Maureen Potter

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Maria Philomena Potter (1925 – 7 April 2004), known as Maureen Potter, was an acclaimed Irish singer, actor, comedian and performer.

Born in Dublin, Ireland and educated at St. Mary's, Fairview, North Dublin, had a long career in the Irish theatre, mainly as a comedian, but also as a straight actress. She was a regular feature at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin and for many years starred in the Christmas Pantomime. A bronze cast of her hand prints is featured outside.

She starred in roles including Maisie Madigan in Juno and the Paycock among many others. While still a teenager, she toured abroad before World War II as a singer and dancer with Jack Haylton (aka Jack Hylton) and his orchestra.

In September 1938 Maureen appeared on the pre-war BBC Television Service with Jack Hylton and his Band. Also featured during the television demonstration programme from RadiOlympia (the Radio Manufacturer's Exhibition at Olympia exhibition hall in London) were Bruce Trent, Peggy Dell, June Malo, The Henderson Twins, Freddie Schweitzer. Film of her performance is currently held by the Alexandra Palace Television Society [1].

In 2001 the Archivist of the Alexandra Palace Television Society gave Maureen a copy of her 1938 television appearance and she recalled her memories: "I was 13 years of age when I appeared with the Jack Hylton Band in RadiOlympia, a programme that went out on television all those years ago. What I remember most is the heavy ochre make-up the performers had to wear. I was excused the make-up for some reason; maybe mine was such a long shot that it was not deemed necessary. If you blink you miss me! However, June Malo, the Henderson Twins, Peggy Dell, Bruce Trent and Freddie Schweitzer had this heavy ochre make-up plastered on them. Plastered is the only word! Having toured with them for over 12-months and used to seeing them in stage make-up they looked very strange. Mr Hylton was excused also. He was always Mr Hylton to me. He called me “Morine”, (the American pronunciation, and was a kind man who made such a difference to my career. He always wore those two-tone shoes that were so popular at the time. It is wonderful to see him so trim and dapper in the tape, which Simon Vaughan has sent me.

It is wonderful to see once more, Bruce, Peggy, June, the Henderson Twins and Freddie. Those were wonderful days. Very busy but very exciting. The day that we performed at RadiOlympia we were appearing nightly in two London venues, The Hackney Empire and The Paramount Cinema, Tottenham Court Road. We often played in two theatres nightly and rushed from one to the other by coach. If we met one of those London “Pea Souper” fogs it was a real nightmare journey.

Peggy Dell was Irish, like me, and a well-established member of the Hylton Band. She was a very fine pianist and accompanied herself in lots of numbers in the style of Sophie Tucker. Her big number was “Some of These Days” which, of course, was Sophie Tucker’s theme song. She also did a wonderful version of “Deep Purple” which suited her deep brown voice. Peggy was a great performer and had been very kind to me when I joined the band as a youngster.

The Henderson Twins, who sang “Mama I want to make rhythm” at RadiOlympia were from a well-known theatrical family. In the matter of make-up, many old stage-hands in various theatres we visited would tell the Twins how their Dad, Dickie Henderson, was notorious for turning up at the very last minute, donning his bowler hat, and walking straight on stage – no make-up, no dressing room preparation – straight on stage. Their brother, Dickie Henderson, became a great television star. His version of “One More for the Road” perched on a bar stool, with his coat draped over his shoulder was a classic. Dickie visited us often when we were on tour. I remember the Twins and I gave him his first tap dancing lesson in our digs in Birmingham, much to the landlady’s annoyance.

June Malo was a real glamour girl and wore the most beautiful gowns on stage. She married Joe Davis, the snooker player, and some say the best snooker player of all time. Regarding June’s gorgeous gowns, when the Band did concerts on a Sunday, The Lords Day Observance Society ruled performers could not wear costume or dress up when appearing on a Sunday. So I would be sent on in my best Sunday dress to sing sophisticated songs like “That Old Feeling” and “The Way You Look Tonight”, instead of June or Peggy in the belief that they could not appear in their glamorous gowns. Now that I’ve grown older and wiser I’ve decided that eh girls were resting their voices and enjoying their Sunday off. Surely Peggy’s “My Heaven In The Pines”, which she sings on the archive film, would have been eminently suitable for Sunday.

Freddie Schweitzer, who we see in the comedy numbers, was a great favourite. When we went to Berlin in 1939 he had a very difficult time from the Nazi Police. The Snow White section was prepared specially for the TV show and was not part of our regular stage show. Freddie’s big number on tour was “I’m Alabamy Bound” with several members of the Band chugging along like a train, led by Freddie as the engine with a huge funnel hat. It had smoke billowing out from it and he would never tell me how it worked no matter how much I badgered him. A Jack Hylton Band Show had to have everything correct. When we did a racecourse number we had real horses galloping behind the band. When I sang “All The King’s Horses and The Kings Men”, I had two welsh guardsmen marching with me. They helped me every night to polish my buttons and to prepare my uniform complete with Busby. During the war years home in Dublin, I often thought of my Guardsmen and wondered how they were faring. Please God they survived everything.

We did not see close-ups of many members of the Band in the film, sadly, but we had some musicians who became very famous. The Philips Brothers, Sid who did all the Band arrangements, and Woolf who became conductor of the Palladium Orchestra for so many big shows. Foremost of course, was Coleman Hawkins, known worldwide as The Hawk to every jazz lover. His big number on tour was “Honeysuckle Rose” and I can still remember the reception he got every time he played it. I’m sure all television viewers remember Sid Millward who’s Misfits became big favourites. Sid was a long-time member of the Hylton Band."[1]

She first appeared professionally with Jimmy O'Dea in pantomime and appeared frequently on television and in cabaret.

In 1984 she was conferred with the Freedom of the City of Dublin, and was later awarded an honorary degree from Trinity College, Dublin.

On a tour of Germany as a child she once performed in front of Hitler and other Nazis.[2]

She died in Clontarf in her native Dublin on 7 April 2004, at the age of 79. She is survived by her husband, Jack and her sons, John and Hugh.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Maureen Potter letter to APTS Archivist - March 2001
  2. ^ Obituary of Maureen Potter

[edit] External links


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