Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
International star of revue and musical comedy.
On the island
Eight records
The guest says: 'Because I was with her at the Olympia in Paris… she started too soon… And I admire the pu[r]ity of her voice.'
The Death of Boris (from Boris Godunov)
The guest knew Chaliapin; he used to come to the Savoy green room.
The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
No specific reason given in transcript.
No explicit reason given; the guest mentions it in the context of her wartime shows.
La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (The Flower Song, from Carmen)
The guest recalls Caruso at her first night of 'Afgar' in New York.
If You Could Care For MeFavourite
The guest's own recording; her signature tune.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:28Could you bear to be completely alone?
Yes, I think so. I've got such a lot of memories, but I'm not afraid to be alone.
Presenter asks
4:14How did you get into the theatre?
Well, when I left school, that was very early, at early age, about thirteen and a half, because my parents couldn't [afford] … I was a midinette … I used to take the hats to the beautiful ladies … [and] I was thrown out of the [atelier] because I was a little devil … I laugh, I make clown, I dress myself with the bits of ribbon, plume, silk, everything that I could find … [A friend] said, 'Did you see the paper? Would you like to be an artist?' I said, 'Oh, yes, I would love to be an artist, but I can sing a little song, not very much.' … So we were engaged [at the variety theatre] … I was also [diverted] because one night I put all the theater [lights] out. So I was pushed out of the theater.
Presenter asks
7:22What happened next?
Then I wanted to travel. … An agent came, his name was Monsieur Coll … So I took an engagement to go to New York … in the catch of the season and the star was Edna May. … After New York, I went to the Moulin Rouge. … Harry Fraxon [Frakson] was the big star. I was the little one, not even a star. But he noticed me. And we fall in love. … He said, 'I don't want you to be on the stage anymore. And we will marry you soon as we can.' So I followed him to England. … And then we had a quarrel … When I was with Harry Frankson in London, I met Monsieur Cochrane, Charles Cochrane. … I said, 'Could you give me a job?' He said, 'I have got a little ambassador's theater.' … we opened that little review at the Ambassadors. It was called 'All the Nands' [sic]. This was the very first intimate review in London.
The keepsakes
The book
The luxury
I would like to have a very large bed that I can really relax. ... It will be nice to repose my bones.
Presenter asks
11:45You caused a scandal in 'As You Were'. What was the costume?
I was representing Lucifer and I was dressed just in black tights. … that make a scandal with the censor.
Presenter asks
19:44Do you have any recipe for keeping well and young?
You know, I think my mother and God, for I believe in God very strongly. I don't go to church every day. I pray when I'm alone. … I love everything that God has given us. I've got a good stomach, I've got all my teeth, and that's very rare, at nearly eighty-three. I've never had a toothache in my life, I've never had a headache in my life, I've never had a tommyache in my life.
Presenter asks
23:13How resourceful would you be at looking after yourself on a desert island?
Cook, I'm a very, very good cook. … I love cooking. … I could [make] ragoût of mutton … [but] I'm not very good at fishing, but I used to catch frogs.
“I love everything in life. Other than the bad, if it comes to me, I take it.”
“If I had to start my life again, I would do it exactly what I've done since I was a kid.”
“I wanted to do something for my two countries that I love, England and France.”
“I've never had a toothache in my life, I've never had a headache in my life, I've never had a tommyache in my life.”
“I was terrified, but I'm very pleased to have done it, and may God bless you all.”