Florence Desmond
Encyclopedia
Florence Desmond was the stage name
of Florence Dawson, an English actress, comedienne and impersonator
.
She was born Florence Dawson in London
in 1905 and educated at the Dame Alice Owen's School, Islington
. Her brother Fred Desmond was a comedy acrobat from the "Desmond and Marks" double act.
She began her stage career at age 10. Upon leaving school in 1920, she embarked on a long and successful career in the theatre
, especially as an impersonator of famous stars. She appeared extensively in radio
, theatre
and occasionally in the cinema
. She died in Guildford, Surrey in 1993 aged 87, where a Ward was named for her at St.Luke's Hospital.
She was married twice, first to the aviator Tom Campbell Black
from 1935–1936, then to aviator and insurance broker Charles Hughesdon from 1937 who she lived with at Dunsborough Park House in Ripley, Surrey
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Florence Dawson, an English actress, comedienne and impersonator
Impersonator
An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for someone to be an impersonator, some common ones being as follows:...
.
She was born Florence Dawson in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1905 and educated at the Dame Alice Owen's School, Islington
Dame Alice Owen's School
Dame Alice Owen's School is a mixed voluntary aided secondary school in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, founded in the London Borough of Islington.-Admissions:...
. Her brother Fred Desmond was a comedy acrobat from the "Desmond and Marks" double act.
She began her stage career at age 10. Upon leaving school in 1920, she embarked on a long and successful career in the theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, especially as an impersonator of famous stars. She appeared extensively in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and occasionally in the cinema
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. She died in Guildford, Surrey in 1993 aged 87, where a Ward was named for her at St.Luke's Hospital.
She was married twice, first to the aviator Tom Campbell Black
Tom Campbell Black
Tom Campbell Black, was a famous English aviator.He was the son of Alice Jean McCullough and Hugh Milner Black. He became a world famous aviator when he and C. W. A...
from 1935–1936, then to aviator and insurance broker Charles Hughesdon from 1937 who she lived with at Dunsborough Park House in Ripley, Surrey
Ripley, Surrey
Ripley is a village and parish in Surrey, which grew on the main A3 road from London to Portsmouth. The road was renumbered as B2215 when a bypass was built. The village is situated close to the M25 motorway and southeast of Woking, northeast of Guildford and some southwest of central London...
.
Stage
- "Still Dancing", 1925–1926
- "This Year of GraceThis Year of GraceThis Year of Grace is a revue with a book, music, and lyrics by Noël Coward.It opened in London on March 22, 1928 at the London Pavilion and ran nearly ten months, with a cast featuring Sonnie Hale, Maisie Gay, Jessie Matthews, Sheilah Graham and Tilly Losch among others. Doris Zinkeisen was one of...
", 1928 - "Why Not To-night?", 1933–1934
- "Funny Side Up", 1939–1940
- "Apple Sauce", 1940–1941
- "If the Shoe Fits", 1946
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1930 | The Road to Fortune The Road to Fortune The Road to Fortune is a 1930 British drama film directed by Arthur Varney and starring Guy Newall, Doria March and Florence Desmond. It was based on a novel by Hugh Broadbridge.... |
Toots Willoughby | |
| 1931 | Sally in Our Alley Sally in Our Alley Sally in Our Alley is a British romantic comedy drama film made at Ealing Studios. It was directed by Maurice Elvey and starred Gracie Fields, Ian Hunter, and Florence Desmond.... |
Florrie Small | |
| 1932 | Murder on the Second Floor Murder on the Second Floor Murder on the Second Floor is a 1932 British thriller film directed by William C. McGann and starring Pat Peterson, John Longden and Sydney Fairbrother. A novelist imagines the murders of his fellow tenants. It was based on a play with the same name by Frank Vosper.... |
Lucy | |
| The Marriage Bond | Elsie | ||
| Nine Till Six | Daisy | ||
| High Society | Florrie | ||
| Impromptu | Short film | ||
| The River House Ghost | Flo | ||
| 1933 | Radio Parade | ||
| Long Live the King | Florie | Short film | |
| My Lucky Star | Mlle. de Capo | ||
| Mr. Skitch | Flo | ||
| I am Suzanne I am Suzanne I Am Suzanne! is a 1933 American romance film set in Paris and dealing with puppeteers. It was directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Leslie Banks, Lilian Harvey and Gene Raymond.... |
Uncredited Voice Role | ||
| 1934 | Gay Love | Gloria Fellowes | |
| 1935 | No Limit No Limit (1936 film) No Limit is a 1935 British comedy film which was released by Associated Talking Pictures. It starred George Formby and Florence Desmond.-Synopsis:... |
Florrie Dibney | |
| 1936 | Keep Your Seats, Please Keep Your Seats, Please Keep Your Seats, Please is an ATP production comedy film made in 1936, starring George Formby and co-starring Florence Desmond, Alastair Sim, Gus McNaughton and Hal Gordon.... |
Florrie | |
| Accused Accused (film) Accused is a 1936 British mystery film directed by Thornton Freeland.-Plot:Two dance partners become embroiled in a murder mystery when one of the dancers is accused of murder.-Cast:*Douglas Fairbanks, Jr......Tony Seymour... |
Yvette Delange | ||
| 1938 | Kicking the Moon Around | Flo Hadley | |
| 1940 | Hoots Mon! | Jenny McTavish | |
| 1950 | Three Came Home Three Came Home Three Came Home is a post-war film made by Twentieth Century-Fox, based on the memoirs of the same name by writer Agnes Newton Keith. It depicts Keith's life in North Borneo in the period immediately before the Japanese invasion in 1942, and her subsequent internment and suffering, separated from... |
Betty Sommers | |
| 1956 | Charley Moon Charley Moon Charley Moon is a 1956 British film directed by Guy Hamilton. It stars Max Bygraves, Dennis Price and Shirley Eaton.-Cast:* Max Bygraves as Charley Moon* Dennis Price as Harold Armytage* Michael Medwin as Alf Higgins* Florence Desmond as Mary Minton... |
Mary Minton | |
| 1969 | Some Girls Do Some Girls Do Some Girls Do is a 1969 British comedy spy film directed by Ralph Thomas. It was the second of the revamped Bulldog Drummond films made following the success of the James Bond films of the 1960's.-Cast:... |
Lady Manderville | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1951 | Your Show of Shows Your Show of Shows Your Show of Shows is a live 90-minute variety show that appeared weekly in the United States on NBC , from February 25, 1950, until June 5, 1954, featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.... |
Episode: 15 December 1951 | |