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Beverly Sisters (c1943 - 2009)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Active c1943 - 2009

Biography

The Beverley Sisters were an English female vocal harmony and light entertainment act formed by real life sisters, Joy and twins Teddie and Babs Chinery.

The sisters were born in Bethnal Green, London, to music hall performers George Arthur Chinery and Victoria Alice Miles, aka Coram and Mills. The eldest daughter, Joy, was born Joycelyn Victoria on 5 May 1924 and the younger ones Babette Patricia aka Babs and Hazel aka Teddie were born on the same day three years later.

The sisters’ singing career started when they featured in an advertising campaign for Ovaltine during the Second World War with a style of singing similar to the already popular Andrew Sisters. In 1944 they successfully auditioned for BBC Radio as the Berverly Sisters and started to make regular appearances in programmes for the Allied Expeditionary Forces to entertain and raise the morale of British troops posted overseas.

After the war they toured the UK and USA with big orchestras including Eric Winstone’s and Glenn Miller’s and performed with some of the biggest names of the time including Danny Kaye and Nat King Cole. The sisters made regular appearances on music halls, radio and television for the BBC and while in America for NBC. Their success won them a contract with the BBC for their own television series, which ran for seven years and on which they gave live performances of popular songs of the day.

During the 1950s and 1960s the Beverly Sisters signed recording deals with UK Columbia, Philips and Decca labels and were widely credited as being the highest paid female entertainers in the UK for more than twenty years. They appeared at the Royal Variety Performance in 1952, 1958 and 1978 and featured on This Is Your Life in 1969. In 1977, they appeared on the BBC's variety show The Good Old Days, although by then their fame had diminished. In the 1980s, their career was revitalised with an appearance at the London Hippodrome after which they started to perform once again for British troops and in the British gay club scene.

In 2002, they performed as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations and toured with Max Bygraves and entered the Guinness World Records as the world's longest surviving vocal group without a change in the original line up. In 2004, the sisters took part in the D-Day 60th anniversary memorial concerts and as late as 2009, they were appearing in concerts and matinee shows.

In the 2006 the Beverly Sisters were awarded an M.B.E. for their contribution to entertainment.

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

Charles Taylor Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0069
Scope and Contents

The Charles Taylor collection is a fine example of Taylor’s of Wombwell printers’ posters, which highlight changes in printing techniques, fashion and taste within the popular entertainment industry. Included are examples of posters for pantomimes, fairs and circuses. The collection also contains handbills and other advertising material.

Dates: c1937 - 1989

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.73
Scope and Contents

Blackpool. The Beverley Sisters, Phillip Kelly, Jack Storey, Jack Desmonde, Virginia Vernon, The Merritones, Larry Macklin, The Three Monarchs, Diana Dove, Dehl Trio, Freddie Harrison, The John Tiller Girls, Dancer not on Sunday no dancing allowed. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 8p.p.

Dates: 1953

North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.74
Scope and Contents

Blackpool. The Beverley Sisters, Phillip Kelly tenor, Jack Storey, Jack Desmonde, Virginia Vernon dancer, The Merritones vocal act, Larry Macklin, The Three Monarchs harmonica players, Diana Dove actress and singer, Dehl Trio Spider and the Fly Ballet, Freddie Harrison piano and acrobatics, The John Tiller Girls, Dancer not on Sunday-no dancing allowed. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 8p.p.

Dates: 1953

Oversize Variety and Music Hall Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, 1969 - 1979

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178R11.600-613
Scope and Contents

Variety and Music Hall poster printed by Taylor's of Wombwell.

Dates: 1969 - 1979

Pavillion Theatre Bournemouth Poster, 17 April 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.180
Scope and Contents

The Fabulous Beverley Sisters. Black and red type on yellow background.

Dates: 17 April 1978

Pavillion Theatre Bournemouth Poster, 17 April 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.181
Scope and Contents

The Fabulous Beverley Sisters. Black and red type on yellow background.

Dates: 17 April 1978

Posters, c1937 - 1989

 Series
Reference code: 178R11
Scope and Contents

A collection of posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell for music hall and variety, circus, pantomime and fairgrounds.

Dates: c1937 - 1989

Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows, c1890 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178K27
Scope and Contents

Circus, magic and variety show programmes including the Great Ohmy Circus, John Sanger Circus, Bertram Mills Circus and variety shows at various locations in Blackpool, London, Manchester and other theatres in England. Some of the variety performers showcased are Morecambe and Wise, Hetty King, Mae West, Bob Hope, Shirley Bassey, Larry Lamb and Cliff Richards.

Dates: c1890 - 1999

Spring Show '78 Poster, Week commencing 17 April 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.604
Scope and Contents

Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth. Beverley Sisters, Mike Scott, Roy 'Jake' Jacobs, The Dolly Set, Miki and Griff, Ray Paul and his music. Red and blue type on yellow background.

Dates: Week commencing 17 April 1978

Variety and Music Hall Poster Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, c1950 - 1989

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178R11.150-214, 178R11.250
Scope and Contents

Variety and Music Hall poster printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, including pantomimes and wrestling shows in theatre venues.

Dates: c1950 - 1989

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 9
Collection 2
 
Subject
Acrobats 5
Aerialists 3
Amusement rides 2
Animal trainers 3
Animals 4