Trixie Scales Archive
| This material is held at | V & A Department of Theatre & Performance |
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47 |
| Dates of Creation | 1920-1970 |
| Name of Creator | Ray Gupta |
| Language of Material | English |
| Physical Description | 5 boxes (31 files) |
Scope and Content
This collection consists of the personal papers, business correspondence, personal and production photographs, providing much information about the stage career of Trixie Scales and some material relating her husband, stage director Pat Anslow Austin between 1926-1970s.
The extensive range of production photos, publicity shots and personal photographs provides an unusual and detailed insight into the costumes and stage sets of famous West End revue shows of the 1920s and 1930s, particularly those of Andre Charlot.
Letters in this archive include one from Will Hay to Trixie Scales' mother, and letters to Trixie herself from John Mills, Frankie Howerd, and perhaps surprisingly, Edwina Mountbatten. There are also several original posters from productions featuring Trixie Scales. Later material includes correspondence about the Trixie Scales Theatrical Agency. Two Stage Director's books belonging to Pat Austin are also included in the archive.
Administrative / Biographical History
Trixie Scales was born on 9 July 1914 attended dancing classes as a child and appeared in amateur performances from an early age. She began her career as a chorus girl, appearing on stage in Andre Charlot's Revue of 1928 when she was just 14 years old.
Trixie Scales continued her career as a chorus girl in West End musicals, variety shows and revues, particularly those produced by Andre Charlot. In 1941, Trixie Scales married the stage director Pat Anslow Austin after he proposed to her by telegram at the Cabaret Club from his troop ship in Iceland. They worked together in a number of London musicals.
Trixie Scales went on to appear in cabaret shows, acted in small parts in British films - including In Which We Serve. Trixie Scales was also known as Julie Anslow later in her career. She eventually established her own theatrical agency.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The archive is arranged in four series:
- THM/47/1 - Contracts and Correspondence Series
- THM/47/2 - Photographs
- THM/47/3 - Miscellaneous Printed Material
- THM/47/4 - Pat Austin Material
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is available for consultation in the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance's Reading Room, which is located at Blythe House, 23 Blythe Rd, Olympia, London, W14 0QX. The Reading Room is open Tuesday to Friday between 10.15 am and 4.30 pm. Access to it is by appointment only. To request an appointment please email tmenquiries@vam.ac.uk or telephone 020 7942 2698.
Access to some of these files may be restricted. These are identified at file level.
Conditions Governing Use
Archival material may not be photocopied. Arrangements can be made to photograph material in the reading room using non-flash photography.
Acquisition Information
The archive was given to the Theatre Museum by Ray Gupta.
Custodial History
The archive was part of the estate of Trixie Scales.
Accruals
No further accruals are acquired.
Alternative Form Available
Some of the newspaper reviews of early productions are fragile, therefore photocopies are supplied for readers to use.
Letters and Contracts
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1 |
| Dates of Creation | 1928-1962 |
| Physical Description | 13 files |
Scope and Content
Contracts issued to Trixie Scales, particularly from Andre Charlot and Jack Hylton. Also contracts relating to Trixie Scales as Ballet Mistress for pantomimes. The archive also contains contracts and letters relating to Trixie Scales' own theatrical agency, established in 1963. Most letters relate contracts and work, but do include some personal correspondence, including a letter from Edwina Mountbatten, thanking Trixie Scales for her participation in a charity show, and from Will Hay to Trixie Scales' mother in 1933. There are also letters in reply to letters sent by Trixie, including a letter from John Mills apologising that he cannot offer her any work at present (1953), a letter of thanks from Frankie Howerd, remembering her husband, and from David Jacobs, thanking her for writing to him. Telegrams to Trixie Scales also form part of this archive, mostly sent by family members to wish her luck in her new show, but there is also a telegram from Jack Hylton.
Arranged chronologically.
First employment contracts and letters
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/1 |
| Dates of Creation | 1928 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Early contracts and letters for West End shows
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/2 |
| Dates of Creation | 1930-1931 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Contracts: Chorus and pantomime work
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/3 |
| Dates of Creation | 1932 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Dancing, acting and modelling contracts
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/4 |
| Dates of Creation | 1933-1934 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Contracts for appearance in revues
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/5 |
| Dates of Creation | 1935-1936 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Chorus, skater and dancer contracts
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/7 |
| Dates of Creation | 1936-1938 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Receipts, contract, union card and payslips
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/7 |
| Dates of Creation | 1943-1945 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
' Julie Anslow' contracts
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/8 |
| Dates of Creation | 1950-1952 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
' Julie Anslow'/ Trixie Scales contracts and television work
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/9 |
| Dates of Creation | 1953-1955 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Cabaret letters, contracts and T.V. payslips. Trixie Scales' Equity card
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/10 |
| Dates of Creation | 1956-1962 and undated |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Personal letters from John Mills, Frankie Howerd, David Jacobs and others
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/11 |
| Dates of Creation | 1933-1960 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Trixie Scales Theatrical Agency
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/12 |
| Dates of Creation | 1963-1975 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Telegrams
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/1/13 |
| Dates of Creation | 1928-1955 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Photographs albums and assorted loose photographs
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/2 |
| Dates of Creation | One photograph album dated 1928-1930, one undated, assorted loose photographs 1920s-1950s |
| Physical Description | 6 files |
Scope and Content
A number of production photographs, publicity shots of Trixie Scales, and numerous undated personal photographs. Another album, probably created by Trixie Scales herself features production and cast photos of Charlot Revues that she had appeared in, such as Follow Through and The Prosperity Party.
Arranged by category of photograph: publicity photographs; production photographs; signed photographs; personal and miscellaneous photographs.
Photograph album
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/2/1 |
| Dates of Creation | undated |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Scope and Content
Photograph album. Various unlabelled photographs, personal. Undated. 23 pages of photographs. Includes a postcard of 'The Actors Orphanage, Main Entrance'.
Photograph album
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/2/2 |
| Dates of Creation | ca.1920s-1930s |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Scope and Content
Black photograph album, made from a ruled notebook. Contains photographs from Charlot Revues. Start General Line-ups 1928. Next signed portraits of various artistes. Next photographs from " Follow Through" in 1929. Then portraits of some of the cast of "Follow Through". After these are some newspaper reviews of "Follow Through. Then various photographs and cast portraits for an 1930 revue by Chocrians. Then " The Prosperity Party" at the Trocadero - various cast photographs.
Publicity photographs of Trixie Scales
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/2/3 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1920s-1950s |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Assorted production photographs featuring Trixie Scales
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/2/4 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1930-1940s |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Assorted signed publicity photographs dedicated to Trixie Scales and Pat Austin from friends and colleagues
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/2/5 |
| Dates of Creation | ca.1930-1940s |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Assorted personal and miscellaneous photos, and hand-painted portrait and costume illustration
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/2/6 |
| Dates of Creation | ca.1930s-1940s |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Press cuttings and magazines and periodicals
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3 |
| Dates of Creation | ca. 1930 - 1974, and undated |
| Physical Description | 10 files |
Scope and Content
Reviews, newspaper images, and related articles about various productions including: C.B. Cochran's 1930 Revue at the London Pavilion; 'London's First Pantomime' Sleeping Beauty at the Vaudeville; Viktoria and Her Hussar at the Palace Theatre; 'Please' at the Alhambra; Tip-Toes; Lucky Lady at the Carlton; The Prosperity Party at the Trocadero; Let's Raise the Curtain at the Victoria Palace; Stop & Go at the Vaudeville; How D'You Do? at the Comedy Theatre; Char-a-Bang at the Vaudeville Theatre; Hi-Diddle-Diddle at the Comedy Theatre.
Front page of The Sketch featuring a full page black and white photograph of [Trixie Scales] as one of C.B.Cochran's Young Ladies of the 'Revue of 1930', dated Wednesday 2nd July 1930; a front page from ' The Daily Mail' featuring Trixie Scales in an advertisement for 'Pepsodent' toothpaste, dated Thursday 26th June 1930.
Article entitled 'The Theatre Does its Share in Dispelling Depression' by Harold Conway. Article about value of entertainment and theatre during the Depression.
Arrangement
Arranged by production.
Assorted press cuttings
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/1 |
| Dates of Creation | 1930-1938, some undated |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Assorted press cuttings
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/2 |
| Dates of Creation | 1938-1974, some undated |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Programmes
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3 |
| Dates of Creation | ca.1920-1936 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Programme for revue pieces featuring ' Olive Scales' [original name of Trixie Scales] in 'Apache Dance' and ' Violet Scales' in a solo
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/1 |
| Dates of Creation | undated |
Programme for Andre Charlot's The Town Talks, Palace Theatre, London, featuring Trixie Scales as 'The Child' in Weekends. Stage Director Pat Anslow Austin
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/2 |
| Dates of Creation | Apr 27 1927 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Programme for 'Charlot 1928', A Revue.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/3 |
| Dates of Creation | Nov 19 1928 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Programme for the First Annual Dinner-Dance at the Kit-Kat Restaurant
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/4 |
| Dates of Creation | Dec 1928 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Programme for The Prosperity Party at the Trocadero Grill Room, featuring Trixie Scales as 'Devonshire Net'.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/5 |
| Dates of Creation | Nov 8 1930 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Programme for Charles B. Cochran's Creation at the Trocadero Grill room, featuring Trixie Scales as 'Fruit'.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/6 |
| Dates of Creation | Jan 16 1932 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Programme for Men About the House at the Theatre Royal, Bournemouth. Pat Anslow Austin as Stage Manager and featuring Pat Anslow Austin as one of the 'Republican Soldiers'.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/7 |
| Dates of Creation | May 23 1932 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Programme for Men About the House, at the Globe Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London. Pat Anslow Austin as Stage Manager and featuring Pat Anslow Austin as one of the 'Republican Soldiers'.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/8 |
| Dates of Creation | Jun 07 1932 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
Programme in the form of an invitation to a wedding reception given by Capt. and the Hon. Mrs Cunningham Reid, for a cabaret at the Wharncliffe Room, Hotel Great Central, featuring Trixie Scales as part of a dance act.
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/47/3/3/9 |
| Dates of Creation | Jul 05 1932 |
| Physical Description | 1 item |
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