Beatrice "Binnie" Mary Hale-Monro (22 May 1899 – 10 January 1984) was an English actress, singer and dancer. She was one of the most successful musical theatre stars in London in the 1920s and 1930s, able to sing leading roles in operetta as well as musicals, and she was popular as a

principal boy In pantomime, a principal boy role is the young male protagonist of the play, traditionally played by a young actress in boy's clothes. The earliest example is Miss Ellington who in 1852 appeared in ''The Good Woman in the Wood'' by James Planc ...

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speakin ...

. Her best-remembered roles were in the musicals '' No, No, Nanette'' (1925) and ''

Mr. Cinders ''Mr Cinders'' is a 1928 musical with music by Vivian Ellis and Richard Myers and a libretto by Clifford Grey and Greatrex Newman. The story is an inversion of the Cinderella fairy tale with the gender roles reversed. The Prince Charming charact ...

'' (1929), in which she sang " Spread a Little Happiness". In the 1930s she also pursued a film career and later had a radio show together with her brother

Sonnie Hale John Robert Hale-Monro (1 May 1902 – 9 June 1959), known as Sonnie Hale, was an English actor, screenwriter, and director. Early life John Robert Hale-Monro was born in Kensington, London, the son of Belle Reynolds and actor Robert Hal ...

. She continued to act and sing on stage through the 1950s.

Life and career

Hale was born in Liverpool. Her father, Robert Hale, and younger brother,

, were actors. Hale was one of the most successful stars in London in the 1920s and 1930s, known for her vivacity, and able to sing leading roles in operetta as well as musicals and

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...

.Green, Stanley
"Hale, Binnie"
''Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre'', Da Capo Press (2009), p. 169 She debuted in 1916 in three productions: the musical comedy ''Follow the Crowd'', followed by the revue ''We’re All In It'', both at the old Empire Theatre, and in the small role of Annette in the musical ''

Houp La! ''Houp La!'' is an Edwardian musical comedy extravaganza, with music by Nat Ayer, Nat D. Ayer and Howard Talbot, lyrics by Percy Greenbank and Hugh E. Wright, and a book by Fred Thompson (writer), Fred Thompson and Hugh E. Wright. The story combin ...

'' at the newly opened

St. Martin's Theatre St Martin's Theatre is a West End theatre which has staged the production of ''The Mousetrap'' since March 1974, making it the longest continuous run of any show in the world. The theatre is located in West Street, near Shaftesbury Avenue, in t ...

. After this, she played in several revues and musical comedies, including ''150 Pound Revue'' (1917), Charlotte in ''The Kiss Call'' (1919), ''Just Fancy'' and ''Jumble Sale'' (1920), Betty in ''My Nieces'' (1921), Helen in the London production of '' Katinka'' (1923), ''Puppets'' and ''The Odd Spot'' (both 1924). In 1924, she married the English actor

Jack Raine Thomas Foster "Jack" Raine (18 May 1897 – 30 May 1979) was an English stage, television and film actor. He was a leading man of the British cinema in the late twenties and early thirties in such films as ''The Hate Ship'' (1929), '' Raise the ...

, with whom she had appeared in ''

The Dippers ''The Dippers'' is a comedy play by the British writer Ben Travers first performed in 1922 and based on his own 1920 novel of the same title. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool before transferring to the Criterion Theatre in Lond ...

'', by

Ben Travers Ben Travers (12 November 188618 December 1980) was an English writer. His output includes more than 20 plays, 30 screenplays, 5 novels, and 3 volumes of memoirs. He is best remembered for his long-running series of farces first staged in the ...

in 1922 and in ''The Odd Spot''. They had a daughter, Patricia, born in 1930. The marriage ended in divorce about 1934. She finally starred in the title role of a hit musical, '' No, No, Nanette'', in 1925 at the

Palace Theatre Palace Theatre, or Palace Theater, is the name of many theatres in different countries, including: Australia * Palace Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria *Palace Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales Canada *Palace Theatre, housed in the Robillard Block, M ...

. She also played the title role in the London production of '' Sunny'' (1926). She began her film career in 1927 in the short film ''On with the Dance'', with

Leslie Henson Leslie Lincoln Henson (3 August 1891 – 2 December 1957) was an English comedian, actor, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hall comed ...

and her brother. She was Jill in the long-running British musical ''

'' (1929). Kenrick, John
"Who's Who in Musicals: Hale–Harris"
Musicals101.com, 2007, accessed 6 February 2015 Her recording of the song " Spread a Little Happiness" from that musical is possibly her best remembered recording. ''Mr. Cinders'' was the first of three shows in which she appeared with

Bobby Howes Bobby Howes (4 August 1895 – 27 April 1972) was a British entertainer who was a leading musical comedy performer in London's West End theatres in the 1930s and 1940s. Biography Born in Battersea, Surrey, his parents were Robert William H ...

. Next, she starred in the title role of ''

Nippy A nippy was a waitress who worked in the J. Lyons & Co tea shops and cafés in London. Beginning in the late 19th century, a J. Lyons waitress was called a "Gladys". From 1926, because the waitresses nipped (moved quickly) around the tea sh ...

'' (1930); in ''Bow Bells'', together with her father (1932); and ''

The Dubarry ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' as Jeanne (1932 UK tour). From 1933 to 1937, Hale made five films. On stage during these years, she played Peggy in ''Give Me a Ring'' (1933), Sally in ''Yes, Madam?'' (1934, with Howes, who later starred in the film version), Anne in ''Rise and Shine'' (1936), and Cochran's Coronation revue ''Home and Beauty'' (1937). In 1937, she starred as Roszi in ''Magyar Melody''. In the 1940s, and through most of the 1950s, she played as the

s and appeared in and variety shows, musicals such as ''Up and Doing'' (1940) and ''Flying Colours'' (1941), and revues such as ''One, Two, Three!'' (1947, with her brother Sonnie) and ''Four, Five, Six!'' (1948, with Howes). She was in ''Out of this World'' (1950,

Frankie Howerd Francis Alick Howard (6 March 1917 – 19 April 1992), better known by his stage-name Frankie Howerd, was an English actor and comedian. Early life Howerd was born the son of soldier Francis Alfred William (1887–1934)England & Wales, Deat ...

's debut), and ''The Punch Revue'' (1955). She and her brother also had a radio series, ''All Hale''. In her last West End role, she played the Duchess and Queen of Hearts in ''Alice In Wonderland'' at the

Winter Garden Theatre The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre at 1634 Broadway in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It opened in 1911 under designs by architect William Albert Swasey. The Winter Garden's current design dates to 1922, when ...

(1959). She died at the age of 84 in

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...

, East Sussex.

Films

*''On with the Dance'' (1927) *'' This is the Life'' (1933) – Sarah Tuttle *''

Hyde Park Corner Hyde Park Corner is between Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Mayfair in London, England. It primarily refers to its major road junction at the southeastern corner of Hyde Park, that was designed by Decimus Burton. Six streets converge at the ...

'' (1935) – Sophie *'' The Phantom Light'' (1935) – Alice Bright *'' Take a Chance'' (1937) – Wilhelmina ("Bill") Ryde *'' Love from a Stranger'' (1937) aka ''A Night of Terror (USA)'' – Kate Meadows *''Magyar Melody'' (1939) (TV) – Roszi Belvary *''One, Two, Three!'' (1948) (TV)

Selected stage roles

*''

'' (1916) at St Martin's Theatre with

Gertie Millar Gertrude Ward, Countess of Dudley ( Millar; 21 February 1879 – 25 April 1952), known as Gertie Millar, was an English actress and singer of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Beginning her care ...

*'' No, No, Nanette'' (1925) at the Palace Theatre *'' Sunny'' (1926) *''

'' (1929) at the

London Hippodrome The Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, London. The name was used for many different theatres and music halls, of which the London Hippodrome is one of only a few s ...

with

*''

'' (1930) at the

Golders Green Hippodrome The Golders Green Hippodrome was built in 1913 by Bertie Crewe as a 3,000-seat music hall, to serve North London and the new London Underground Northern line expansion into Golders Green in the London Borough of Barnet, London, England. Taken ...

. *''Give Me a Ring'' (1933) at the London Hippodrome *''Yes Madam?'' (1934) at the London Hippodrome, with Howes *''

Jack and the Beanstalk "Jack and the Beanstalk" is an English fairy tale. It appeared as "The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean" in 1734 4th edition On Commons and as Benjamin Tabart's moralized "The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk" in 1807. Henry Co ...

'' (1935) – Pantomime,

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...

*''Flying Colours'' (1943) at the Lyric Theatre, London *''Four, Five, Six'' (1948) with Howes * ''Out of this World'' (1950) at the

London Palladium The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in the famous area of Soho. The theatre holds 2,286 seats. Of the roster of stars who have played there, many have televised performances. Between 1955 a ...

with

Vaudeville Postcards (4)
*''Peggy Ryan and Ray McDonald'' (1950) at the Empire Theatre Newcastle
* ''The Punch Review'' (1955) at the

Duke of York's Theatre The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by th ...

, London with

Alfie Bass Alfie Bass (born Abraham Basalinsky, 10 April 1916 – 16 July 1987) was an English actor. He was born in Bethnal Green, London, the youngest in a Jewish family with ten children; his parents had left Russia many years before he was born. He a ...

The Punch Review
', The Guide to Musical Theatre

Discography

*'' No, No, Nanette'' (1925) *'' Who?'' (1926) with

Jack Buchanan Walter John Buchanan (2 April 1891 – 20 October 1957) was a Scottish theatre and film actor, singer, dancer, producer and director. He was known for three decades as the embodiment of the debonair man-about-town in the tradition of George G ...

, from the musical '' Sunny'' *''I'm a One Man Girl'' (1929) with

, and Al Starita and his Novelty Orchestra *'' Spread a Little Happiness'' (1929) from the musical ''

'' *''The Debonnaire'' (date unknown) - with

and

Elsie Randolph Elsie Randolph (9 December 1904 – 15 October 1982) was an English actress, singer and dancer. Randolph was born and died in London. She is best remembered for her partnership with Jack Buchanan in several stage and film musicals. She also app ...

*'' As Time Goes By'' (1932) with the

Savoy Orpheans The Savoy Orpheans is a British dance band currently led by Alex Mendham. They were resident at the Savoy Hotel, London. The band was formed by Debroy Somers, an ex-army bandmaster, in 1923. Both the Orpheans and the Savoy Havana Band were under ...

and

Carroll Gibbons Carroll Richard Gibbons (January 4, 1903 – May 10, 1954) was an American-born pianist, bandleader and popular composer who made his career primarily in England during the British dance band era. Image of Gibbons from the W.D. & H.O. Wills ...

, piano *''

You're Blasé "You're Blasé" is a jazz standard composed in 1931 by Ord Hamilton (1900–1955) with lyrics by Bruce Sievier (1894–1953) and introduced by Binnie Hale in John Murray Anderson's production of the London musical revue ''Bow Bells'' (1932). (Hami ...

'' (1932) from the revue ''

Bow Bells The Church of St Mary-le-Bow is a Church of England parish church in the City of London. Located on Cheapside, one of the city's oldest and most important thoroughfares, the church was founded in 1080 by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury. Rebuil ...

'' *''Yes Madam?'' (1934) with

*'' You Don't Know the Half of It'' (1935) from the film ''

'' *''A Nice Cup of Tea'' (1937) from the revue ''Home and Beauty'' by A.P. Herbert (lyrics) and Henry Sullivan (music) Hale made many other recordings between 1925 and 1941, the majority of which were for the Columbia label in London.Rust, Brian, with Rex Bunnett, ''London Musical Shows on Record 1897–1976'', General Gramophone Plublications Ltd, Harrow, Middlesex, 1977, pp. 462–64

References

External links

*
Hale at the National Portrait Gallery

Binnie Hale information at the Theatre Collection, University of Bristol

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hale, Binnie 1899 births 1984 deaths English film actresses English musical theatre actresses Actresses from Liverpool Musicians from Liverpool 20th-century English actresses 20th-century English singers 20th-century English women singers