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THM/108 - Maudie Edwards Archive
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Maudie Edwards Archive

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This material is held at V&A Department of Theatre and Performance
Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108
Dates of Creation1906-1991
Name of CreatorElizabeth Maud Edwards
Language of Material English
Physical Description 14 boxes (260 files)

Scope and Content

Arrangement

The original working order of this archive had largely been lost. It has therefore been divided into 9 series:

  • THM/108/1: Performance Papers
  • THM/108/2: Sound Recordings
  • THM/108/3: Contracts and Business Papers
  • THM/108/4: Papers Relating to Professional Career
  • THM/108/5: Promotional Material
  • THM/108/6: Photographs
  • THM/108/7: Press Cuttings and Magazines
  • THM/108/8: Correspondence
  • THM/108/9: Personal Papers

This archive consists of chiefly unbound professional papers such as scripts, lyrics and music. These documents range in size and quality from complete scripts to unidentified fragments of lyrics. Much of this material is annotated, indicating the processes of drafting and performance. The rest of the collection covers contracts and business papers, correspondence, photographs, press cuttings and promotional material. The collection does also contain a few personal papers, such as copies of her birth, marriage and death certificates, and an identity card for her employment to entertain the troops.

Administrative / Biographical History

Elizabeth Maud Edwards (1906-1991), known throughout her career as Maudie Edwards, was born in Neath, Wales. A popular principal boy in pantomime, she was a versatile comedy performer with a career spanning theatre, radio, television and film. She first performed at the age of 4 with her father and older sister, May, in a show entitled ' Ned Edwards and His Two Little Queenies' at Vints Palace Theatre, Neath. She later established her own repertory company, the Maudie Edwards Players, based at the Palace Theatre, Swansea.

Known as 'the voice of Wales', she became a popular radio personality on programmes including " Welsh Rarebit", " Variety Bandbox" and " Worker's Playtime". Her performances were often in the music hall style, making use of her talent for regional dialects and her singing voice. As well as performing material written and adapted for her by writers such as Lew Jacobson, she also wrote some of her own material, most notably the words and music for the song " Barmitzwah Boy". Her skill for entertaining was made use of during the Second World War, when she was employed by the Entertainments National Service Association ( E.N.S.A.) to entertain the troops.

She made her film debut in " Flying Doctors" in 1936, and appeared in several films after this such as " The Shipbuilders" (1943) and " Girdle of Gold" (1952). In the 1940s she also provided a singing voice for film stars such as Margaret Lockwood in " I'll Be Your Sweetheart" (1945) and Diana Dors in " Diamond City" (1949). Her popularity was demonstrated by her appearance with Frank Sinatra at the London Palladium in 1950.

In 1960 she appeared as the character Elsie Lappin in the first two episodes of long-running television soap opera," Coronation Street", speaking the first words in the show's history. It was after the release of the films " Under Milk Wood" and " Burke & Hare" in 1972 that she retired to Putney, London, where she lived until her death in 1991.

Conditions Governing Access

Access to some items may be restricted. These are identified at file level.

Conditions Governing Use

Archive material may not be photocopied. Arrangements can be made to photograph material in the search room using non-flash photography.

Acquisition Information

The Maudie Edwards Archive was deposited in the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1993, as a gift from Geoffrey Fooks, brother-in-law of Maudie Edwards.

Custodial History

These papers were in the custody of Maudie Edwards until her death in 1991, after which time they remained with her husband, William Fooks.

Accruals

No further accruals to this collection are expected.

Related Material

See also the core collections of the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance. Material may be found in several collections, including the biographical and photograph files. Please ask for details.

Information on access to material in the Theatre and Performance collections is available on the research pages.

Subjects

Coronation Street (Television program)

Personal Names

Edwards, Maudie. ( 1906-1991)

Corporate Names

Entertainments National Service Association (Great Britain)

Geographical Names

Neath (Wales) Google Maps

Cataloguing Info

TitleMaudie Edwards Archive
Sub-titleCatalogue of records in the Victoria and Albert Museum: Theatre & Performance
AuthorCatalogued by Adele Allen
Revisions

Performance Papers

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1
Dates of Creationmid 20th century (primarily 1941-1957)
Physical Description 162 files

Scope and Content

This series contains scripts, lyrics and music used by Maudie Edwards during her career. As they are largely loose papers they contain a significant number of unidentified and draft fragments. A large proportion of the documents have been annotated either during the process of drafting, or with instructions for performance.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by name of programme when clearly stated, and by name of song or script where no programme title apparent. Untitled fragments grouped at the end of the series.

Related Material

See also THM/108/2 for sound recordings of some songs and programmes appearing in this series.

Typed script of All in the Family [Television]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/1
Dates of Creationca.1956
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Maudie Edwards' copy of the typescript of the film "All in the Family", an original story and screenplay by Martin Stern. Changes in characters' names are noted at the front of the script, and pencil annotations occur throughout.

Manuscript music for All I Ever Need is You

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/2
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Annotated.

Typed lyrics for All My Homeland, by Johnny Darro

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/3
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Typed lyrics and manuscript music for Always Walk Towards My Dream

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/4
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (6 items)

Typed lyrics for Ar Hyd A Nos

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/5
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Lyrics written in Welsh

Typed lyrics for Arthur Murray

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/6
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

A parody for Maudie Edwards by Ray Sonin.

Typed script of Atlantic Spotlight. NBC Exchange Programme [radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/7
Dates of CreationSep 23 1944
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

The script of No.39 of the radio programme "Atlantic Spotlight", featuring performers from London and New York. The script was written by Jimmy Dyrenforth. Pencil annotations have been made to Maudie Edwards' section of the script (pp.6-8).

Manuscript music for Baby Does Know

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/8
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Typed lyrics for Baby Doesn't Care

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/9
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Lyrics and manuscript music for Baby, You're Not for Me

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/10
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (2 item)

Scope and Content

The file contains typed lyrics for "Baby, You're Not For Me", with a compliments of the British Broadcasting Corporation slip attached.

Typed script of Bank Holiday in London Town [radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/11
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Lyrics and manuscript music for Bargain in Love

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/12
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (3 items)

Lyrics and manuscript music for Barmitzva Boy [ Barmitzwah Boy]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/13
Dates of Creationca.1956
Physical Description 1 folder

Manuscript music for Because I'm Up For Sale

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/14
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Lyrics and music for Beauty's Only Skin Deep

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/15
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (3 items)

Cover Sheet for the typed script of The Big Show - No.3 [radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/16
Dates of CreationFeb 11 1945
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Manuscript music for Boogie Man

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/17
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (3 items)

Printed sheet music for Boom

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/18
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 items)

Scope and Content

Annotated music.

Manuscript lyrics for Break O' Dawn

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/19
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Typed script for Broadway Melody [radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/20
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Annotated script.

Typed script of Emile Littler's Bruno and Sidney

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/21
Dates of Creation1953
Physical Description 1 folder

Scope and Content

Script of a 'Comedy in Three Acts by Edward Caulfield'. Second edition with additional dialogue by Emile Littler. Annotated and bound copy, and some additional loose pages.

Typed scripts for the Carroll Levis Show [radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/22
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (2 items)

Scope and Content

File contains an annotated script fragment featuring Maudie Edwards' lines, and a Lew Jacobson script "Let's Have a Party" written for the Carroll Levis Show, with accompanying manuscript music and lyrics.

Manuscript music for Carry ye down to Carlow

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/23
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Typed script of a "Musical Theatre of the Air" play, Choir Practice: A Storm in a Welsh Tea-Cup [Radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/24
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 items)

Scope and Content

Annotated script of a play by Cliff Gordon.

Typed script fragment of Christmas Greetings [Radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/25
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Script by Lew Jacobson.

Typed script and letter concerning Come and Get It [Radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/26
Dates of CreationJun 1 1950
Physical Description 1 folder (2 items)

Scope and Content

Letter from the Head of Variety at the British Broadcasting Corporation, declining the offer of a script written by Johnny Darro for Maudie Edwards. Script enclosed.

Typed script for Consequences [Radio]

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/27
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Script by Lew Jacobson.

Manuscript music for Cuddle Up

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/28
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Script by Lew Jacobson.

Typed Lyrics for Cymru Fad

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/29
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Lyrics written in Welsh.

Typed script of The Day Before Tomorrow, A Light Comedy' by Robert Gould.

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/30
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (1 item)

Scope and Content

Annotated script.

Typed lyrics and manuscript music for Desire

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/31
Dates of Creation1949
Physical Description 1 folder (2 items)

Scope and Content

Annotated lyrics.

Typed lyrics and manuscript music for Did You Ever See?

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/32
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (12 items)

Typed lyrics and manuscript music for Don't Go Down to the Port, Polly, by Cecil Wilson

Reference Number(s)GB 71 THM/108/1/33
Dates of Creationca.1930-1950
Physical Description 1 folder (2 items)
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