Above is a very rare poster from the early 1950’s promoting Elton Hayes at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool.
Elton Hayes (1915-2001) played the part of the minstrel Allan-a-Dale in Walt Disney’s live action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).
Today he is sadly almost forgotten, but Hayes was very well-known to radio and television audiences of the 1950’s as ‘the man with the small guitar.'
When Walt Disney's Treasure Island (1950) was made, Elton had the task of arranging the old sea shanties sung on board the Hispaniola. This was followed by the job of researching ancient ballads for their forthcoming production of 'Robin Hood.' The producer, Perce Pearce asked him to assist in another actor's screen test, and then sprang the surprise that it had been Elton on test and the part of Alan-a-Dale was his! So good was he in that role that, although it started as a few lines, it developed into one of the main parts in the film.
The success of the film led to a nineteen-city tour of the USA and Canada, making 113 radio and TV appearances in 8 hectic weeks!
To read more about Elton Hayes click here.
4 comments:
Having difficulty posting on here lately, but finally got this on.
Elton Hayes at the Liverpool Empire
Topping the bill was Jane Morgan famous here for The Day the Rains Came which I reckon was a number one hit in 1958 or 1959 - so much later than this show with Elton Hayes. I wonder what his act consisted of as he must have perfected a stage act - something it appears he had done all his career.
There is quite a lot already that Clement has found for this Blog but I think that The Story of Robin Hood was the pinnacle of his career which led to his long tour of USA and Canada to promote the film on TV and radio. I would think he would be a very good ambassador.
Love Elton Hayes - he's definitely an important part of the film's magic!
He seems such a nice chap and I bet he was. Cant think of anyone in showbiz quite like him and I think that the film The Story of Robin Hood virtually left him as far as image goes in medieval mode.Thats what prompted me to wonder about his stage act. I have vague memories of him on TV shows of the early fifties and he fits perfectly into that era. Also he always seems to me to be elegantly dressed.
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