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Monday 19 August 2013

28 New Row, St Martin's Lane, WC2: The Theatre-Zoo.



MMT: IATW: FFT: Ever wondered where Ver Fabs got those deliciously creepy costumes? Eric Gledhill, that's where, and his Theatre-Zoo in WC2. Close "scritiney" of the invoice reveals the full feral "fundown" (if you will). Clockwise - Hippo, March Hare, Parrot, Walrus:


And, wouldn't yer know it, here's a film of the source, namely the Theatre-Zoo itself, dating 1956. Click on the picture to be "transpotered" to Pathe's page where ye can view the film, and thrill to the very MMT-like creepiness of the cossies:

THEATRE MASKS


Whither the titular Dyke Richens and Eric Gledhill? I know not...but I see that the Beatles only hired their costumes, which means that relatives of one or other of these aforementioned gents might just still have them...assuming they were ever returned, o' course.
(A further invoice from the Theatre-Zoo details the purchase of "17 Bald Pates (charged as 15) at 10 shillings each", destined, no doubt, for Egg-Men.)

Goo-goo-g'etc..

4 comments:

  1. It's illogical how fascinating I find this.

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  2. how on earth do you find this kind of info, sean? i'm stunned! i find it interesting too!

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  3. Eric Gledhill was my grandfather. He had been a professional singer and actor before starting the Theatre Zoo. We have a scrapbook full of Theatre Zoo ephemera, but alas, we have none of the costumes. Dyke Richens left to pursue his own business not long after the Pathe News film was made, but my grandfather carried on until the early 70s, (he had started the business, having been helped financially by his brothers, one of whom, Doug Gledhill may be found underneath the Clown mask). My grandmother is also in the film: she's the one who is in the Nanny mask, and then swaps it for the Baby mask, then sucks her thumb. She did most of the shop's admin, so she probably typed the invoice, above! My grandfather sold the business, including all the costumes, in the early 70s before retiring. The new owners moved the shop away from Covent Garden some time later, and I think it is now defunct. The premises, 28 New Row, was a hairdresser's the last few times I visited. As well as the Walrus, my grandfather also made Dobbin of Rentaghost fame, as well as myriad other costumes that featured in various British TV programmes, such as Dad's Army and the Generation Game. It was a regular feature of my childhood in the 80s when we would be watching TV, and someone dressed in some pantomime costume or other would appear and my Mum would say "Oh, that's one of Dad's." He died when I was 7, so I only have a few memories of him, but I'm proud of him and his legacy, including his being the father of the Beatles' Walrus!

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  4. I've wondered for YEARS as a Beatles fan what happened to these costumes. Thank you for this, I really appreciate it

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