Billy Scarrow Header and Logo

 

Optimists of 1939

Billy Scarrow's Optimists of 1939, Redcar

The Optimists of 1939: Billy Scarrow (tenor), Billy Burden (comedian - far right), Wally Hillier (pianist), Rodina sisters, Jack Brooks ("The Versatile Scot"), May Kenney (petite soubrette and tap dancer), Maisie Frances (comedienne), Edgar Navarre (whispering baritone)

The image below shows the programme from one of Billy's shows in 1939. It presumably had the lucky number, since the top has been torn off. The programme is missing the last two pages, 15 and 16. Hovering the mouse over the numbers below will display the appropriate page. Note also that pages 7 and 8 are a double page spread.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

 

Optimists of 1939 Programme

The Optimists season of 1939 was foreshortened by World War 2. Billy managed to get a rebate on his rent for the 1939 season from Redcar Council. The beaches of Redcar were barricaded to guard against a possible invasion and closed to the public.