Top ED TV

Evelyn Dall: On television 1936 - 1945

Evelyn Dall appeared on British television many times from its infancy before the Second World War and immediately after the hostilities. I was rather sceptical at her claims in the Press at the time, that she had appeared 50 times on TV by June 1939. With some research however, I found that she was probably correct as the list below includes over 30 programmes on which she was featured by that date alone - and this list is not complete - yet! (See below.)

None of the programmes survive as they were broadcast live. Only those wealthy enough to own a receiver and living in the south of England would have been able to see them. I was rather surprised that the BBC managed to continue broadcasting TV programmes albeit only a few, during the war.

Ted Kavanagh was watching the set up of the next show in Studio B as Ambrose was performing on Studio A. He stood in the 'darkroom' (where artists got changed) and realised someone was getting into their costume. Later that night in Leicester Square whilst having supper with Margot Fonteyn and others from the ballet, Evelyn sat a few tables behind.

Mr Kavanagh recalls: " 'Good evening,' she crooned with that fantastic voice of hers. 'I thought you hadn't recognised me with my clothes on!' "

June 1939 Evelyn as a cow-girl in Big Bill Campbell's Western Cabaret

Animation of Evelyn's appearance at the TV Demo

Thanks go to Simon Vaughan and the Alexandra Palace Television Society for their support in providing further information about Evelyn's TV appearances.

Evelyn's confirmed TV appearances are shown below by Date, Broadcast Time and Programme Title.

10-Dec-36 21.05 'Starlight' Show with Ambrose (15mins)

29-Dec-36 21.45 'Starlight' Show with Ambrose (15mins)

25-Mar-37 21.16 'Starlight' Evelyn and Sam Browne (10 minutes) with Bert Barnes at the piano, accompanied by the rhythm section of the Television Orchestra

11-Jun-37 100% Broadway with David Burns (Victoria Palace Theatre)

15-Jun-37 21.01 Starlight Evelyn Dall – songs accompanied by Bert Barnes

30-Sep-37 100% Broadway with Russell Swann as compere accompanied by Bert Barnes (Victoria Palace Theatre)

22-Oct-37 21.01 100% Broadway with Russell Swann 9pm as compere accompanied by Bert Barnes (25 minutes)

02-Nov-37 15.00 Close Up Evelyn Dall Donald Stuart 3pm (10 minutes) accompanied by Ernest Wilson and the Television Orchestra, conductor Hyam Greenbaum

16-Dec-37 21.00 Evelyn Dall in 'Songs' 9pm accompanied by Bert Barnes (5 minutes)

21-Dec-37 15.20 100% Broadway – 4th edition with David Burns as compere Evelyn Dall accompanied by Leslie Clair (Victoria Palace Theatre) 3pm (40 minutes)

18-Feb-38 15.00.30 100% Broadway: 5 With David Burns as compere Evelyn Dall accompanied by Bobbie McGie

25-Mar-38 100% Broadway (with David Burns)

13-Apr-38 21.00 Ambrose’s Show. Ambrose Octet (30 minutes)

18-Apr-38 21.18 Starlight Evelyn Dall – songs accompanied by Bert Barnes (20 minutes)

18-May-38 21.00 100% Broadway with Fred Duprez as compere Evelyn Dall accompanied by Bert Barnes (Alexandria Palace)

15-Jun-38 100% Broadway (with David Burns) Alexandria Palace

07-Jul-38 21.00 Cabaret (repeated 10-Aug-38 as Comedy Cabaret) Evelyn Dall accompanied by Bert Read

07-Jul-38 with Drury and Raymond, Afrique, Naito (25 minutes)

10-Aug-38 Comedy Cabaret (see above)

27-Aug-38 21.07 Cabaret Cartoons Evelyn Dall accompanied by Bert Read

31-Aug-38 14.58 Cabaret Cartoons Evelyn Dall accompanied by Bert Read presented by Cecil Madden with Nosmo King and Richard Crean's orchestra. 3pm (30 minutes)

27-Oct-38 21.01 Ambrose Octet with Evelyn Dall, Vera Lynn, Denny Dennis, Max Bacon 9pm (30 minutes)

29-Oct-38 15.30 Ambrose Octet with Evelyn Dall Vera Lynn, Denny Dennis, Max Bacon (30 minutes)

23-Nov-38 15.04 Ambrose and his Band with Evelyn Dall, Vera Lynn, Max Bacon, Denny Dennis, Les Carew

20-Dec-38 15.34 'Christmas Cabaret' Evelyn Dall accompanied by Bert Read (piano) with Jasper Maskelyne and Afrique (45 minutes)

22-Dec-38 21.01 'Christmas Cabaret' Evelyn Dall accompanied by Bert Read (piano) with Jasper Maskelyne and Afrique (45 minutes)

03-Jan-39 15.01 'Ambrose Octet' With Evelyn Dall, Vera Lynn, Max Bacon, Denny Dennis, Les Carew (30 minutes)

10-Jan-39 Big Bill Campbell's Western Cabaret with Evelyn as a cowgirl accompanied by Albert Gordon (piano) (45 minutes)

12-Jan-39 21.01 Big Bill Campbell's Western Cabaret with Evelyn as a cowgirl (45 minutes) Same show with slightly different cast.

09-Feb-39 15.00 Ambrose Octet with Evelyn Dall, Max Bacon, Vera Lynn, Les Carew and George Sandiford

03-Mar-39 15.00 Ambrose Octet with with Evelyn Dall, Max Bacon, Vera Lynn, Les Carew and George Sandiford (25 minutes)

05-Apr-39 21.01 Ambrose Octet with Evelyn Dall, Max Bacon, Vera Lynn, Les Carew and George Sandiford Alexandria Palace (25 minutes)

13-Jun-39 21.00 Big Bill Campbell's Wild West Cabaret Evelyn Dall with Eddy Lisbona at the piano

16-Jun-39 21.56 Puppet Parade Variety with contributions from various acts plus: Record “Jeepers Creepers” by Ambrose and his Orchestra, vocal Evelyn Dall Decca F.7026 (Evelyn does not appear)

17-Jun-39 Big Bill Campbell's Wild West Cabaret no. 3 Evelyn Dall with Eddy Lisbona at the piano (45 minutes)

23-Jun-39 21.00 Cabaret Evelyn Dall accompanied at the piano by Eddy Lisbona and the Television Orchestra

01-Feb-45 VIP Commonwealth Television Demonstration to the Commonwealth Broadcasting Conference in Studio A, Alexandra Palace Evelyn Dall with accompanist Joan Bird (40 mins)