Betty Jumel
Encyclopedia
Betty Jumel was a British
variety hall entertainer and actress.
Betty Jumel was born in Fairhaven
, Lytham St Annes
, Lancashire
in 1901. She was aged only 10 years-old when she made her first stage appearance, alongside her father Harold Jumel, who toured an act round the music hall
s entitled The Four Jumels. Her father taught her to sing and dance, as well as how to best throw her voice - almost from her infancy. When the family disbanded before the First World War, the young Betty Jumel joined her father's double act, in which her main role was to play the piano, dance and sing.
Fairly pretty and very small for her age, Jumel made the most of her youthful look and often wore a lace dress and ringlets during performances - which completed her girlish features. When her father enlisted, Jumel became a soubrette
working in end-of-pier variety shows in the North of England.
With already a wealth of experience behind her, Jumel created her own comedy material, notably three solo turns under the heading A Bundle of Fun. In one of these scenarios, she played a fairy
in a take-off of the ballet Swan Lake
. In others she used her singing talent to comedy effect as an opera singer, or a concert pianist whose only ability was to play only the wrong notes. Becoming successful in her own right, it was not long before other performers eventually persuaded her to let them join her - and consequently, she appeared on a number of occasions with the gangling and ungainly Nat Jackley
in a much-loved turn called 'At the Ball'. Jackley's angular body contrasted marvellously with Jumel's small figure in an overtight ball gown, which was split up one side to reveal her funny, wafer-thin legs.
Jumel spent her life on tour in variety halls. She was known for her unfailing instinct for the mildly grotesque, as she interrupted herself during a piano recital, or took a drink of water from a vase of wilting flowers. Over more than half a century of performing her craft resulted in her simple, but brilliantly timed acts making her renowned wherever she went. Such was her comic timing that she also appeared in pantomimes in the winter and concert parties in the summer.
Her first West End appearance was a Lyceum Review Good Company in 1933 by Albert Burdon
and Dan Leno Jnr. and during the Second World War she entertained the forces with ENSA
in Egypt
.
She appeared in a number of films in the 1940s, appearing alongside Will Hay
, Sandy Powell
and Norman Evans
. She also appeared in pantomime with Evans in Humpty Dumpty
which was so successful that it ran from Christmas Eve
to Easter
. She and Evans also paired up for a radio series Good Evans.
Betty Jumel was married, first to Victor, one of the Arnley Brothers - who performed a variety act in the 1920s. Their daughter Georgina, broke with family tradition by becoming a legitimate actress. Some years after the death of her first husband, she married an Italian acrobat Bill Castagnoli, who predeceased her.
The comedienne who was billed as 'The Bundle of Fun' and one of the last survivors of the variety halls, died in 1990 at the age of 89.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
variety hall entertainer and actress.
Betty Jumel was born in Fairhaven
Fairhaven
-Places:Australia*Fairhaven, an area of French Island Canada:*Fairhaven, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaNorway:* Fairhaven, SvalbardUnited Kingdom:* Fairhaven, Lancashire, a coastal suburb of Lytham St Annes, LancashireUnited States:...
, Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes is a conurbation in the Fylde district of Lancashire, England. The neighbouring towns of Lytham and St-Anne's-on-the-Sea have grown together and now form a seaside resort...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in 1901. She was aged only 10 years-old when she made her first stage appearance, alongside her father Harold Jumel, who toured an act round the music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
s entitled The Four Jumels. Her father taught her to sing and dance, as well as how to best throw her voice - almost from her infancy. When the family disbanded before the First World War, the young Betty Jumel joined her father's double act, in which her main role was to play the piano, dance and sing.
Fairly pretty and very small for her age, Jumel made the most of her youthful look and often wore a lace dress and ringlets during performances - which completed her girlish features. When her father enlisted, Jumel became a soubrette
Soubrette
A soubrette is a female stock character in opera and theatre. The term arrived in English from Provençal via French, and means "conceited" or "coy".-Theater:...
working in end-of-pier variety shows in the North of England.
With already a wealth of experience behind her, Jumel created her own comedy material, notably three solo turns under the heading A Bundle of Fun. In one of these scenarios, she played a fairy
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
in a take-off of the ballet Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
. In others she used her singing talent to comedy effect as an opera singer, or a concert pianist whose only ability was to play only the wrong notes. Becoming successful in her own right, it was not long before other performers eventually persuaded her to let them join her - and consequently, she appeared on a number of occasions with the gangling and ungainly Nat Jackley
Nat Jackley
Nat Jackley was an English comic actor starring in variety, film and pantomime from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s whose trademark rubber-neck dance, skeletal frame and peculiar speech impediment made him a formidable and funny pantomime dame.His later years were spent as a character actor in...
in a much-loved turn called 'At the Ball'. Jackley's angular body contrasted marvellously with Jumel's small figure in an overtight ball gown, which was split up one side to reveal her funny, wafer-thin legs.
Jumel spent her life on tour in variety halls. She was known for her unfailing instinct for the mildly grotesque, as she interrupted herself during a piano recital, or took a drink of water from a vase of wilting flowers. Over more than half a century of performing her craft resulted in her simple, but brilliantly timed acts making her renowned wherever she went. Such was her comic timing that she also appeared in pantomimes in the winter and concert parties in the summer.
Her first West End appearance was a Lyceum Review Good Company in 1933 by Albert Burdon
Albert Burdon
-Filmography:* The Maid of the Mountains * Letting in the Sunshine * It's a Boy * Heat Wave * She Knew What She Wanted * Oh Boy! * Luck of the Navy * Jailbirds -External links:...
and Dan Leno Jnr. and during the Second World War she entertained the forces with ENSA
ENSA
ENSA may refer to:* ENSA, the Entertainments National Service Association* ENSA * École Nationale des Sciences Appliquées d'Oujda, an engineering school in Morocco* EC-Council Network Security Administrator...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
She appeared in a number of films in the 1940s, appearing alongside Will Hay
Will Hay
William Thomson "Will" Hay was an English comedian, actor, film director and amateur astronomer.-Early life:He was born in Stockton-on-Tees, in north east England, to William R...
, Sandy Powell
Sandy Powell (comedian)
Sandy Powell MBE was an English comedian best known for his radio work of the 1930s and for his catchphrase Can You Hear Me, Mother?-Life and career:...
and Norman Evans
Norman Evans
Norman Evans , was a variety and radio artiste, born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England.Evans was discovered by fellow Rochdale entertainer Gracie Fields...
. She also appeared in pantomime with Evans in Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is a character in an English language nursery rhyme, probably originally a riddle and one of the best known in the English-speaking world. He is typically portrayed as an egg and has appeared or been referred to in a large number of works of literature and popular culture...
which was so successful that it ran from Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
to Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
. She and Evans also paired up for a radio series Good Evans.
Betty Jumel was married, first to Victor, one of the Arnley Brothers - who performed a variety act in the 1920s. Their daughter Georgina, broke with family tradition by becoming a legitimate actress. Some years after the death of her first husband, she married an Italian acrobat Bill Castagnoli, who predeceased her.
The comedienne who was billed as 'The Bundle of Fun' and one of the last survivors of the variety halls, died in 1990 at the age of 89.
Filmography
- DemobbedDemobbed (1946 film)Demobbed is a 1946 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Norman Evans, Nat Jackley, Gus McNaughton and Dan Young. Its plot concerns a group of ex-soldiers who attempt to gain employment after being discharged from the army.-Cast:...
(1946) - Under New ManagementUnder New ManagementUnder New Management is a 1946 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Nat Jackley, Norman Evans and Dan Young. A chimney sweep inherits a hotel and calls on a number of ex-army friends to staff it. It was one of a number of films at the time dealing with the contemporary...
(1946) - Cup-Tie HoneymoonCup-tie HoneymoonCup-Tie Honeymoon was the first motion picture to be filmed at the Dickenson Road Studios by the Mancunian Film Corporation in 1948, themed around football.-Plot summary:...
(1948)