In aid of Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

 

  

 

The Robber Symphony (film)

17 April 1936

Webster Booth sang several songs in this film. The film was directed by Friedrich Feher, who also wrote the script and the music. His wife was the heroine of the film.

30 May 1936 - Memorial Cinema, Hastings

Hiawatha's Wedding Feast

2. 7 June 1937 in Royal Albert Hall

   Webster Booth's first appearance in Hiawatha's Wedding Feast. Conducted by Malcolm Sargent. He sang the role of the Monk on 7 & 10 June, and Chihiabos on 18 June.
   Webster Booth sings Onaway, Awake, Beloved!

   
   

   7 June 1937
3. Souvenir programme for the dramatised version of Hiawatha held at the Royal Albert Hall in June 7-19, 1937.

   

                                                                                 Ina Souez

   Ina Souez sings an aria from Cosi fan Tutti

   7 February 1938 

   

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

   27 February 1938 - Colston Hall, Bristol

   

    Der Rosenkavalier, The Magic Flute

   May 1938 in Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

   Webster Booth sang the role of Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier and took a small role in The Magic Flute.
   

   

Third Marriage

5 November 1938 in Paddington Registry office, Paddington, London

Webster Booth's divorce from Paddy Prior came through in October. He married Anne Ziegler (Irené Frances Eastwood) the following month - first at the Paddington Registry Office, followed by a blessing of the marriage at St Ethelburga's Church in Bishopsgate.

Messiah

17 December 1938 in Queen's Hall, London

Webster Booth, Joan Hammond, Muriel Brunskill, Norman Walker with London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera Choir, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham.

 Muriel Brunskill sings But the Lord is Mindful of His Own

6 January 1939 

2 April 1939 in The London Palladium

Members of the Concert Artistes' Association gave their annual concert in aid of their Benevolent Fund. Webster Booth & other artistes performed. The receipts totalled £427 - a record for these affairs! 

 8 April 1939

 

  28 July 1939. Forthcoming concerts at The Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells.

Joins staff of variety department of the BBC

3 September 1939 in BBC Bristol

Webster Booth had been appointed to the staff of the BBC Variety department at the outbreak of war. Others included Tommy Handley, Sam Costa, Charles Shadwell, Betty Huntley-Wright and Leonard Henry.

                                                             9 December 1939

Oscar Natzke sings Hear Me, Ye Winds and Waves 

13 December 1939 Eastbrook Hall, Bradford

·