Special Feature on London's Windmill Theatre

Above - Laura Henderson and members of the Windmill Theatre cast pose for a photograph to celebrate the 6th anniversary performance on the 4th of February,1938 - From left to right, Doris Barry, Meggie Eaton, Laura Henderson, Edna Wood, and Mollie Hallewell - Courtesy Maurice Poole

The feature was begun back in 2003 when I added two magazine articles to the site, both shown here, from the Glasgow based 1949/50 publication 'Film and Art Reel'. The articles were about London's Windmill Theatre, one entitled 'Extracts from the Diary of a Windmill Girl', written by Pat Raphael, and the other on the Film "Murder at the Windmill." You can still read both of these articles by clicking the covers shown here.

But since then I have added a great deal more on the Windmill Theatre to the site, including a vast amount of programmes, pictures, and articles. Indeed, the Windmill Theatre section of the website is practically a website in itself. The rest of this page acts as an index to the plethora of material on the Windmill Theatre so read on and enjoy.

The Windmill Theatre first opened on the 22nd of June 1931 with a play by Michael Barringer entitled 'Inquest!', see programme here. But the Windmill is obviously far more famous for Mrs Henderson's creation of 'Revudeville' and her innovative use of the static nude tableau.

Staying open during most of the war years the Theatre also earned itself the now well known phrase... "We Never Closed".

Index to features on the Windmill Theatre

Click to see all the Windmill Reudeville Souvenir Programmes.

Above - Click for 'The Windmill Sails,' an Article about Mr. Van Damm and the Revudevillegirls, with images from Revudeville 32.

 

Above - Click the covers for Five 1950s programmes from The Windmill Theatre's Revudeville era

Above - A Programme for 'Inquest!' the first production at the newly opened Windmill Theatre in June 1931. Click for details. And a Very early Revudeville programme for the 9th of May 1932, just 3 months after Mrs. Laura Henderson introduced this new form of entertainment at the Windmill Theatre. - Click for details.

Above - Click for Articles and Images from the Revudeville Souvenir Programme - 14th Edition - Nos. 151-157 Courtesy Robert Ludwig.

Above - Click for a selection of Wartime Revudeville Programms

Above - Jill Millard Shapiro recalls some backstage moments as one of Vivian Van Damm's famous Windmill Girls in this exclusive article.

Above - Jill Millard Shapiro meets Margaret McGrath The Windmill Theatre’s Blonde Bombshell of the Blitz in this exclusive article.

Above - Click for this article entitled Backstage 1940 - 'New rule for Windmill showgirls is lights-out at eleven. They work, sleep, eat in the Theatre.'

Above - Click for an article on the Windmill Theatre from the Speedway Gazette in 1948

Above - “MR AND MRS REVUDEVILLE” A Pictorial look at The Windmill Theatre's JOHN LAW AND MARGARET COOPER By Jill Millard Shapiro

Above - The Windmill Girls' 2011 Reunuion

Above - Publicity Photographs of the Windmill Girls in various poses from the Windmill Theatre Tableaux - Click for many more images.

Above - In 1940 Kenneth Bandy, who was the House Manager at the Windmill Theatre at the time, set about photographing some of the scenes from the Revudeville shows at the Windmill Theatre on to 35mm colour slides. These slides now belong to Maurice Poole who has had them restored and digitised by David Rose and has kindly sent them in for inclusion on the site. There are 256 of these slides and all you need to do to see them all is to click the image above.

Above - Kenneth Bandy - Backstage Cameraman at the Windmill Theatre - An Article from Photography Magazine in August 1956.

Above - Revudeville and Vulgarity - An Article by Vivian Van Damm - From a Windmill Theatre Programme of 1932 - Courtesy Maurice Poole - Click to read the article.

Above - On the 31st of October 1964 the Windmill Theatre shut its doors on Revudeville for the last time. Click to see the last Night programme.

 

Above - Closure Of The Windmill Theatre - An Article on the final days and closure of the Windmill from the Evening News of the 1st of October 1964 - Click for article.

Above - Some pictures of the Windmill Theatre long after its Revudeville years in 2003 can be seen here.

For more information on the Windmill Theatre you may be interested in the following Books, Films, and Recordings:

Books on the Windmill Theatre

A SOUVENIR OF THE WINDMILL THEATRE
Compiled by ‘ex Windmill girl’ Jill Millard Shapiro
Published by Obscuriosity Press
ISBN:978-0992869601

On the 31st of October 1964 a very British institution took its final bow. That was the night of the Windmill's farewell performance and when the curtain fell for the last time on London's world famous little theatre, and the stage door locked shut behind its keeper, the Windmill's heart stopped beating. All that was left was the lingering smell of a good cigar, the ghost of a fan dancer, the last faint echoes of laughter and applause, and then darkness. After 32 years the Windmill had breathed its last breath. Or had it? No one could have predicted that half a century later, in the year 2014, the world would still remember with affection the Windmill Theatre with its famous comedians and its legendary Windmill Girls.

Fifty years on, in the public's heart, this particular British institution "Never Closed". This full colour hardback special edition book commemorates the Windmill on the fifty year anniversary of the theatre's closure. With over 600 illustrations (photographs and ephemera), stories and contributions from ex Windmillite Barry Cryer OBE, Windmill girls and boys who danced on through the blitz and many more, this book will remind those who were there of the phenomenon that was the Windmill, and give those who weren't the feeling of having visited the theatre that famously never closed.

Click to buy the book at Amazon.co.uk.

Other Books on the Windmill Theatre

 

Sheila Van Damm authored a book published by Putnam & Co.Ltd., London in 1957, called 'No Excuses". There are some chapters in the book on the Windmill Theatre but most are about car rallies. Vivian Van Damm wrote a book called 'Tonight and Every Night' which was first published by Stanley Paul, London in 1952. The book tells the story of the Windmill Theatre in its heyday, with a Foreword by Emile Littler. Shelia Van Damm wrote another book about the Windmill Theatre, and her time there, called "We Never Closed" which was published by Robert Hale in 1967. Another book with photographs which were taken at the Windmill Theatre and feature Windmill Theatre artistes is "Tap Dancing Made Easy" by Isolde. The book was published in 1936 by C.Arthur Pearson Ltd., with further editions in 1937 and 1947. Another book with photographs called 'Blonde and Brunette' was Published in 1940 by Chapman and Hall Ltd, all the girls in the book were Windmill Theatre artistes.

FILMS about the Windmill Theatre

Afilm called 'Tonight and Every Night' (Shown Right) directed by Victor Saville in 1945, with Rita Hayworth, purported to be the first film 'to tell the “true” story of Laura Henderson, who died in 1944. Another film was 'Murder at the Windmill', released in the UK in 1949, with Diana Decker, John Pertwee and Jimmy Edwards. This low budget film was about the murder of an usher in the Theatre. It was produced by Danny Angel who was married to one of Van Damm's daughters. In North America it was released as "Mystery at the Burlesque" in 1950. The Cinema lobby card for 'Mystery at the Burlesque (Murder at the Windmill) was kindly sent in by Maurice Poole. Click for more details of Murder at the Windmill and Mystery at the Burlesque.

 

There was another film made at the Windmill Theatre in 1966 called 'Secrets of a Windmill Girl,' with Pauline Collins, Martin Jarvis and Dana Gillespie. This was produced by Searchlight Films. A DVD was released in 2004 and is now available in region 1 [North American]. It can be purchased on the Internet from the U.S.A. The film has some fan dance scenes by former Windmill Theatre Company artistes.

The artist Zsuzsi Roboz did some back stage drawings of the Windmill girls before the theatre closed in 1964. These drawings are in the Tate collection and can be viewed online here.

The British Film Institute has a copy of the film "Dawn In Piccadilly" which was screened at cinemas in the 1960's. Although not availiable to view at the moment the BFI synopsis of the film says it is: 'a nostalgic documentary about the legendary Windmill Theatre in London's West End. Dawn Maxey one of the Windmill Girls, a dance troupe, talks about how she became one of the girls and what she enjoys about it. We see her in rehersal and performing a fan dance. George Martin, speaking from the nearby Pop's Club, introduces the film and gives a survey of the theatre's history. We learn that great entertainers and comedians like Bruce Forsyth and The Goons started their career at the Windmill, where the programmes were a combination of dance and comedy acts.'

In 1969 the BBC made a television documentary about the Windmill Theatre called 'If it moves it's rude'. This featured Jimmy Edwards, Arthur English, Bruce Forsyth, Pearl Hackney, Stanley Holloway, Alfred Marks, Des O'Connor, Harry Secombe, and Sheila Van Damm. The film was narrated by Kenneth More. Televised 26-12-1969, 50 mins. duration.

The dance routines for Paul Raymond's "A Night at the Revuebar" were filmed at the Windmill Theatre, and is still available on VHS in some online auction sites.

There are many clips from the Windmill Theatre's early days available to view online at BritishPathe.com.

Mrs Henderson Presents

Finally, if you would like to experience the Windmill Theatre in it's Glory Days for yourself, the film Mrs Henderson Presents [2005] is a wonderful and heart warming recreation of the period.

The DVD is a must buy for anyone who remembers the Windmill Theatre's Revudeville period, or wants to see it for themselves.

Highly recommended.

Click here to buy the DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Also see details of Mrs Henderson Presents, The Musical, below.

 

 

Mrs Henderson Presents, The Musical

Above - Mrs Henderson Presents at the Theatre Royal, Bath. The original Windmill Girls meet the talented girls playing the Windmill Girls in the musical Mrs Henderson Presents - Courtesy Jill Millard Shapiro.

Amusical version of the film Mrs Henderson Presents ended its short run at the Theatre Royal, Bath on the 5th of September 2015. This charming and very British musical closed to rave reviews and standing ovations, and transfered to the Noel Coward Theatre in London's West End on the 9th of February 2016. The talented girls playing the Windmill Girls in the show recreated the nude tableaux exactly as they were performed at London's famous little Windmill Theatre.

Above - The Original Windmill Girls. Press night of the musical Mrs Henderson Presents at the Theatre Royal, Bath - Courtesy Jill Millard Shapiro. Tracie Bennett headed the excellent cast as Mrs Henderson, and Emma Williams was Maureen. Vivian Van Damm was played by Ian Bartholomew. Music by George Fenton and Simon Chamberlain. Lyrics by Don Black. Choreographed by Andrew Wright. Directed by Terry Johnson and produced by Norma Heyman. See details of show's Opening at the Noel Coward Theatre, London Below. Images and text courtesy Jill Millard Shapiro, September 2015.

MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS

At the Noel Coward Theatre, London gets a five star review from the original Windmill Girls

Mrs Henderson Presents. Noel Coward Theatre, Saint Martin's Lane, London. Press Night Tuesday 16th February 2016. Photographer Dan Wooller. Rex Features.

Above - The Noel Coward Theatre during previews for 'Mrs Henderson Presents' in February 2016. The show was first put on at the Theatre Royal, Bath and is a Musical Version of the Film of the same name about the infamous Windmill Theatre years.

Above - Some of the original Windmill Girls backstage at the Noel Coward Theatre on the opening night of 'Mrs Henderson Presents' with two of the show's female stars Tracie Bennett and Emma Williams. Left to right: Sadie Comben, Joan Bravery, the dynamic Tracie Bennett who stars as Laura Henderson, Margaret Cooper, the gorgeous Emma Williams who stars as Windmill Girl Maureen, Jill Millard Shapiro and Sylvia Lavis - Photo Dan Wooller Courtesy Rex Features.

More than half a century after the closure of London's Windmill Theatre Revudeville has been brought back to life on stage at the Noel Coward Theatre. The music, the lighting and the tableaux vivants give a true representation of the Windmill in it's heyday. “It was like watching ourselves,” said Margaret Cooper,” who was a Windmill girl from 1948 to 1958. What better accolade could there be than the original Windmill Girls giving this charming musical a five star seal of approval. Text courtesy Jill Millard Shapiro, February 2016.

Above - ON THE RED CARPET - Paul O'Grady gets in on the act. “Take my photograph with the Windmill Girls.” He told the press photographers. Back row: Margaret Cooper, Moira Murphy. Middle row: Googie Cooney, Hazel Sutton. Front row: Sylvia Lavis, Joan Bravery, Jill Millard Shapiro, Paul O'Grady and 97 year old Margaret McGrath. - Photo Dan Wooller Courtesy Rex Features.

Above - Windmill girls on the red carpet at the Noel Coward Theatre. Back row: Margaret Cooper, Moira Murphy, Googie Cooney, Hazel Sutton. Front row: Jill Millard Shapiro, Sylvia Lavis, Joan Bravery. - Photo Dan Wooller Courtesy Rex Features.

 

Above Left - Vivian Van Damm's granddaughter Jane Kerner and his great granddaughter Nathalie Bargibant with two of Van Damm's Windmill girls Jill Millard Shapiro and Margaret Cooper at the Noel Coward Theatre. - Photo Dan Wooller Courtesy Rex Features. - Above Right - A Publicity Shot for Mrs Henderson Presents at the Noel Coward Theatre, London.

The Last Night of 'MRS Henderson Presents' at the Noel Coward Theatre, London

BRAVO AND FAREWELL MRS HENDERSON!

Above - The Windmill Girls take a bow with the cast of Mrs Henderson Presents on the last night performance at The Noel Coward Theatre. Standing ovation for Ian Bartholomew as Vivian Van Damm and the original Windmill Girls Sylvia Lavis, Margaret Cooper, Jill Millard Shapiro, Joan Bravery and Googie Cooney - Photograph Courtesy Aimee Neat.

On Saturday night on the 18th of June 2016, after an electric final performance of Mrs Henderson Presents at the Noel Coward Theatre in St Martin's Lane London, there was not a dry eye in the house when Ian Bartholomew who plays impresario Vivian Van Damm announced five of the original Windmill Girls onto the stage to present floral bouquets to the two leading ladies: Tracie Bennett as Mrs Laura Henderson and Emma Williams as Windmill Girl Maureen. The original ladies now in their seventies and eighties are Sylvia Lavis, Margaret Cooper, Jill Millard Shapiro, Joan Bravery and Googie Cooney.

Above - Outside The Noel Coward Theatre for the last night of Mrs Henderson Presents, original Windmill Girls Joan Bravery, Margaret Cooper, Googie Cooney, Jill Millard Shapiro and Sylvia Lavis - Photograph Courtesy Aimee Neat.

Mrs Henderson Presents has ended its London run before taking the show to Canada in the new year. Produced by Norma Heyman and Michael Harrison Entertainment, directed by Terry Johnson with music by George Fenton and Simon Chamberlain and lyrics by Don Black, Andrew Wright's choreography was the icing on the cake and really brought the Windmill Theatre back to life. - Jill Millard Shapiro, June 2016.

'MRS Henderson Presents' at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto, Canada

Above - Joan Bravery and Jill Millard Shapiro pictured on stage with producer Michael Harrison at the Ed Mirvish Theatre Toronto, 26th September 2016. Original Windmill girls Jill Millard Shapiro and Joan Bravery represented the musical Mrs Henderson Presents at the season launch show at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, Canada in September 2016. The show will be produced at the Ed Mirvish Theatre from March 12th to April 23rd, 2017 - Photograph Courtesy Jill Millard Shapiro.

Recordings

In the February 4th 1936 Revudeville Programme an advertisement (Shown Right) was carried for this Columbia Records recording of some of the numbers from Revudeville shows. It was called 'Revudeville Memories' - Image Courtesy Maurice Poole.

 

This Special Feature on the Windmill Theatre was first created in February 2003 but has been updated and enhanced many times over the years. Updates are all logged on the What's New page.