Elton Hayes's Robin Hood Tracks

The new CD

Back in February of this year, I was pleased to announce the release of a compilation of songs by Elton Hayes (1915-2001). This double CD is a collection on the Retrospective  label (RTS4320) of 64 tracks, that include some very rare tunes by our Alan-a-Dale. Included in this collection are detailed sleeve notes by Geoff Waite, a regular contributor to this site. 

Unfortunately, many of us were disappointed to discover that songs from Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952), were not included amongst his hits. But this week, John Nelson was in touch to inform me that a new Elton Hayes CD has been released. And this one does include the two main songs sung by Elton as Alan-a-Dale, Whistle My Love and Riddle de Diddle De Day. 

Tracks on the new CD

This CD has been produced on the Windyridge label as part of their "Variety" series (WINDYVAR90) and is available here.

For myself and many of my readers, Elton Hayes will always be Alan-a-Dale, the legendary minstrel that eventually joined Robin Hood's outlaw band. 

Whistle My Love by Elton Hayes

The London premiere of Walt Disney's second live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men was on March 13th 1952. Elton's ballads as Allan-a-Dale, created a traditional link throughout the film and its success provided him with global popularity. The success of the film, led to him completing a nineteen-city tour of the USA and Canada, making 113 radio and TV appearances in eight hectic weeks.

James Hayter as Friar Tuck and Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale

There are now over 32 pages on this blog, about the life and career of Elton Hayes. They include a concise discography of his music. Please click here to see a lot more.

Richard Todd & Catherine Bogle

Neil has recently sent in this very rare theatre poster from about 1946. This was during the early stages of Richard Todd's (1919-2009) acting career and shows his future wife Catherine Bogle with top-billing. In his autobiography Caught In The Act (1986), Toddy describes Catherine and the play they were about to perform:

She was Catherine Bogle, a Scottish-born young actress, who had just arrived to start rehearsals next day for the forthcoming production, a light comedy called Claudia. Just nineteen years old, she had previously worked with the Dundee Repertory Company, but had been at home for nearly a year as the result of a nervous breakdown. Now recovered, but still not totally well, she had been invited by Mr Whatmore to play the leading part, Claudia, in Rose Franken's comedy.

Kitty, as I was always to call her, was ideally cast as the capricious child-wife in the story. She was tiny and quite beautifully formed, with long, natural blonde hair dressed in the page-boy style fashionable at that time and the most lovely, shy, green-blue eyes. She had delicate hands and tapered fingers, and her skin was a flawless and smooth as any china.

Catherine and Richard Todd

Here is an article on Richard Todd from 2011:

"Catherine Bogle was an excellent actress in her own right and she played opposite him in Claudia. Richard fell in love with her. But he did not want one of those theatrical marriages where the wife is touring all over the country in one company, while the husband is touring in yet another, and travelling in the opposite direction.

A life such as this was not for Richard-he wanted a home. He wanted to get himself established as an artist so that he had something substantial to offer the girl he loved, before he asked her to marry him.

In Dundee, Richard began to think the right part would never come along, when Robert Lennard telegraphed him to come to London for a screen test. Richard arrived in London, took the test, and was immediately accepted for the part.

The eagle eyes of the casting director for Associated British Pictures saw a prospective star in Richard, his undoubted acting ability, plus his good looks, convinced Lennard that young Todd would go a long way. After the successful test he offered him a contract-a good one-Richard gladly accepted.

Associated British Pictures felt that in their latest twenty-eight-year-old contract player, they had a suitable artist for the role of Herbert in their new film, For Them That Tresspass. The part was that of a young tough, bed in the drab surroundings of poverty who finds himself convicted of a murder he did not commit. Although he eventually leaves prison a free man, there is a bitter hate and revenge in his heart against the real criminal and those who sent him to prison.

Richard was tested for the part and got it-this was indeed his big chance. The first day on the set was a gruelling ordeal for the young actor. He knew that his whole career depended on how well he played the part and naturally, he was nervous.

However it was soon obvious to everyone on the set that Richard knew his job. He brought real acting ability and strength of personality to the screen and in his capable hands the character of Herbert came to life. He was a success.

At that time Richard was living at one of London’s Airborne Clubs. It was jolly there and at night he would sit talking to some of his ex-army pals, chatting about old times, or discussing his ambitions for the future.

Richard puffed away at his favourite pipe and told his colleagues that if he was ever lucky enough to make good at this acting business, it was his ambition to own a stud farm. Another dream was some day to build a small repertory theatre in London where new plays and promising young actors and actresses could delight the London theatre-goers.

Richard was full of high hopes and dreams, but at that time he had a long way to go. He had only mounted the first step of the ladder. Still, like all young men he found it exciting to plan ahead and to dream. Some day he might be a star-but those evenings, as he sat talking to his army friends, he little imagined how soon his dream of stardom would be realised.

Associated British executives were so impressed with Richard’s performance in For Them That Trespass that when an actor was sought for the key role of ‘Lachie’ in The Hasty Heart, they immediately and unanimously put forward their young protégée’s name for the test. He was under contract to Associated British Pictures for seven years; his salary was a good one, but not enormous. They expected big things of Richard and it was agreed that his salary would increase each year, but not even top men in the motion picture business expected their young contract artist to jump to stardom in his second film!

Vincent Sherman, the American director had come to England to direct the test for The Hasty Heart. He brought with him Patricia Neal and Ronald Reagan who were to star in the film. The part of ‘Lachie’ a dour and embittered young Scottish convalescent soldier, was not easy to cast, but when Richard’s test was screened, Vincent Sherman slapped his knee and cried “That’s my boy!” So young Todd got the part. The test was flown to Warner Brothers’ Burbank Studios and back came the reply: “Sign Todd. He’s terrific.”

The part of the shy, surly, soured and friendless young Scot, who is doomed to die in a Burma military hospital, was so beautifully played by Richard Todd that it sent him rocketing to stardom. He was a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic. For the American public, The Hasty Heart had two Hollywood stars, but it was Richard who made the audiences sit up. The blazing sincerity of his acting claimed their sympathy even when he was in his bitterest mood.

Richard Todd c.1951

He acted with his eyes, even when the rest of him was stonily still. His performance shook the top executives at Warner Brothers when the first rough cut of the film reached America. They could see that a great new British star had blazed into the celluloid sky, and it was clear from that one film that he was ready and able to hold his own with high-salaried, top-ranking stars from Hollywood.

As for Richard, he knew before the film was finished that he was doing a good job. He thought, when the picture was released, that it would be successful, but it never occurred to him that HE would be a sensation. When The Hasty Heart was finished, he had one day’s rest, and then started to play opposite Valerie Hobson in The Cord, at Riverside Studios.

Before the film was finished, director Alfred Hitchcock, who had see rushes of his previous films, offered him the leading part in Stage Fright.

Richard was extremely thrilled to be working for that great director and Stage Fright gave him the opportunity of sharing honours with such international stars as Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich and Michael Wilding. The film was to be made at Elstree Studios and the part of ‘Jonathan’ greatly appealed to Richard.

Considering that he had been less than fifteen months in the motion picture business, to be cast opposite such stars was really remarkable. He felt that now his success was fairly assured he could ask the girl he loved to marry him."

Richard and Catherine's wedding in 1949

On August 13th 1949 Richard took time off from filming to marry his twenty-two-year-old Kitty, the girl he met and loved and who loved him, when he was just another repertory actor working for less than ten pounds a week with the Dundee Repertory Company."

Richard Todd describes his marriage in his autobiography:

"Kitty and I were married in the bombed-out ruins of St Columba's Church of Scotland in Pont Street, Belgravia. Although our new flat in Park Street, Mayfair, was ready for us, we had not yet of course, moved in, so my launching pad for my ceremony was still my shared flat in Belgravia."

Catherine (1927-1997) was the daughter of William Grant-Bogle a steel-brass founder. Richard and Catherine had two children, Peter Todd (1952-2005) and Fiona Margaret (b.1956). Fiona later married Hon. Rollo Hugh Clifford. 

Richard and Catherine Todd.

Peter Todd committed suicide in a car park in East Malling, Kent in 2005.

In 1960 Richard had a son, Jeremy, by the model Patricia Nelson. Catherine and Richard divorced ten years later in 1970. Richard then married Virgina Mailer (b.1941) in June of the same year. They had two children, Andrew and Seamus (1977-1997). 

Seamus Todd shot himself in the head in 1997.

I received an email from Pam a few years ago about the mysterious later years of Catherine Grant-Bogle. Up until now, very little was known about her life after she was divorced from movie legend Richard Todd. So I am sure my readers will be very interested in what Pam has to say:

“I was looking up info on Richard Todd when I saw this article on Catherine Grant-Bogle. She was my landlady in 1970/71 in London, in a flat near the Tate Gallery.

Catherine Todd  (formerly Bogle)

I am Canadian and was backpacking through Europe with my girlfriend. She took me, my girlfriend and a girl from Hawaii in for room and board. The rooms were as the children left them and she didn't want us to touch or move anything. She also didn't want us using the kitchen and when she found the three of us making dinner, she was very upset.

She was very bitter about the divorce and told us stories. Her son Peter also came by a few times to check on her. I also have a picture of her with her cat in my photo album.

I went back to London with my first husband in 1978 and went to show him the flat. And there she was walking down the street coming out of the liquor store, looking a little worse for wear.

I am surprised to see that she lived another 20 years after I last saw her. She didn't look well and the difference in her from 1971 to 1978 was astounding!”

Pam continued:

“She did seem so sad, not only when I was rooming at her flat, but especially when I saw her walking down the street a few years later. She was a sweet lady.

Anyway, just thought I would share this with you.”

I would like to thank Pam very much for this glimpse into the later years of Richard Todd’s first wife. Also a huge thank you to Neil for his regular in-put and continued support.

If anyone can add some more to this information, particularly on Catherine, or would like to comment on anything concerning the movie The Story of Robin Hood or its actors, please get in touch at disneysrobin@googlemail.com.

Maid Marian's Hats

Joan Rice in the Aberdeen Evening Express

As many of you know, I am a family historian and genealogist - my site is here. And, it was while doing some research for a client that I discovered this little nugget of information. In the Aberdeen Evening Express dated 17th April 1952 - a few weeks after the world premiere of Walt Disney's 'Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men,' in London. It says:

Pretty Joan Rice, British film actress, who plays Maid Marian in Walt Disney's new picture, "The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men," took a great fancy to the hats she wore in that film. And so she adapted two of them for her own use.

On the left is an exact replica of the hat she wore in the picture, and on the right, is another attractive adaption.

I do know that Joan had several keep-sakes from the movie, so I wonder if the hats are still around, somewhere? Please get in touch if you know!

One of my favourite stills of Joan Rice

And another of Joan Rice wearing 'that' hat.

This website is dedicated to the memory of Joan Rice (1930-1997), she will always be our Maid Marian. Down the years I have gradually pieced together her life story. If you click on the labels provided, you will find over 91 pages full of information about this beautiful British actress.

And if you are interested in finding out about your family history, please contact me via this blog or on my website here.

Lords of the Greenwood by Chris Thorndycroft

Occasionally I have reviewed books connected in some way to the Robin Hood legend - the last one was Elizabeth Chadwick's excellent Lords of the White Castle.  This week I finished Lords of the Greenwood, by Chris Thorndycroft, and it is another novel I highly recommend.

The earliest surviving Robin Hood ballads place the outlaw not just in Sherwood Forest, but also further north, in Barnsdale,Yorkshire. In the nineteenth century the antiquarian and first assistant keeper of the public record office, Joseph Hunter (1783-1861), made several groundbreaking discoveries. These included identifying the location of the 'Sayles' mentioned in the 'Geste of Robyn Hode' (c.1450) and linking the king's search for the outlaw, with the progress made by King Edward II in 1323. But this was not all. Remarkably, Hunter discovered in Edward's accounts for this period, a 'Robyn Hode', porter of the king's chamber. He then went on to try and link a Robert Hood of Wakefield with the Robin Hood in the kings chamber accounts. Hunter's discoveries were hailed as a tremendous success and still remain fascinating and controversial today. 

Robin Hood's links to Yorkshire have provided a fresh backdrop to the legend for many authors. And, in my opinion, the most innovative have been 'Hodd' by Adam Thorpe (2009), 'Robin Hood' by Carola Oman (1949) and 'Wolf's Head' by Steven A. McKay (2013). Now 'Lord's of the Greenwood' can be added to this list. 

Chris Thorndycroft has taken a unique approach, by weaving together the stories of two men - the 13th Century outlaw Roger Godberd, (whom some believe inspired the legend of Robin Hood) and the 14th Century Robert Hood of Wakefield. The link is Stephen de Wasteneys, a previous member of Godberd's notorious gang.  In later years, he becomes a member of Hood's and provides a link between the two, cleverly blending the stories of these possible contenders for the original Robin Hood. 

The book starts with young Robert Hood of Wakefield, wrongly accused of murder and finding himself outlawed, along with his bitter enemy, Will Shacklock. Gradually, as the Earl of Lancaster's rebellion of 1320 sends the country into turmoil, their animosity heals. Meanwhile, more and more people join the outlaws in Barnsdale, including old Stephen de Wastenys.

By the evening camp fire, de Wasteney's  tells of his exploits with Roger Godberd at Nottingham Castle during the barons bloody revolt against King Henry III, led by Simon de Montfort. After betrayal, Godberd and his men are outlawed and seek sanctuary in Sherwood Forest, constantly hunted by the Sheriff.

Meanwhile, Lancaster is caught and beheaded. The rebellion is over and Robert Hood's exploits in Barnsdale, draw the attention of King Edward II. They are eventually given an ultimatum, enter the king's service or be hanged.

Thorndycroft's novel runs to 669 pages and is a rollicking good read. It captures the spirit of the early ballads, particularly with the sinister Guy of Gisburn:

"I must say, you come highly recommended," the sheriff told the man, not knowing why he felt the urge to flatter him. There was something unnerving about the man that suggested he should be kept on good terms. 

"I'm a hunter," said the man, wiping his mouth on a dirty sleeve,"and I keep hunting until I get my kill." 

With looming tension and darkness, the final chapters of the book also closely follow the ballad tradition. So, if you are interested in his legend, get this book and enjoy the gritty exploits of two historical Robin Hood's for the price of one!

Richard Todd at Shiplake

It is always interesting to hear from readers of this blog. David Denton sent these recollections to me :

"Dear Clement, just a small piece of trivia after reading that your a fan of the movie, 'The Story of Robin Hood!'
Well, I used to go to see Richard Todd when he had his farm at Shiplake, near my home town of Henley-on-Thames, before I moved to the village
of Mapledurham. He was a lovely man, and even me at my age of 15, I had a crush on him. Also on summer evenings, bumped into Robert Beatey, as I and friends used to walk along the tow-path by the river. Oh! Happy bygone days! And over the years I met Bill Owen, Michael Hordon, Anthony Steele, Diana Dors, Sabrina and many others, - but Richard was always my favourite.

I had 'The Story of Robin Hood' on VHS for years, but was so delighted when it came out on DVD.
So as I said at the beginning just a small bit of info."

Richard Todd c.1950

David contacted me again recently, with some more memories:

"It was a long time ago. But I can remember the first time that I cycled to see him, not knowing just quite where he lived. On the road to Shiplake from Mapledurham there is a hill before you desend down towards the village. It was my school summer holidays... and I came across an old man cutting the grass verges, so I decided to ask him if he knew where Richard lived, and knowing that he lived in a large white farmhouse, their was such a house in the distance, to the left of the landscape...so I tentively said to him who lives in that big house on the hillside? And I can remember to this day all these years later.."Todd the Actor." And it was spoken in a country dialect, which now having acted myself, I can do it justice!!

Back in 2014, I published an article about Richard Todd's home at Pinkney's Green, Maidenhead. I had this comment from 'berrys5555':

"This was very interesting to read. I visited a house called Hailywood in Shiplake Oxfordshire many years ago that belonged to Richard Todd. It was attached to Haileywood farm which he also owned and farmed. The house was very large and I remember the drawing room, it had a small area which was raised like a small stages with a grand piano on it. It’s now owned by a well known musician and the estate has been broken up and some of the land has been built on."

Shiplake and Haileywood Farm

The large house had previously been owned by the famous concert pianist, Eileen Joyce (1908-1991). It seems Richard Todd purchased Haileywood from her in 1957. Below is an interesting Youtube clip of Richard Todd at Shiplake in about 1959.

Behind the Scenes at Denham Studios

Filming the final scene at Denham Studios of Robin Hood

Many of us have often wished to be at Denham Studios during the filming of The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men in 1951. Well - at least this incredibly detailed photograph (above), goes somewhere to fulfilling our wishes. It has been sent in by our regular contributor -Neil.

We can see Joan Rice (Maid Marian) hugging Robin Hood (Richard Todd) shortly after he has been made the Earl of Locksley by the returning King Richard the Lionheart. To see our picture strip of this scene, please click here.

Detail - showing Joan Rice, Richard Todd, James Hayter and Ken Annakin

Many of the production crew are visible in this remarkable image, including director Ken Annakin, standing alongside James Hayter (Friar Tuck). Also several of the 'outlaws', including Ewen Solon. Notice also, the huge Technicolor camera, which is possibly being operated by the director of photography, Guy Green.

Neil says:

"That is the Studio scene at Denham showing the filming towards the end  in Robin Hood’s Camp – but this is the original photograph and absolutely crystal clear  whereas we will both have seen this one in a smaller less clear version – I think from the Old Monrovians visit there at the time.

I think this scene would be filmed at the end of July 1951  - and I have a feeling that we would be on our holidays in St.Albans at  that time - so as a small boy with my parents and brothers, would have been passing the Denham Studios at that very moment

The other picture with Walt Disney, Richard Todd and Elton Hayes, we have seen before – but again this is a bigger clearer one.

I am so happy with these. Please use them on your site if you wish."

Neil 

In the second picture that Neil has kindly sent, we can see Walt Disney on the Nottingham Castle set, during his visit to Denham Studios in June 1951. Alongside him is Elton Hayes (as the minstrel Allan-a-Dale) and Richard Todd (Robin Hood ‘disguised as a soldier of the Sheriff’). 

In his autobiography (Caught in the Act, Hutchinson 1986), Richard Todd describes the ‘solid’ dungeon walls as being constructed of pure wood and plaster.

Elton Hayes (Allan-a-Dale), Walt Disney and Richard Todd (Robin Hood)

Filming of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men began on 30th April 1951. Ken Annakin, the director of the movie, in his autobiography (So You Wanna Be a Director, Tomahawk 2001) says that 10 weeks into shooting, Disney made a surprise visit to the set. Annakin describes how the great man had photos taken with the stars of the film in the Nottingham Square set on the lot. This also included ‘numerous’ pictures with Joan Rice (Maid Marian) on the archery field.

This fits with Richard Todd's (Robin Hood) memoirs where he describes Disney coming over from London to Denham near the end of June 1951 and how he was thoroughly pleased with the way things were going.

Coinciding with Walt’s stopover, the then Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) paid a visit to the Denham Studios, accompanied only by her lady-in-waiting and equerry. The future queen was shown by Walt Disney and the art director Carmen Dillon around the outside sets and the costume department. Perce Pearce, the producer of Walt Disney’s Robin Hood, insisted that filming should continue as normal as that is what the young princess wanted to see. So for about twenty minutes she stood quietly in a dark corner, while production carried on, then gave a friendly wave and slipped out of the stage. I wonder what scene it was she saw being filmed?

To read more about the production of the film, Walt Disney, or see the picture gallery please click on the labels in the side bar.

A huge thank you to Neil for sending these images.

Elton Hayes on Tour

I recently posted about the release of a CD containing a compilation of songs by Elton Hayes (1915-2001). Elton was unforgettable as the minstrel Alan-a-Dale, in Walt Disney's classic movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). The CD is now available here and receiving some great reviews.

Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale in Disney's Story of Robin Hood

Geoff Waite, a good friend of this web site, has written an interesting and detailed biography on the inner sleeve of the CD. And he has been in touch recently, to explain the reason why the new Elton Hayes CD does not contain tracks from Robin Hood.

Geoff says:

"Just to thank you for kindly letting your readers know of the Elton CD
release. I too like 'The Girl in the Wood'.

I agree that it would have been terrific if the songs from Disney's Robin
Hood had been included, but the record company were working from an archive
of radio performances made by Elton and as far as I am aware none of these
included 'Whistle my Love' which would have been an obvious choice. They had
already made their decision on the content of the CD based on the best of
those live performances, featuring just Elton and his guitar from his radio
show 'He Sings to a Small Guitar'. It should be borne in mind that the
actual studio recordings of 'Whistle my Love' and 'Riddle De Diddle De Day'
include an orchestra backing conducted by Philip Green. But it would still
have been nice to find a version of this song in the archives.

A small consolation perhaps is the photograph of Elton with Joan Rice on the
CD cover."

The success of Robin Hood, meant that Elton Hayes's popularity soared around the world. Below is an interesting American newspaper cutting of that period, describing his tour promoting the Disney movie.

Elton Hayes's newspaper article

Dated 8th June 1952, the newspaper article says:

"Dixieland music and the city's food received a salute from a visiting British movie actor and musician today.

He is Elton Hayes a Londoner, who is in New Orleans on a tour of Southern Cities to promote Walt Disney's newest Technicolor production, "Robin Hood", which was filmed in England with an all-British cast.

"My impression of the city where jazz was born was entirely different from what I imagined." Hayes said at the Roosevelt. "Instead of the 'city that care forgot,' we find a thriving, bustling, metropolis."

Last night Hayes dined at a famed French resteraunt in the Vieux Carre and went on a tour of the Quarter's spots which Dixieland music. "I had plenty of both," he smiled, "and enjoyed what I had."

Like Europe

Hayes was astonished to find so much at the Vieux Carre still in tact. "It's a lot like Europe," he found.

Turning to "Robin Hood", Hayes said he enacts the role of "Allan a Dale" a roving minstrel. He first plays the lute, which he describes as the first juke box. Coins were dropped into the instrument by Maid Marian, played by Joan Rice, as a reward for information sung to her of Robin Hood.

Others in the film's cast are Richard Todd, who plays the title role; James Robertson Justice, Little John; Martitia Hunt as Queen Eleanor, and James Hayter as Friar Tuck.

Hayes said "Robin Hood" was his second association with Disney. He was hired by Disney to prepare original sea chanties for "Treasure Island", due to the fact that Hayes collection of old English ballads were unrivalled in all of England.

He is Britain's counterpart to America's Burl Ives, ballad and folk singer. 

The actor-musician broadcasts regularly over the British Broadcasting Co. network on his own show, "He Sings To A Small Guitar." 

He visited a number of radio stations yesterday to appear with disc jockeys. Hayes said he was amazed at how much ad-libbing is permitted. "In England we have to stick pretty close to the scripts."

Hayes said he recorded three months of shows in advance to make the trip to America, his first. He returns in six weeks.

"Robin Hood", Hayes added, "will reach New Orleans at the end of July. I think it's one of Walt Disney's best."

BY TED LIUZZA

I think you will agree, that this newspaper article gives a fascinating insight into not only the promotion of the film, but the popularity of Elton Hayes at this time.

Richard Todd Autographs

Richard Todd as Robin Hood

It is always interesting to see memorabilia from Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). John Nelson has shared some of his wonderful collection before and this signed autograph of Richard Todd is one of the best. John says:

"Sending you my Richard Todd autographed photo/Lobby card. These are possibly two of the nicest and most memorable items I have in my Story of Robin Hood collection.

Two of many posters, lobby cards and photos that Richard kindly signed for me over the years.

Signed at his desk he was very careful and quite meticulous in the way he signed them. The first one is a lovely 11x14 photograph I had enlarged from an original still, the clarity is amazing and the inscription even more so.

The lobby card story is quite amusing. He was signing so many items for me that he wrote "Robin Todd". We laughed and then he added Richard to the front of his Robin Todd autograph. 🏹

I have so many happy memories of meeting up with him. Always the perfect gentleman and sadly missed by his friends, family and his many admirers.

I hope you like them and can share them with the many followers of your wonderful "The Story of Robin Hood" website.

Keep up the great work, always interesting and informative".

Richard Todd signs as Robin Fitzooth

Below is John's signed lobby card showing Richard Todd's autograph as Richard Robin Todd.

'Richard Robin Todd'

It is interesting to see how garish these lobby cards were. We have seen before, that the whole set seem to have been printed in a way that coloured the costumes differently from the original movie. Was this to make the images brighter? And therefor more eye catching? Or was it due to the primitive printing techniques of the 1950s? If you know, please get in touch. 

If you have memorabilia or memories of the movie, or perhaps autographs of the wonderful stars that appeared in Disney's Story of Robin Hood, please get in touch.

New Elton Hayes CD

I have some great news for all my readers. The Elton Hayes double CD, that we have been patiently waiting for, is now available on the  Retrospective label, from Amazon UK. The 64 recordings display a unique mix of various traditional English ballads performed by Elton. Unfortunately his songs from Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952) are not featured. 

The sleeve notes are written by Geoff Waite, who is not only an authority on the life and career of Elton Hayes, but a regular contributor to this web site.  Geoff kindly kept me regularly informed during the albums production.

Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale

It is wonderful to finally own this rare collection of music by Elton. A musician whose work is almost completely forgotten. Some of the tracks have been skilfully restored from acetate discs. And, one track I particularly enjoyed and recommend, is The Girl in the Wood track 11 on CD2. It is both beautiful and haunting.

So this double album gives a new generation the chance to listen to the ballads of Elton Hayes (the man with a small guitar) - or as we know him - Allan-a-Dale.