Henry Hall (bandleader)
Encyclopedia
Henry Hall was a British bandleader
. He played from the 1920s to the 1950s.
, South London
and served in both the Salvation Army
and the British Army
. His early musical career was slow to start but eventually he was engaged by the London Midland and Scottish Railway to be in charge of the music throughout their then large chain of hotels. This included Gleneagles
, where he had formerly led the band. It was from there that the BBC took him in 1932 as successor to Jack Payne
as leader of the BBC Dance Orchestra, and from Broadcasting House
at 5.15 each week day Hall gathered a huge following. His signature tune was "It's Just the Time for Dancing" and he usually ended with "Here's to the Next Time". In 1932 he recorded the song "Teddy Bears' Picnic
" with his BBC
Orchestra (featuring singer Val Rosing
on vocals). The record gained enormous popularity and has sold over a million copies. In 1937 the BBC Dance Orchestra played at the opening of the Gaumont State Cinema
in Kilburn.
In 1937 Hall left the BBC to tour with his band, which comprised many of his BBC band. He toured the halls in Britain and Europe, generating a certain amount of controversy by dropping numbers by Jewish composers while playing in Nazi Berlin
.
During the Second World War, Hall played for the troops and after it developed his show business interests becoming something of an agent and producer. His BBC work again blossomed as he hosted Henry Hall's Guest Night on the radio and later TV, as well as the programme Face the Music
.
Hall had a son, Michael, who served in the Royal Navy
. Michael (Mike) Hall went on to join showbusiness and was a popular "chairman" at the Players' Theatre
in its days in Villiers Street
, London WC2.
Hall published an autobiography Here's to the Next Time and featured in the documentary BBC The Voice of Britain (1935), the source of the "This is Henry Hall speaking" clip much used in modern documentaries on this period.
The third movement (Intermezzo) of Ralph Vaughan Williams
' Partita for Double String Orchestra is subtitled 'Homage to Henry Hall'.
"Hush Hush Hush, Here Comes the Bogey Man" was featured in the video game Bioshock 2
, and also in the internet game Alice is Dead. It played during the loading screen for Dionysus Park & Folly of Dionysus, while gathering at the Chase Carousel in Dionysus Park & while gathering in Folly of Dionysus. And its also featured in the outro of the movie Jeepers Creepers
.
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
. He played from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Biography
Henry Hall was born in PeckhamPeckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
and served in both the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
and the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. His early musical career was slow to start but eventually he was engaged by the London Midland and Scottish Railway to be in charge of the music throughout their then large chain of hotels. This included Gleneagles
Gleneagles Hotel
The Gleneagles Hotel is a luxury hotel near Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.- History :The hotel was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company and opened in 1924, originally with its own railway station...
, where he had formerly led the band. It was from there that the BBC took him in 1932 as successor to Jack Payne
Jack Payne
Jack Payne was a British dance music bandleader.-Career:John Wesley Vivian Payne was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, the only son of a music warehouse manager...
as leader of the BBC Dance Orchestra, and from Broadcasting House
Broadcasting House
Broadcasting House is the headquarters and registered office of the BBC in Portland Place and Langham Place, London.The building includes the BBC Radio Theatre from where music and speech programmes are recorded in front of a studio audience...
at 5.15 each week day Hall gathered a huge following. His signature tune was "It's Just the Time for Dancing" and he usually ended with "Here's to the Next Time". In 1932 he recorded the song "Teddy Bears' Picnic
Teddy bears' picnic
"Teddy Bears' Picnic" is a song consisting of a melody by American composer John Walter Bratton, written in 1907, and lyrics added by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy in 1932. It remains popular as a children's song, having been recorded by numerous artists over the decades. Kennedy lived at...
" with his BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Orchestra (featuring singer Val Rosing
Val Rosing
Val Rosing was the British "Dance Hall" singer best known as the vocalist with the BBC Henry Hall Orchestra. Born as Valerian Rosing, he was the son of Russian tenor and opera director, Vladimir Rosing and English singer Marie Falle...
on vocals). The record gained enormous popularity and has sold over a million copies. In 1937 the BBC Dance Orchestra played at the opening of the Gaumont State Cinema
Gaumont State Cinema
The Gaumont State Cinema is a Grade II* listed Art Deco theatre located in Kilburn, a district in northwest London.Designed by George Coles and opened in 1937, the Gaumont State was one of the biggest auditoria in Europe, with seating for 4,004 people. The name State is said to come from the huge ...
in Kilburn.
In 1937 Hall left the BBC to tour with his band, which comprised many of his BBC band. He toured the halls in Britain and Europe, generating a certain amount of controversy by dropping numbers by Jewish composers while playing in Nazi Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
During the Second World War, Hall played for the troops and after it developed his show business interests becoming something of an agent and producer. His BBC work again blossomed as he hosted Henry Hall's Guest Night on the radio and later TV, as well as the programme Face the Music
Face The Music (TV series)
Face the Music was a weekly BBC television programme in the form of a classical music quiz. It began in 1966 and continued until 1979, with revivals in 1983-4 and 2007.-Format:...
.
Hall had a son, Michael, who served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Michael (Mike) Hall went on to join showbusiness and was a popular "chairman" at the Players' Theatre
Players' Theatre
The Players' Theatre was a theatre in London as well as a theatre club for music hall in the style of the BBC programme "The Good Old Days".-Origins:...
in its days in Villiers Street
Villiers Street
Villiers Street is a street in London connecting The Strand with The Embankment. It was built by Nicholas Bourbon in the 1670s on the site of York House, the property of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham whose name the street commemorates...
, London WC2.
Hall published an autobiography Here's to the Next Time and featured in the documentary BBC The Voice of Britain (1935), the source of the "This is Henry Hall speaking" clip much used in modern documentaries on this period.
The third movement (Intermezzo) of Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
' Partita for Double String Orchestra is subtitled 'Homage to Henry Hall'.
"Hush Hush Hush, Here Comes the Bogey Man" was featured in the video game Bioshock 2
BioShock 2
BioShock 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Marin for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The sequel to the 2007 video game BioShock, it was released worldwide on February 9, 2010....
, and also in the internet game Alice is Dead. It played during the loading screen for Dionysus Park & Folly of Dionysus, while gathering at the Chase Carousel in Dionysus Park & while gathering in Folly of Dionysus. And its also featured in the outro of the movie Jeepers Creepers
Jeepers Creepers
Jeepers Creepers may refer to:* "Jeepers Creepers" , a popular 1938 song* Jeepers Creepers , a 1939 western film starring Roy Rogers* Jeepers Creepers , a 1939 animated short film featuring Porky Pig...
.