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Optimists of 1931

Film Work

Billy Scarrow started off in 1931 as we assume he finished 1930, ie doing film work. In May he worked as a vocalist for the picture "Motherland", playing from May 11th to 13th at the Hippodrome, South Bank, Middlesbrough. There were two showings each evening, one at 6:30pm and the second at 8:45pm. Ticket prices 3d, 5d, 8d and 1/-. This is the only material we have so far unearthed which illustrates his film work.

The Optimist's are born

Later on in the summer Billy re-opened his Redcar pierrot show, which was last seen in the 1927. This time he had a new name for his troupe, "Billy Scarrow's Optimists".

Takings in first week were a mere £5 7s, which would then have been shared among the eight pierrots are deduction of expenses. At the end of the season, the show had made a net loss for the year of £120. As a result of this poor return, Billy Scarrow was offered a free trial for his pitch rent for the following season by Redcar Council.