|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Reply 1. Sylvia Parker Northcott Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Sylvia Parker Northcott who wrote: |
|
My Father - Entertainer "I am the youngest daughter of the late Roy Don of the ‘Roy Don Variety Press’. I came across your search for my father's business details by sheer accident whilst researching through Edinburgh theatre archives. I was so excited to see, what must have been one of his last photographs, as he sadly passed away in January, 1959. He was only 59 years old and I was only 14 years old at the time." My Father - Photogrpaher "Recently, since becoming a ‘Silver Surfer’ I have searched in vain for information and recognition of my dad’s photographic career. You can thus understand how delighted I was to see his name in print on your web page, and subsequently the photo of the Central Restaurant in Union Street, Edinburgh. My Father's Photographic Business "I remember going with my father when he collected his photographic material from Lizar's and Greenfield's in Leith Walk. I'd love to see his photo from 1945. It would have been taken just after I was born in August 1944. When I was older, my ‘job’ was to stamp the backs of all dad’s photographs before they were sent to customers." Sylvia Parker Northcott, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: April 9 2013 |
|
Reply 2. Sylvia Parker Northcott Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Sylvia Parker Northcott**
for telling me more about her family. Sylvia is:
- daughter of entertainer then
photographer, Henry Thomas Parker. - grand-daughter of performer, Happy Tom Parker Here is an extract from a tribute that Sylvia wrote in 2010: |
|
My Family "I'm Sylvia Rose Parker, one of Happy Tom Parkers' grand-daughters. My father Henry Thomas Parker, was Happy Toms' eldest son, born in Sheffield on December 10th 1899. I am the youngest of five children, two boys, Raymond and Derek Leslie and three girls, June, Malita May and myself. born to Henry Thomas and his wife, Jane also a theatrical performer.
Henry Thomas Parker Performer "My dad, Henry Thomas Parker, left home as a 13-year-old to 'tread the boards' in theatre. He played the juvenile lead in the play 'The Speckled Band' when he was 14 yrs old. An old press cutting describes him as a talented youngster with a promising future. He further performed in Music Hall and in 'On The Bounce' under the name Jolly Tom Parker. He was thereafter known as 'Uncle Jolly' by his extended family. During the 2nd World War, he entertained the troops abroad in the guise of comedian, musician and dancer. In 1943 he took over the post of manager director at the Palladium Theatre Edinburgh under his new professional name of Roy Don. Henry Thomas Parker my father Artist and Photographer "Like his father (Happy Tom Parker), my dad was a multi-talented individual. Besides being known for his performing talents, he became well known for his artistic abilities and photography. He was responsible for hand-sketching posters for many well known Scottish Music Hall personalities. These in turn were presented as front of house adverts for forthcoming shows.. His art works have been exhibited at numerous theatrical events by his elder daughter June, Following his impresario days, my father turned his hobby of photography into a successful business, the 'Roy Don Variety Press'. As the resident photographer for many corporate events in and around Edinburgh, he continued to entertain audiences playing piano, dancing and singing until his untimely death. He died after a short illness, on 29 January 1959 at the age of 59 years. He is buried in Piershill Cemetery, Edinburgh." Happy Tom Parker my grandfather Performer "It saddens me not to have known my grandfather, but hopefully through this technology I will be able to contact other members of the Happy Tom Parker ‘Clan’." Sylvia Parker Northcott: Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: April 14, 2013 |
|
Reply 3. Sylvia Parker Northcott Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Sylvia Parker Northcott**
for writing again with further information. Sylvia wrote: |
|
Fairley's Ballroom Leith Street "My dad, Henry Thomas Parker, was one-time manager of ‘Fairlie’s Ballroom’ in Leith Street (in its classic days before I was born). Fun City Portobello "My dad was also the photographer and artistic designer who re-designed and painted the ‘Ben Hur’ at the ‘Fun City’ Portobello." Maybury Roadhouse Corstorphine "Whilst acting as resident photographer and entertainer, my Dad gave his final performance on piano on 31 December 1958 at the ‘Maybury Roadhouse’ Corstorphine, Edinburgh. I remember him arriving home just after midnight on New Year's Day 1959, saying he felt unwell (He was always our ‘first foot’.) He died three weeks later with ‘silent’ pneumonia. Sylvia Parker Northcott: Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: April 17, 2013 |
|
Reply 4. Sylvia Parker Northcott Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland |
||
|
Thank you to Sylvia Parker Northcott for writing again with further details of her father's life and achievements. This time, Sylvia writes about Roy Don's theatre work. Sylvia wrote: |
||
|
My Dad's Achievements Roy Don "As you may know by now, I am determined to have my dad’s memory acknowledged for the work he did in his short lifetime, both as a theatrical manager/performer, and photographer. To date, apart from mention on your EdinPhoto web site, I've found absolutely no mention of his name anywhere on the Internet, especially with regards to the Palladium. Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America "I've received an email from The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America, about my grandfather ('Happy Tom Parker') and my father ('Roy Don'). The email from The Music Hall Guild begins:
The email from The Music Hall goes on to list the venues at which 'Happy Tom Parker' performed each year from 1898 until 1922 with a final performance in 1928. Between 10 and 40 theatres are listed for many of the years. It ends with a comment about Roy Don:
Palladium Theatre Leith Street "Here is a receipt sent to my dad, 'Roy Don', at the Palladium Theatre, Edinburgh' dated 30 May 1942.
Sylvia Parker Northcott: Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: May 8, 2013 (2 emails) |
||
|
Please click on the receipt above to enlarge it. It is a receipt for payment made by Roy Don, Palladium Theatre, Edinburgh to George Binnie, Edinburgh for a song and a monologue written by George. |
|
Reply 5. Sylvia Parker Northcott Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland |
|
Sylvia wrote: |
|
Giant Mural Fun City, Portobello "It has been brought to my attention that my dad, 'Roy Don', painted a giant mural of the Queen and Prince Phillip which was displayed at the Fun City, Portobello I'm now trying to find relevant photos of that. I’m sure someone somewhere must have a copy." Sylvia Parker Northcott: Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: May 8, 2013 (2 emails) |
|
Sylvia added: |
|
Giant Mural Fun City, Portobello "I am now making enquiries into the mural of The Queen and Prince Philip. My dad seemingly painted it, to commemorate the Coronation in 1953. Amazingly, a number of people I have now spoken to remember seeing it, but as yet, no one has come up with a photograph. I hope upon hope, that through your EdinPhoto web site, someone somewhere will have one tucked away!" Sylvia Parker Northcott: Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: May 10, 2013 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||
