... Magicians and their animals Dear Sir, As a magician who has presented dove magic on television I feel I must comment on the report in last week's Television Today concerning a campaign to ban magicians using live animals and birds on television. The R.S.P.C.A. member is re ported to have said that she did not know how the tricks worked or how the birds and animals were compressed into hats and ...

... History series on Grampian ^pOMORROW Grampian be gins a new series of history programmes called Ups and Downs. The series i$. concerned with some historical ''figure who was associated with Scotland. The programmes will take the form of illustrated lectures, writ ten and presented by Alastair Borthwick. Edward Joffe is direc tor. ...

... Guild's new section Dear Sir, In Mr. Emms' letter concerning the formation of the Advertising Writers' Section of the Writers' Guild, he stated that this particular Section was created by the Guild's Executive Council without reference to the general Membership. This is not true. First, the Executive Council's proposal to form the Advertising Writers' Section was put to the Membership at the ...

... Smoking SIR, Those who arc troubled by smokers in theatres and cinemas will find it rewarding to relax by arming themselves with (I) a fan. (2) a balloon-pump, or (3) to train their lips to emit a strong, con tinuous. silent stream of air directly on to the back of the offender If these measures result only in an in crease of smoke, a soft persistent falsetto humming to the tune of Have ye ...

... Wal Pelling SIR.--Your fascinating article, A Super Career, on the work of Mr. Frans Van Norde brought back memories of another dedicated artist, Wal Pelting who, for so many years, delighted gallery queues at the old King's, Hammersmith. In his own way Wal was a perfectionist who regarded his per formance as Hors d'oeuvres man (never Busker) as a vital part of the show. He believed that ...

... Curtain up, late! CIR, Will someone please explain why it is that on first nights the I curtain never rises at the appointed time? There seems to be an un written law that says add ten minutes to the advertised time for a straight play, and fifteen minutes i often more for a musical, i The latest example was at the premidre of Sweet Charity when it was a mere seventeen minutes before the ...

... Souvenirs SIR, Could any of your kind readers give me, sell me, or put me in the way of acquiring (I) a programme of the Gerald du Maurier memorial matinle at His Majesty's. 1934; (2) a programme of the Haymarket revival of The Great Adventure, 1924; and (3) a photograph, preferably signed, of Harry Weldon in character? I want the first in connection with material I have begun to collect for ...

... Baliol Holloway SIR, The passing of Baliol Hol- loway recalls to me an evening at the Old Vic in the late Twenties. The play was The School for Scandal and, as usual, I sat hap pily in the gallery. Before the play staited, an announcement appeared on the screen Miss Baylis used to publicise future events, to say the actor playing Charles Surface was indisposed but that Baliol Hol- loway, who ...

... Roy and Rolf Dear Sir, I thank Miss Angela Moreton for her far-seeing and perceptive review of The Illustrated Weekly Hudd in last week's edition of Television Today. It really was a most constructive criticism but I must draw your attention to the paragraph The show was given a fine rumbustious ending by Rolf Harris, one of Australia's most notable gifts to British television. Rolf has ...

... SIR, A big personal thank you to Mr. Peter Bridge, and Anthony Sharp, for taking the trouble to advertise in the stage, to send nice letters, and audition scripts, and, also, a nice encourag ing thank you letter for all that came. I realise that all letters were duplicated, but they did take the trouble to write. First, and fore most, and second, they were letters. If all managements, ...

... 'Miss Plaster of Paris' SIR, I would be grateful if any reader could help me to ascer tain the date of the original produc tion of Miss Plaster of Paris, the show by Henry L. Osmond I would also Hke to hear from any artist who was in the cast at any time during the run. Yours faithfully, Reginald J. Sackville-West Glatford, Mill Lane. Brockenhurst, Hants. ...

... Dan Rolyat CIR, To enable us to dispose of a fund which we are holding on behalf of clients, we are anxious to obtain the following information concerning Dan Rolyat. a music hall and musical comedy performer who was well known in this country during the early years of the present century. 1. The date, place and circum stances of his death which is believed to have occurred between 1927 and ...