Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

BBC radio Newcastle early days

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Pauline

Pauline Report 2 Mar 2008 18:53

Hi everyone, my husband's grandmother was one of the first broadcast on the BBC in the early 1920s, and I'm looking for any information - dates, bills, anything really. I have a few letters from BBC offering her singing jobs, newspaper cuttings and so on, but don;t know where to turn now. Her name was (variously) Kathlyn Birch, Madame Birch, Kathleen Birch, and she was a soprano in the north east. Can anyone give me any pointers?

Chris in Sussex

Chris in Sussex Report 2 Mar 2008 19:20

You could try "The Stage" archive

http://paper.thestage.co.uk/Default/Skins/TheStage/Client.asp?Skin=TheStage&enter=true&&AW=1204484926609&AppName=2

Free to search but pay to view.

Chris

Researching:
Avatar...My darling Dad. 1931-2019 'Take nothing on its looks, take everything on evidence. There is no better rule' Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. 'A brickwall is a problem that you haven't solved yet' Dave Annal http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/brick-walls-and-lost-ancestors/

Heather

Heather Report 2 Mar 2008 19:28

I take it you have tried a good google search using those names?

Heather

Heather Report 2 Mar 2008 19:31

Hey, this looks good:

MANNIE DE SAXE GENEALOGY - CHAPTER 3 THE EMANUEL FAMILY
We were exceedingly pleased with the Vocal Duet by Madame Birch and Mr Ernest ... almost faultless execution, could sing with effect “Kathleen Mavourneen”. ...
home.pacific.net.au/~josken1/emanuel.htm

Sylvia

Sylvia Report 3 Mar 2008 09:06

Can I ask please, has anyone used "The Stage" archive as a reference tool.
I've done a quick search as a guest and it seems to come up with the same number of entries for each of the 2 people I'm searching for.
Sylvia

Pauline

Pauline Report 7 Mar 2008 21:35

Heather - you got me all excited, but on investigation this Madame Birch is a generation too old. But thanks anyway. However, I never thought of googling. I'll do that next.

Chris - also a good suggestion, another line to follow. Many thanks to you too.

Newby Kim

Newby Kim Report 7 Mar 2008 23:23

Pauline , you could also contact the BBC direct ,they do have loads of archive material which may include a copy of the broadcast , a lot is held at Woodnorton , but your first point of contact would be London . Hope this helps ...
Kim