Daniel Carroll was born in Cork on July 26th, 1927. He was the fifth of six children.
The family moved first to London when Danny was nine years old, and then were evacuated
to Kennford in Devon during the war. He left school aged fifteen, and worked in a
fashion store in Exeter.
In 1944 he joined the Royal Navy for three years and graduated
into concert party entertaining the troops in the Far East.
After leaving the navy
aged 20 he returned to Devon and worked in a local fashion store, for a while he
also worked backstage at the old Theatre Royal Exeter which had a resident rep company,
before returning to London.
During the late 1940’s there was a vogue for “All male
revue”-
In the late
1940’s Danny joined a revue company and toured The Empire Theatres in “Forces Showboat”,
starring Bartlett & Ross (Premier Ugly Sisters in Panto at that time) and Billy Wells,
who was to become a veteran pantomime Dame. The show toured for several years playing
most of the variety venues each week-
By early1953 Danny was still touring weekly
with “Soldiers In Skirts” alongside Eric Lloyd, Eric Knight, Fred Sloane (performing
a whistling act) and Louise Hayden. The long running tour was presented by Sydney
Myers.
When Danny was at the Wood Green Empire with “Soldiers”, Betty Driver (Betty
Turpin from “Coronation Street”) was starring in her show in the next theatre. Danny
had his first speaking role in “Misleading Ladies” on tour, and was to appear on
the variety circuit with Harry Secombe and Ted Gatty.
The Major nightclubs in London
during the late 1950’s and 1960’s included Churchills, Winstons, L’Hirondelle in
Swallow Street, The Pigalle, The Stork, and The Embassy Club. [More]
DannyLaRue.co.uk -
Photo courtesy of David Whitworth -
Why not take a trip down Paradise Row and visit my good friends Nigel and Simon’s tribute to, not just a fine entertainer but to a much missed and loved friend of ours.
BRICK LANE MUSIC HALL