Rene Strange
Rene Strange | |
|---|---|
 Rene Strange and a marionette. | |
| Other names | Renee Strange |
| Occupation(s) | Entertainer, puppeteer |
| Parent |
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Rene Strange, also known as Renee Strange (fl. 1940s–50s), was a comic entertainer known as the "singing cartoonist" and for her
Early life
Rene Strange was the daughter of Leslie Strange, originally known as Wilfred St Clair, who performed comic Dickensian pieces[1] and impersonated famous figures of his time such as Adolf Hitler and Stan Laurel.[2]
Career
Strange's act included drawing caricatures while singing, for which she became known as "the singing cartoonist," and the use of marionettes to perform comic routines to which she added a risqué element by wearing black stockings that showed off her legs.[1]
In 1940, Strange was filmed by British Pathé drawing a caricature of Winston Churchill and singing a patriotic song.[3] She appeared in the Royal Variety Performance in 1946.[4][5] In 1951, she was filmed by British Pathé performing with puppets Annie Pride of the Rockies; Mr Bertram, an inspector of forms who inspects Rene's legs; and Samoa the Hula Hula Girl.[6]
In 1952, she appeared with
Strange's marionettes employed adult themes and in 1953 she commissioned Bob Pelham of Pelham Puppets to make the Opera Singer with a heaving bosom, the Drunken Singer with wobbly legs, the Choirboy who had a halo but also a catapult, the Can-Can Dancer, and a Strip-tease Artist.[1]
In 1955, she performed with her marionettes at
She was principal boy in pantomime,[6] and appeared in ice shows and "ice pantomimes".[1]
References
- ^ ISBN 9781847970558.
- ^ Leslie Strange – How Time Flies... British Pathé, 24 October 1940. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ "Rene Strange 1940". British Pathé. 26 December 1940. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Rene Strange adjusting her stockings before the curtain rises for the dress rehearsal of the Royal Command Variety Performance. November 04, 1946. Getty Images. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ "Performances: 1946, London Palladium". Royal Variety Charity. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ a b Puppet Girl. British Pathé, 19 November 1951. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ A Programme for the 1950s "Paris to Piccadilly" at the Prince of Wales Theatre. arthurlloyd.co.uk Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ISBN 9781317740629.
- ^ "Review Digest", Wolfram, Billboard, 16 July 1955, p. 11.
- ISBN 978-1-84994-258-4.
External links
- Rene Strange sketching a picture of Winston Churchill, British Pathé, 1940
- Rene Strange puppet show Silent footage from British Pathé, 1951