{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1152145"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1152145/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT8626/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT8626/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MT8626","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1152145","accessionNumber":"S.5032-2009","objectType":"Contract","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This letter of agreement, kept by Norah Blaney, refers to an engagement with Gwen Farrar in <i>The House that Jack Built,</i>a revue originally produced at London's Adelphi Theatre, London, 8 November 1929, with Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge. Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar joined the production for its transfer to London's Winter Garden Theatre, opening on 14 April 1930. It also refers to Gwen's appearance with Billy Mayerl, a well-known pianist who appeared with her in a short film in 1926.\r\n\r\nNorah Blaney and Gwen Farrar first worked together at the end of the First World War, entertaining the troops in Belgium and France with Lena Ashwell's concert party, with Norah Blaney as the pianist and Gwen Farrar as a cellist, performing with a constant flow of repartee. They appeared in leading London and variety theatres between about 1921 to 1924, as well as in the 1921 cabaret show <i>Pot Luck!</i> with Jack Hulbert and Beatrice Lillie; and the 1923 André Charlot revues <i>Rats</i> starring Alfred Lester and Gertrude Lawrence, and <i>Yes!</i> at the Vaudeville Theatre, Strand, London. In May 1924 they opened in another Charlot revue, <i>The Punch Bowl</i>, at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, with Alfred Lester, Sonnie Hale and Hermione Baddeley. They worked independently in the late 1920s but came together in 1930 for this production. They made a farewell appearance at the London Palladium in February 1932 but worked together again briefly to entertain the troops during the Second World War before the death of Gwen Farrar in 1944.","physicalDescription":"Typed letter on brown paper, dated 3 April 1930, with the printed address: ADELPHI THEATRE, STRAND, LONDON WC2, and the letter-heading: JACK HULBERT & PAUL MURRAY PRESENT 'THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT'. With the logo of the Theatrical Managers' Association and the red stamp of the theatrical agent W. Foster Horsfield Ltd, 38 Sackville Street, London W1. Addressed to Miss Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar, referring to the contract they have signed with them to appear in <i>The House That Jack Built</i> from the 14th or 15th April at the Winter Garden Theatre and noting that Gwen Farrar has permission to play Variety dates with Billy Mayerl providing the dates do not clash with her appearance at the Winter Garden, and that 12 weeks after the opening at the Winter Garden Theatre Gwen Farrar and Norah Blaney have permission to appear in cabaret, providing they are advertised as appearing by kind permission of Jack Hulbert and Paul Murray from <i>The House That Jack Built</i> at the Winter Garden Theatre.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Murray, Paul","id":"A30025"},"association":{"text":"writer","id":"x36825"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"typing","id":"AAT247929"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Typed letter","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2020MT8626"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES356694"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"contracts","id":"AAT27649"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"typed","id":"AAT247929"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1930","earliest":"1930-01-01","latest":"1930-12-31"},"association":{"text":"typed","id":"AAT247929"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.5031-2009","id":"O1152112"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.5033-2009","id":"O1152150"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.5034-2009","id":"O1152161"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.5035-2009","id":"O1152163"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.5027-2009","id":"O1154975"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"Given by the British Theatre Association","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"25.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This came to the museum as part of a small collection compiled by Norah Blaney, mainly consisting of cuttings and photographs relating to the careers of Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Letter from Paul Murray referring to an agreement between Jack Hulbert and Paul Murray engaging Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar to appear in <i>The House That Jack Built</i>, opening at London's Winter Garden Theatre, 14 April 1930. Typed letter dated 3 April 1930.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Blaney, Norah","id":"N12091"},{"text":"Farrar, Gwen","id":"N12085"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.5032-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"5032","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-05","recordCreationDate":"2010-01-06","availableToBook":true}}