During 2010 Gail discovered several photographic gems whilst researching her grandfather William F Cloake, a scenic manager who ran his own company in Manchester providing sets and backdrops for the theatre. We are gratefully thankful to Gail for the pleasure and usefulness for film and comedy research that these pictures provide ... if anyone has more info on William and Ethel Cloake, who lived on Raby Street in Moss Side, please email Cuthbert and we'll put you in touch with Gail. Perhaps you knew Jack Gillam? Please get in touch if you do!
Top left and opposite: photos of Frank Randle on stage with Gus Aubrey.
Left: ?? Please email CP Lee if you are able to comment regarding the people or the scene in this photograph! Our thanks to Philip and David Williams for their initial observations:
"The photo appears to be taken during a scene from Randle's one and only stage farce 'The Devil a Saint' - it would help if we knew when and where it was taken? We are not 100% certain - but the one being examined by the Doctor could well be Randle. The blonde lady as you suggest does indeed look like Pat Phoenix who had appeared in one of his films around the same time as 'The Devil a Saint. Although we can't name the actors the actual characters eg: vicar and doctor and number of people were all in the said play ..."of?
Not all of Gail's images directly relate to either Frank Randle or Mancunian but deserve their place in Gail's Gallery!
