10 replies to this topic

[RShaw]

Can anyone tell me the origin of the team nickname "The Dancing Daughters" or "Eyston's Dancing Daughters" applied to the all-girl MG team which took part in the 1935 LeMans race?

Searching TNF and the 'net in general yields many references to the name, but none I have found gives an origin.
Why "dancing"? That seems to me to imply some specific incident that gave rise to the name.

One of the ladies, Doreen Evans Phipps (later Doreen Evans Boyer), lived in Denver, CO, for many years.

[Vitesse2]

Rosalind Wade and the BBC Dancing Daughters were a well-known variety act of the time, performing regularly on BBC Radio's big Saturday night programme "Music Hall" from late 1934. I'm sure tap dancing on radio must have been really fun listening!

Edited by Vitesse2, 12 August 2010 - 18:29.

[Vitesse2]

The Dancing Daughters' last regular radio appearance was on April 6th 1935.

After that, they made just two further broadcasts - the first in an "All Star Variety" to celebrate the King's Jubilee on May 6th 1935. This was performed in Brighton and may even have been broadcast live. Two days later, they took part in a radio production of "The Desert Song" starring Edith Day and Harry Welchman (who they?)

There was also a BBC film in which they featured, but I can't find the title - it played as second feature to "Shanghai" starring Charles Boyer and Loretta Young - but is only described as "the official BBC film". Other people in this film were apparently bandleader Henry Hall, George Bernard Shaw, HG Wells and Nina Mae McKinney ("The Black Garbo"), so it seems to have been a strange confection!

[RShaw]

It would make sense that the press would draw a parallel between the MG team and a popular (at the time) variety act. Certainly the all-girl team was more of an inspired piece of press-agentry than a serious attempt at a class win. Nevertheless the ladies made the best of it, finishing all three cars, which was better than 30 other teams did.

Edited by RShaw, 12 August 2010 - 21:14.

[Vitesse2]

There was also a BBC film in which they featured, but I can't find the title - it played as second feature to "Shanghai" starring Charles Boyer and Loretta Young - but is only described as "the official BBC film". Other people in this film were apparently bandleader Henry Hall, George Bernard Shaw, HG Wells and Nina Mae McKinney ("The Black Garbo"), so it seems to have been a strange confection!

The BBC film in question is called "The Voice of Britain", made by the GPO Film Unit. As I type this, it's being shown on Sky Arts 2! There's about a 4-minute sequence of the Dancing Daughters in a rehearsal studio.

[Vitesse2]

Another film project which will never see the light of day?

http://www.farrenafi...dancing-daught/

Those with even a basic knowledge of Le Mans history will note that they have shifted it from 1935 to 1936 - the year when the race was cancelled due to industrial unrest.

[275 GTB-4]

Can anyone tell me the origin of the team nickname "The Dancing Daughters" or "Eyston's Dancing Daughters" applied to the all-girl MG team which took part in the 1935 LeMans race?

Searching TNF and the 'net in general yields many references to the name, but none I have found gives an origin.
Why "dancing"? That seems to me to imply some specific incident that gave rise to the name.

One of the ladies, Doreen Evans Phipps (later Doreen Evans Boyer), lived in Denver, CO, for many years.

Brooklands has a room dedicated to the ladies...

[Sebastian Tombs]

Just noticed this thread.  Thought some might be interested in this pic of the 'Dancing Daughters' having a shakedown/photo op at Brooklands in '35 prior to Le Mans.  Team of three PA 846cc Midgets, drivers Mrs Gordon Simpson/Joan Richmond, Doreen Evans/Barbara Skinner, Margaret Allan/Coleen Eaton. George keeps an appreciative eye on them!

 

 

ST

[Vitesse2]

Little-known fact. Fay Taylour - who had previously driven George's K3 at Shelsley - was originally announced as one of the team. However, her well-publicised conviction for speeding - and brief imprisonment after refusing to pay the fine - seem to have scuppered her chances. This picture, which Getty have captioned as her imprisonment for pro-Nazi activities in 1940, actually shows her entering Holloway in 1935.

 

[Sebastian Tombs]

It's quite a well-known fact V2 but not, obviously, by Getty Images!    I've just been looking at a pic of 'Mrs Aclace'  when in fact it was a companion of A.C. ("Bob") Lace signalling in the JCC 200.  Beware the hack caption writer

 

ST

[LotusElise]

It's quite a well-known fact V2 but not, obviously, by Getty Images!    I've just been looking at a pic of 'Mrs Aclace'  when in fact it was a companion of A.C. ("Bob") Lace signalling in the JCC 200.  Beware the hack caption writer

 

ST

 

"Mrs Lace" was a rally driver and Brooklands semi-regular who was probably not actually married to AC Lace, but used his name regularly.