Description
Object description
Collection of diaries, letters, photographs, and newscuttings related to his performing as an impressionist and principal comedian with RAF gang shows and RAF Welfare productions in India and Burma, while serving as a Leading Aircraftman. Collection includes:
Two ms diaries (1945-1946), the first covering applying for a show (Jan 1945), dental treatment (February 1945), seeing a gang show, performing with 'Air Male Only' in Mysore, India (March 1945), passing an audition for a travelling concert party in Delhi (April 1945), joining 'Riding High' show at Palam, Delhi, Willingdon, Yelahanka, and RAF Bally near Calcutta, performing at Salboni and hearing the news of VE Day "No celebrations! There's still a war on out here in India!!!" (8 May 1945), Flying to Rangoon, Burma (May 1945), being in the first concert party to perform in Rangoon since it was recaptured (28 May 1945), performing for Sir Keith Park, AOC Air Forces, Burma, moving to Toungoo, Burma (June 1945), performing at Kinmagan, Myingyan, and Meiktila (July 1945), returning to Rangoon, embarking on HMS DEVONSHIRE for Calcutta, performing at 35th Personnel Transit Centre, moving to Bangalore (August 1945), doing cabaret slots, performing at Kolar, moving to Secunderbad, and then Warangal, performing for RAF Regiment audiences (September 1945), returning to Delhi, moving to Naini Tal, returning to Delhi (October 1945), visiting Agra, and the Taj Mahal, performing in Jodhpur, Salawas, and Karachi, moving to Mauripur (November 1945), performing in Quetta, Lahore, Chakala, Peshawar, Kohat, Rissalpur, having their 100th performance at Ambala (December 1945), performing at Allahabad, and RAF Stations, spending Christmas alone on the camp in Bamrauli, moving to Katni, and New Year's reception at BMH Jubbelpore. The second diary covering arriving in Nagpur, performing in Bhopal, Agra, and Worli Transit Camp and for various units at Bombay (January 1946), moving to Secunderbad (February 1946), Hakimpet, and Delhi, 'Riding High' concert party's last show (15 February 1946), moving to Bombay (March 1945), embarking in HMS GEORGIC for the UK (April 1945), smallpox outbreak on board, disembarking at Liverpool, returning home and civvy street (May 1946), going to shows with Bertha, and starting work with the World Friendship Association (June 1946) where the diary ends. Throughout the two diaries contain entries about the shows he performed with, with some reactions to the performances, the casts, details of social life, films he watched, gift parcels sent to family at home, Indian radio broadcasts he made, and the travelling;
An exercise book containing an unfinished ms account entitled 'Riding High' (41pp) about the tour of India and Burma (March to June 1945), with throughout details of the eight members of the concert party, and their production crew, the producer Bill Sutton, and Charles W Fletcher, travel, staging, critiques of performances and audience reactions, radio broadcasts, transcriptions of extracts from reports from officers thanking them for the shows, sickness cancelling some performances, details of the first entertainment show to play in Rangoon since its recapture, performing for ACM Sir Keith Park, conditions, travelling and difficulties;
A large map of India and Burma on which he has annotated his routes and where he performed;
Article from the ABC 'News' (1946) about his twelve months with RAF Welfare production 'Riding High';
A scrap book containing various telegrams, receipts, tickets, banknotes, programmes for 'Men Only' revue (RAF Defford, May-June 1944), newspaper cuttings advertising or reviewing the concerts, original posters for 'Riding High', including the poster for their show in Rangoon, annotated with messages from the cast, photographs of him at the Taj Mahal (October 1945), copies of Kolar Klarion newspaper publicising 'Air Male Only';
Pages from an earlier scrap book containing programmes, press cuttings, and photos of the casts from civilian and RAF shows he worked with, including three shows performed at RAF Defford, Worcestershire, 'Shooting High' (July 1943) 'Blue's Away' (February 1944), and 'Men Only' (May – June 1944);
Original 'Riding High' tour programme (October 1945 – January 1946);
Poster for Air Command SEA Welfare show 'Variety Band Box', New Delhi, 2 March 1946;
His National Registration Identity Card (May 1946);
A note from Kennington Road Police Station certifying that his house in Sancroft Street, Lambeth, had been damage as a result of enemy action (10 May 1941);
Royal Air Force Gang Shows Association Reunion Dinner Menu (1961);
Various newspaper cuttings with adverts and reviews of shows he was in;
c.50 annotated photographs of him and others in Delhi, Naini Tal (September – October 1945), Taj Mahal, Agra, and Karachi (October 1945), Worli, Bombay (January 1946), and various street scenes and tourist shots;
c.35 photographs of Eldridge, including in uniform, in drag, and performing with the casts of 'Blues Away' and 'Riding High' (1941-1945);
11 headshots and publicity photographs under his peacetime stage name 'Stan Ross'.
Content description
Collection of diaries, letters, photographs, and newscuttings related to his performing as an impressionist and principal comedian with RAF gang shows and RAF Welfare productions in India and Burma, while serving as a Leading Aircraftman. Collection includes:
Two ms diaries (1945-1946), the first covering applying for a show (Jan 1945), dental treatment (February 1945), seeing a gang show, performing with 'Air Male Only' in Mysore, India (March 1945), passing an audition for a travelling concert party in Delhi (April 1945), joining 'Riding High' show at Palam, Delhi, Willingdon, Yelahanka, and RAF Bally near Calcutta, performing at Salboni and hearing the news of VE Day "No celebrations! There's still a war on out here in India!!!" (8 May 1945), Flying to Rangoon, Burma (May 1945), being in the first concert party to perform in Rangoon since it was recaptured (28 May 1945), performing for Sir Keith Park, AOC Air Forces, Burma, moving to Toungoo, Burma (June 1945), performing at Kinmagan, Myingyan, and Meiktila (July 1945), returning to Rangoon, embarking on HMS DEVONSHIRE for Calcutta, performing at 35th Personnel Transit Centre, moving to Bangalore (August 1945), doing cabaret slots, performing at Kolar, moving to Secunderbad, and then Warangal, performing for RAF Regiment audiences (September 1945), returning to Delhi, moving to Naini Tal, returning to Delhi (October 1945), visiting Agra, and the Taj Mahal, performing in Jodhpur, Salawas, and Karachi, moving to Mauripur (November 1945), performing in Quetta, Lahore, Chakala, Peshawar, Kohat, Rissalpur, having their 100th performance at Ambala (December 1945), performing at Allahabad, and RAF Stations, spending Christmas alone on the camp in Bamrauli, moving to Katni, and New Year's reception at BMH Jubbelpore. The second diary covering arriving in Nagpur, performing in Bhopal, Agra, and Worli Transit Camp and for various units at Bombay (January 1946), moving to Secunderbad (February 1946), Hakimpet, and Delhi, 'Riding High' concert party's last show (15 February 1946), moving to Bombay (March 1945), embarking in HMS GEORGIC for the UK (April 1945), smallpox outbreak on board, disembarking at Liverpool, returning home and civvy street (May 1946), going to shows with Bertha, and starting work with the World Friendship Association (June 1946) where the diary ends. Throughout the two diaries contain entries about the shows he performed with, with some reactions to the performances, the casts, details of social life, films he watched, gift parcels sent to family at home, Indian radio broadcasts he made, and the travelling;
An exercise book containing an unfinished ms account entitled 'Riding High' (41pp) about the tour of India and Burma (March to June 1945), with throughout details of the eight members of the concert party, and their production crew, the producer Bill Sutton, and Charles W Fletcher, travel, staging, critiques of performances and audience reactions, radio broadcasts, transcriptions of extracts from reports from officers thanking them for the shows, sickness cancelling some performances, details of the first entertainment show to play in Rangoon since its recapture, performing for ACM Sir Keith Park, conditions, travelling and difficulties;
A large map of India and Burma on which he has annotated his routes and where he performed;
Article from the ABC 'News' (1946) about his twelve months with RAF Welfare production 'Riding High';
A scrap book containing various telegrams, receipts, tickets, banknotes, programmes for 'Men Only' revue (RAF Defford, May-June 1944), newspaper cuttings advertising or reviewing the concerts, original posters for 'Riding High', including the poster for their show in Rangoon, annotated with messages from the cast, photographs of him at the Taj Mahal (October 1945), copies of Kolar Klarion newspaper publicising 'Air Male Only';
Pages from an earlier scrap book containing programmes, press cuttings, and photos of the casts from civilian and RAF shows he worked with, including three shows performed at RAF Defford, Worcestershire, 'Shooting High' (July 1943) 'Blue's Away' (February 1944), and 'Men Only' (May – June 1944);
Original 'Riding High' tour programme (October 1945 – January 1946);
Poster for Air Command SEA Welfare show 'Variety Band Box', New Delhi, 2 March 1946;
His National Registration Identity Card (May 1946);
A note from Kennington Road Police Station certifying that his house in Sancroft Street, Lambeth, had been damage as a result of enemy action (10 May 1941);
Royal Air Force Gang Shows Association Reunion Dinner Menu (1961);
Various newspaper cuttings with adverts and reviews of shows he was in;
c.50 annotated photographs of him and others in Delhi, Naini Tal (September – October 1945), Taj Mahal, Agra, and Karachi (October 1945), Worli, Bombay (January 1946), and various street scenes and tourist shots;
c.35 photographs of Eldridge, including in uniform, in drag, and performing with the casts of 'Blues Away' and 'Riding High' (1941-1945);
11 headshots and publicity photographs under his peacetime stage name 'Stan Ross'.