Archive of Sandra Wells, Ventriloquist and Pantomime Artist
| This material is held at | V&A Department of Theatre and Performance |
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1934-1970 |
| Name of Creator | Sandra Wells |
| Language of Material | English |
| Physical Description | 86 files |
Scope and Content
This archive contains a quantity of cuttings, photographs, programmes and audio recording all relating to the career of Sandra Wells in pantomime and Variety.
Administrative / Biographical History
Sandra Wells was born Ruth Lilian Clarke in Torquay in 1906. She was a versatile performer whose career on the variety stage encompassed music dance, ventriloquism and pantomime. She learnt her craft at the Theatre Royal Margate, and on tour with the last travelling folding theatre in the country, owned by Inmann's. Upon going solo she became the successful flamenco dancer Janita. After marrying Mark Bennett, director of the Bennett Brothers Variety Show in 1934 (they divorced in 1940) she adopted the stage name Joy Wilby. As Joy Wilby she began her career performing a touring song and dance act and during the second world war she performed with ENSA, playing xylophone and saxophone to the troops in England and, after D-Day to bases in Germany. After the war she adopted the stage name Sandra Wells and as such she became one of the very few successful female ventriloquists, developing an original act with her doll Horace Higgs and her two glove puppets Ernie and Elsie. In the 1950s and 1960s she specialised in pantomime as a pantomime cat, appearing amongst others with Richard Hearne, Bud Flanigan and Tommy Trinder. Her second husband, the violinist William Mclean, died in 1989 and Sandra Wells died on the 6th February, 1992.
Arrangement
This archive has been arranged into nine series, those being:
- THM/242/1- Photographs
- THM/242/2- Press Cuttings
- THM/242/3- Programmes
- THM/242/4- Sheet Music
- THM/242/5- Audio Recording
- THM/242/6- Games and tricks explained and handwritten by Sandra Wells
- THM/242/7- Books and booklets
- THM/242/8- Performance papers
- THM/242/9- Stage props
- THM/242/10- Personal papers
Conditions Governing Access
Access to some of these files 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
Purchased from Sonia Murray, daughter of Sandra Wells, in July 1992.
Accruals
No further material will be added to this collection.
Related Material
See also the core collections of the V&A Theatre and Performance Department. Material relating to Sandra Wells may be found in several collections, including the biographical, productions, company and photograph files.
Two vent figures (museum numbers S.2678-2010 and S.2679-2010) were also acquired from Sandra Wells, which were used for the double act Ernie and Elsie, performed by Sandra Wells. Further information about these two dolls can be found on http://collections.vam.ac.uk/.
Please ask for details.
Photographs
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/1 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1934-1970 |
| Physical Description | 7 files |
Scope and Content
Photographs which date from the early part of Sandra Wells career when she was dancing and playing the xylophone to the later part of her career when she performed as a pantomime cat.
Photographs of Sandra Wells performing as a pantomime cat.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/1/1 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950-1969 |
| Physical Description | 21 items |
Photographs of Sandra Wells performing her ventriloquism act with the ventriloquist doll Horace Higgs.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/1/2 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1940s |
| Physical Description | 7 items |
Photographs of Sandra Wells performing her ventriloquism act with the glove puppets Ernie and Elsie.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/1/3 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1940s |
| Physical Description | 4 items |
Photographs of Sandra Wells in various different performances.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/1/4 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1940-1970 |
| Physical Description | 10 items |
Scope and Content
Also includes 2 photographs of her dancing when she was known as Ruth Lilian Clarke (labelled).
Photographs of Sandra Wells performing with a xylophone and saxophone.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/1/5 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1939-1945 |
| Physical Description | 5 items |
Scope and Content
Sandra Wells was also using the stage name Joy Wilby at this time.
Large portrait in colour of Sandra Wells
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/1/6 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Photographs of Mark Bennett, first husband of Sandra Wells.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/1/7 |
| Dates of Creation | 1934-1940 |
| Physical Description | 5 items |
Scope and Content
Sandra Wells and Mark Bennett were married in 1934 and divorced in 1940.
Press Cuttings
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/2 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 3 files |
Scope and Content
These press cuttings are from both English and German newspapers which have commented on the performances by Sandra Wells/ Joy Wilby.
Press cuttings relating to Sandra Wells and her ventriloquist acts.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/2/1 |
| Dates of Creation | 1958-1965 |
| Physical Description | 8 items |
Press cuttings relating to Sandra Wells performing as a pantomime cat
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/2/2 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950-1969 |
| Physical Description | 26 items |
Scope and Content
Sandra Wells performed as the pantomime cat in Dick Whittington and Puss in Boots productions.
Press cuttings relating to Joy Wilby and Sandra Wells in various performances.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/2/3 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 2 items |
Programmes
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 2 files |
Scope and Content
These files contain programmes collected by Sandra Wells which show both her performances as a pantomime cat and a ventriloquist. There are also programmes which list Joy Wilby as the performer.
Programmes of performances in which Sandra Wells plays the pantomime cat
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950s-1960s |
| Physical Description | 14 items |
Scope and Content
These programmes show performances in which Sandra Wells performed as the pantomime cat. They are arranged in alphabetical order.
Cardiff New Theatre, Puss In Boots
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/1 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950s-1960s |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Chester Royalty Theatre, Dick Whittington
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/2 |
| Dates of Creation | 1959-1960 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
County Theatre Haverfordwest, Dick Whittington And His Cat
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/3 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950s-1960s |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Granada Brixton, Puss in Boots
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/4 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950s-1960s |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Hippodrome Stockton, Dick Whittington And His Cat
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/5 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950s-1960s |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Lewisham Concert Hall, Dick Whittington
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/6 |
| Dates of Creation | 1969 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
New Theatre Oxford, Dick Whittington
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/7 |
| Dates of Creation | 1966 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Opera House Workington, Dick Whittington
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/8 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950s-1960s |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Pavilion Theatre Glasgow, Dick Whittington
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/9 |
| Dates of Creation | 1962 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Playhouse Bury St. Edmunds, Dick Whittington And His Cat
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/10 |
| Dates of Creation | 1956 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Playhouse Theatre Colchester, Dick Whittington And His Cat
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/11 |
| Dates of Creation | 1955 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Royalty Theatre Chester, Dick Whittington
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/12 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1950s-1960s |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Sunderland Empire Theatre, Puss in Boots
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/13 |
| Dates of Creation | 1965 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Swansea Grand Theatre, Dick Whittington
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/1/14 |
| Dates of Creation | 1967 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Programmes of Sandra Wells ventriloquist act, programmes which list Joy Wilby and other roles played by Sandra Wells.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 8 items |
Scope and Content
These programmes were collected by Sandra Wells and show the performances she starred in with her ventriloquist act. There are also programmes which list Joy Wilby as appearing. They are arranged alphabetically by the name of the theatre and also state the name of the performance, after the theatre, in the title if it was listed.
Bournemouth Follies
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2/1 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
Sandra Wells is listed as playing Connie Olive.
Felixstowe Three Arts Club, The Sign of Good Entertainment
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2/2 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
The performance is listed as The Sign of Good Entertainment and Sandra Wells plays Sylvia.
Hippodrome
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2/3 |
| Dates of Creation | 1940 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
Joy Wilby is listed as a real surprise. Comedienne-Instrumentalist.
Parade Bandstand Worthing, Rendezvous
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2/4 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
Rendezvous lists Sandra Wells and the Bride and Groom and a further listing of Sandra Wells playing Her Mother.
Regal Wells, Babes in the Wood
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2/5 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
Sandra Wells listed as playing Rosie Posie and a further mention of Additional Specialities by Sandra Wells, The International Xylophonist and Lady Ventriloquiste with Horace Higgs the Life-size Walking Doll.
St. Anne’s Pier Pavilion, Summertime Serenade
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2/6 |
| Dates of Creation | 1956 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
Sandra Wells is listed as "That very versatile Ventriloquiste".
Theatre Royal Loughborough, Variety
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2/7 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
Sandra Wells listed as with Horace Higgs, also Elsie and Ernie – Britain’s foremost lady ventriloquist.
Unlisted theatre, The Pantomime The Queen of Hearts
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/3/2/8 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
The programme lists Joy Wilby and Horace Higgs.
Sheet Music
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/4 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 19 items |
Scope and Content
The sheet music was used by Sandra Wells during her performances in Variety. They have been listed alphabetically by title.
Anyone can be a Millionaire
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/242/4/1 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. mid 20th century |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Scope and Content
Handwritten sheet music. Unknown composer.
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