Charles Shadwell
this page first published by John Wright, 9 March 2021
last update 13th September 2021vintage@r2ok.co.uk
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![]() | Charles Shadwell
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![]() | For next week only, the Hippodrome is to depart from the usual round of musical entertainments and to present a farce, "My Wife's Family".........
A review on 13th October included: Another pleasing feature of the entertainment is the excellent programme of music by Charles M. Shadwell and his orchestra. Mr. Shadwell has arranged some particularly attractive musical interludes during the evening, assisted by Master Paul Jennings, the Coventry boy soloist, and the xylophone solo by Mr. P. Brassington, of the orchestra. At the second house last night, Master Paul Jennings had to respond to an encore for his rendering of " Love's Old Sweet Song."
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![]() | ![]() At this time the Coventry Hippodrome Theatre was located adjacent to Swanswell Gate | ![]() | ![]() the medieval Swanswell Gate | ![]() |
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![]() | Coventry Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 12 October 1932
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![]() | This text is from BBC's 'Radio Times' for one of Charles' early broadcasts on BBC Regional radio in 1932
BBC Regional Tuesday 8 November 1932 19:40
| ![]() | Charles' first BBC National broadcast, to all regions of the nation, was on Christmas Eve 1932
From The Hippodrome Theatre, Coventry, Saturday 24 December 1932 14:30
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![]() | The orchestra recorded medleys of popular tunes and Jack Wilson recorded a piano work with orchestral accompaniment. The full story of the first recording session is described in the Coventry Herald of 19th May report (ref. 7) | ![]() |
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![]() | ![]() | ![]() | The next recording session for the Coventry Hippodrome Orchestra saw them make this Regal Zonophone record, 12th November 1935, also at the Hippodrome Theatre.
The 'Happy - Selection' is a medley of dance/show tunes, performed as well as any of the top dance bands at the time. Piano is played by Jack Wilson. The orchestra recorded several medleys of popular tunes. The full story of the second recording session is described in the Coventry Herald of 15th November (ref.7) Click this title to listen to 'Happy - Selection' (both sides): | ![]() |
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The Coventry Hippodrome Orchestra, conducted by Charles Shadwell, was now rated one of the finest theatre orchestras in the country and continued to be hired for regular, often weekly, BBC radio broadcasts relayed directly from The Hippodrome Theatre, Coventry.
Sometimes the performances featured singers and instrumental soloists (some of who were local Coventry/Warwickshire musicians) e.g. these broadcasts listed in Radio Times:
25/5/33, 28/10/33, 23/11/33 with Jack Wilson, piano
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| ![]() | ![]() This page from the 'Radio Times' in 1935 gives an indication of the large number of tunes the orchestra could cram into a 1 hour broadcast, a mix of light orchestral and dance/show tunes | ![]() |
![]() | "Thin-man " Charlie Shadwell, who, in ITMA, became radio's biggest stooge, really enjoyed holding the title of " the most libelled man in radio." He would "certainly not admit that the abuse that has been heaped on his head in any way accounts for his lack of hair".
Charlie attributes his impromptu gagging ability to back-chat with variety stage artists and comedians and he gained plenty of experience in snappy badinage while pit orchestra leader at the Coventry Hippodrome. | ![]() |
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![]() | Arthur Sandford was the pianist in the BBC Variety Orchestra, he also wrote music arrangements including this 'Keel Row' performance, played on the I.T.M.A. broadcast of 3rd June, 1943.
That episode of I.T.M.A. also featured singer Paula Green in a very swingy performance of 'Do Something'. Accompaniment by a small group named as 'The Jazz Ticulators' who may have been some of the top musicians from the BBC Variety Orchestra. What a great recording!
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photos of ITMA © IWM D 24420, see ref. 4
Charles Shadwell and the BBC Variety Orchestra
rehearsing for ITMA 1945, Criterion theatre in Piccadilly (ref.7)
![]() | Here is an Arthur Sandford arrangement written for the I.T.M.A. show the 'Navy Number', 13th January 1944.
And the BBC Variety Orchestra accompanied popular singer Paula Green in the I.T.M.A. 'Navy Number'.
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Criterion theatre in Piccadilly (ref.7)
Charles is 'conducting' the I.T.M.A. cast!
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | The signature music for “I.T.M.A” was composed by Michael North. This recording by the BBC Variety orchestra conducted by Charles Shadwell from April 1945 was arranged by noted composer and arranger Ronald Hanmer. | ![]() |
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Here is a recording, on Decca, Charles Shadwell and the BBC Variety Orchestra, a concert arrangement of the popular 'Ten Green Bottles recorded in 1945, but released in 1949. For more music by the Coventry Hippodrome Orchestra and the BBC Variety Orchestra go to Guild Music (use their Extended Search tool and enter 'Shadwell'). Guild Music have made several tracks available on Youtube. On leaving the BBC in 1946, Charles Shadwell formed his own fine orchestra and took it on tour. Charles made some recordings with HMV issued as 'Charles Shadwell and his Orchestra', here's one of Charles' own compositions 'Down With The Curtain 1946 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
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Programme of music, Newcastle 1947
The tour list for January 1947
![]() | I am indebted to John at the WR Bray website for this information about the Shadwell family:
Charles had four daughters:
The film 'Variety Jubilee' has been shown on the Talking Pictures TV channel (Sky 328). I'll try and record a clip of Charles and Joan next showing.
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When he retired, Charles lived in Cambridgeshire and in the
1960s was the landlord at the
Green Man, Trumpington.
Charles became president of the Cambridge Concert Orchestra
and gifted 100's of music scores to the orchestra.
Charles Shadswell died 31st July 1979.
![]() | Discographies (thanks to Peter Wallace and Hector J Hill for the details)
The Coventry Hippodrome Orchestra conducted by Charles Shadwell recorded in Coventry.
All medleys of popular tunes:
Good Old Tunes: Man Who Broke the Bank; Daisy Bell; Lily of Laguna*; Waiting at the Church; Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay; After the Ball; Dear Old Pals; At Trinity Church; Miner's Dream of Home*; A Little Bit Off The Top.
Tommies' Tunes: Pack Up Your Troubles; Where are the Lads; Good-bye-ee; Keep the Home Fires Burning; It's a Long Way to Tipperary; Roses of Picardy; Hello, Hello, Who's your Lady Friend?; If You Were the Only Girl; Mademoiselle from Armentieres; Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty.
The Knave of Diamonds Jack Wilson, piano. Accompaniment by a section of the Hippodrome Orechestra.
Happy Selection: I Want to be Happy; Happy Days are Here Again; Happy Feet; Back to Those Happy Days; Many Happy Returns of the Day; Spread a Little Happiness; I Want to be Happy (Pianist: Jack Wilson)
Welcome Vienna Selection: Intro: Blue Danube; Live, Love and Laugh; Ungeduld; Grinzing; Vienna, City of My Dreams; Fliergermarsch
The Coventry Hippodrome Orchestra conducted by William Pethers also made recordings, that list will be included in a Bill Pethers webpage The BBC Variety Orchestra conducted by Charles Shadwell
Of the records listed below the two HMV records were made in the old St. George's Hall and are very fine indeed. They also feature Reginald Foort at the organ.
Seville from "Cities of Romance" (Haydn Wood)
Curtain Up from Suite "Ballerina" (A. Wood)
Here's To A Good Whisky
I.T.M.A. Signature Tune (M. Forth arr. R.Hamner)
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep (arr. Peter Yorke)
Charles Shadwell and his Orchestra
On leaving the BBC in 1946, Charles Shadwell formed his own fine orchestra. The records made by HMV are excellent.
Down the Mall (Belton)
Concerto in Jazz (Phillips) (Solo Pianist - Eric James)
Melody on the Move (Richardson) )
Picture Parade (Jack Beaver) )
The Spice of Life (Kennedy-Carr arr. Hamner))
Perchance to Dream - Selection (Novello)
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![]() | References
1. British Newspaper Archive, articles and photos from Coventry Evening Telegraph and Coventry Herald 2. BBC Genome project - scans of Radio Times magazine https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ 3. ITMA recording extracted from youtube video by AndyMM2008, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGMfb4Mgkfo&t=234s 4. Imperial War Museum. The Charles Shadwell website is primarily information-led, research-oriented. Use of photos of ITMA from Imperial War Museum under Non-Commercial Licence is free of charge for private and non-commercial use © IWM (D 24420). 5. Cambridge Concert Orchestra Cambridge Concert Orchestra 6. Thanks to John at the WR Bray website for the information about the Shadwell family. 7. Thanks to Peter Wallace and Terry Brown for copies of magazines, thanks to Hector J Hill and Ian Thompson for I.T.M.A. information, and special thanks to Hector J Hill for locating important newspaper articles of the Coventry Herald. | ![]() |
![]() | Other Links
1. A tribute webpage to pianist and band leader Jack Wilson is in preparation : Jack Wilson 2. Dance band and some light orchestral music are the subject of this Facebook group: Click: 3. You can join these very active Facebook discussion groups and talk about Coventry: | ![]() |
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