Anne Ziegler
Encyclopedia
Anne Ziegler was an English
singer, known for her light operatic duets with her husband Webster Booth
. The pair were known as the "Sweethearts in Song" and were among the most famous and popular British musical acts of the 1940s.
area of Liverpool
, and attended Belvedere School for Girls. She trained as a classical pianist, and studied singing. In 1933 she began singing professionally as a soprano
, changing her name to Anne Ziegler when she made her West End stage debut in 1934, in the chorus of By Appointment. The same year, she was chosen to play Marguerite in a film, The Faust Fantasy. While making the film she met and fell in love with the tenor
Webster Booth, who was married at the time. In 1937 she appeared on Broadway
and, in 1938, Booth divorced his second wife and married Ziegler.
They made their first duet recordings for HMV in 1939, and in 1940 were asked to take their act on the Variety Circuit by theatrical agent, Julius Darewski. In 1941 they appeared in George Black
’s London Palladium
production of Gangway with Bebe Daniels
and Ben Lyon
, and Tommy Trinder
, and in 1943 starred in a revival of Friml’s Vagabond King on a country-wide tour which culminated in a season at the Winter Garden Theatre, London. They became known for bringing glamour to wartime Britain, with Ziegler often wearing dresses by Norman Hartnell
. Their signature songs included "Only a Rose" and "We'll Gather Lilacs".
In 1945 they starred in Kenneth Leslie-Smith’s musical play Sweet Yesterday, first on tour and then at the Adelphi Theatre
, London. They were guest singing stars in two films, Demobbed and Waltz Time, and in 1945 also starred in a British National
film entitled The Laughing Lady. In the same year they were invited to sing at the Victory Royal Command Performance
. From 1943 they sang at innumerable concerts all over the country for Harold Fielding
, and in 1948 they toured in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
In 1951 they published an autobiography, Duet, but their style was becoming old-fashioned and they fell out of favour, emigrating to South Africa in the mid-1950s. They returned to the UK in 1978, settling in Llandudno
in North Wales
, and broadcasting and presenting An evening with Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth.
Booth died in 1984, and Ziegler in 2003, at Colwyn Bay
. A biography of the couple, Sweethearts of Song: A Personal Memoir of Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth, by Jean Collen, was published in 2006.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer, known for her light operatic duets with her husband Webster Booth
Webster Booth
Leslie Webster Booth , better known by his stage name, Webster Booth, was a British tenor. He is largely remembered today as the duettist partner of Anne Ziegler, but he was also one of the finest British tenors of his generation and was a distinguished oratorio soloist.He was a chorister at...
. The pair were known as the "Sweethearts in Song" and were among the most famous and popular British musical acts of the 1940s.
Life and career
She was born Irené Frances Eastwood in the Sefton ParkSefton Park
Sefton Park is a public park in south Liverpool, England. The park is in a district of the same name within the Liverpool City Council Ward of Mossley Hill, and roughly within the historic bounds of the large area of Toxteth Park...
area of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and attended Belvedere School for Girls. She trained as a classical pianist, and studied singing. In 1933 she began singing professionally as a soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, changing her name to Anne Ziegler when she made her West End stage debut in 1934, in the chorus of By Appointment. The same year, she was chosen to play Marguerite in a film, The Faust Fantasy. While making the film she met and fell in love with the tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
Webster Booth, who was married at the time. In 1937 she appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and, in 1938, Booth divorced his second wife and married Ziegler.
They made their first duet recordings for HMV in 1939, and in 1940 were asked to take their act on the Variety Circuit by theatrical agent, Julius Darewski. In 1941 they appeared in George Black
George Black (Producer)
George Black was a British theatrical impresario who controlled many entertainment venues during the 1930s.Black was born in Birmingham. When young he helped his father set up some of the first permanent cinemas in Britain. In 1928 he took over the management of GTC which was a chain of...
’s London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
production of Gangway with Bebe Daniels
Bebe Daniels
Bebe Daniels was an American actress, singer, dancer, writer and producer. She began her career in Hollywood during the silent movie era as a child actress, became a star in musicals like 42nd Street, and later gained further fame on radio and television in Britain...
and Ben Lyon
Ben Lyon
Ben Lyon was an American film actor and a 20th Century Fox studio executive.-Life:Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Lyon entered films in 1918 after a successful appearance on Broadway opposite Jeanne Eagels. He attracted attention in the highly successful film Flaming Youth , and steadily developed into...
, and Tommy Trinder
Tommy Trinder
Thomas Edward Trinder CBE known as Tommy Trinder, was an English stage, screen and radio comedian of the pre and post war years whose catchphrase was 'You lucky people'.-Life:...
, and in 1943 starred in a revival of Friml’s Vagabond King on a country-wide tour which culminated in a season at the Winter Garden Theatre, London. They became known for bringing glamour to wartime Britain, with Ziegler often wearing dresses by Norman Hartnell
Norman Hartnell
Sir Norman Bishop Hartnell, KCVO was a British fashion designer. Royal Warrant as Dressmaker to HM The Queen 1940, subsequently Royal Warrant as Dressmaker to HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother...
. Their signature songs included "Only a Rose" and "We'll Gather Lilacs".
In 1945 they starred in Kenneth Leslie-Smith’s musical play Sweet Yesterday, first on tour and then at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
, London. They were guest singing stars in two films, Demobbed and Waltz Time, and in 1945 also starred in a British National
British National Films Company
In 1934 the British National Films Company was formed in England by J. Arthur Rank, Lady Annie Henrietta Yule of Bricket Wood and producer John Corefield.-Origin of the company:...
film entitled The Laughing Lady. In the same year they were invited to sing at the Victory Royal Command Performance
Royal Command Performance
For the annual Royal Variety Performance performed in Britain for the benefit of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, see Royal Variety Performance...
. From 1943 they sang at innumerable concerts all over the country for Harold Fielding
Harold Fielding
Harold Lewis Fielding was an English theatre producer.Fielding was one of Britain's foremost theatrical producers who produced several musicals, including Mame, Charlie Girl, Half a Sixpence, Show Boat, Scarlett, Barnum, Sweet Charity, The Biograph Girl, and Ziegfeld.The son of a stockbroker,...
, and in 1948 they toured in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
In 1951 they published an autobiography, Duet, but their style was becoming old-fashioned and they fell out of favour, emigrating to South Africa in the mid-1950s. They returned to the UK in 1978, settling in Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, and broadcasting and presenting An evening with Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth.
Booth died in 1984, and Ziegler in 2003, at Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay
- Demography :Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales, of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay encompassed...
. A biography of the couple, Sweethearts of Song: A Personal Memoir of Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth, by Jean Collen, was published in 2006.