Content © Debbie Cain 2010-2016
Biography
"I bet I'm the proudest man in Morecambe or
anywhere else for that matter. I feel really
honoured."
Albert went to Ilkley National School where he met his wife Doris, they married on January 27 1927, at Ilkley congregational church, the rev Tomkin officiated.
Physical Training
Albert was originally trained by his father to be an instructor in physical training, he won the amateur boxing championship of Yorkshire in 1917. He was also a wharfdale diving champion. First he was a grocers boy, then he worked for the butchers, learning to ride on the butchers delivery horses.. Then he joined the railway looking after the parcels, many of which involved looking after the animal cargo, he would try to feed and water them because he felt sorry for them, resulting in them escaping! He put his hand in a basket of monkeys to give them a drink of water and one of them went for him! So he let go of the lid and they all jumped out - they tore up the place, parcels and all! What a mess, so all he could do was wait outside with the police until the owner returned. Once he tried to give a crust to a basket of pigeons - he didn’t know they were prize-racing pigeons and they escaped! The owner was furious because they wouldn’t come down from the station roof. He said to Albert that they were almost responsible for winning the first world war!!Encouragement
Doris was employed at Beanlands in Brook Street in Ilkley, she was the one who prompted him to leave the railway for the club and concert work when it began to clash with his night shift work. The railway workers thought he was crackers to leave after 7 years there, it has been truly said that if Albert had not gone into comedy the industry would not have been the same throughout that era. He started on this road by telling jokes to irate passengers who had missed their connections, cheering them up immensely. After learning his craft on the many northern clubs, Albert had his first big success with Francis Laidler who made him principal comedian in Cinderella. He played Buttons at the Alhambra theatre Bradford. This was to become the longest career of most performaner in pantomime, he starred in various pantos from 1932 to 1960’s. At this time he embarked on many of his own shows ‘On with the Modley’ and ‘Modley’s Merrymakers’. He worked for Ernest Binns on the Arcadian Follies in 1932. He also worked for Lew and Leslie Grade on the Moss Empire circuit, which included such prestigious venues as the Leeds Empire, Newcastle Empire, Liverpool Empire, Sunderland Empire, Nottingham Empire and many more.
Variety Bandbox Comdian and Film Star
He made 3 films (which I have not got copies of!!! Any one out there with them please get in touch!!) 'Up for The Cup', 'Take Me to Paris' and 'Bob's Your Uncle'. I have many pictures of these films and newspaper articles. He worked on ‘Variety Bandbox’ after the war. This popular programme began life in December 1942, as ‘Bandbox Variety’ in the middle of the war, a pretty grim uncertain period. Also, the B.B.C. launched a new programme for the forces. It was to be a weekly ‘command performance’ and it was to go out on a Sunday afternoon from the Queensbury Club, the west end of London theatre where thousands of forces men and women had a taste of the bright lights and fun. With Cecil Madden in charge, Variety Bandbox took to the air and soon caught the ears of the whole country. Billy Ternent and his orchestra became the resident band, and the first compere was at one of the weekly auditions Joy Russel Smith held where they heard a young man fresh from the forces with a wild look and a wild crazy style, so they went to work shaping his act. Within a short period of time a new comic star had arisen — yes, Frankie Howerd and you know the rest of his story! Frankie alternated weekly with another up and coming comedian Derek Roy. To name a few other resident Bandbox comedians, Hal Monty, Michael Howard, Peter Cavanagh, Arthur English, Max Wall and Reg Dixon with Albert Modley as alternating resident comedians. Bandbox went out on B.B.C. Overseas Services, to Commonwealth and Empire countries, it had an audience of 10,000,000 to 14,000,000. It ran through the war and earned its permanent place, and that became Sunday evening – a quiet revolution had taken place without any one really noticing it!
Albert Modley gets Better and Better
In the late 1930’s Albert started his Road Shows. November 1937 headlines read 'Albert Modley Gets Better and Better'. His road shows were a combination of his own stand up comedy and sketches with other artists. Song and dance artists included The John Tiller Girls (which later included Leann’s Nana Pat Modley), Enchanting Soprano Mary Hale, The Bonita Sisters and Neaeen performed quick fire acrobatic work, a fine accordionist Harrision Viney. Skill combined with humour were shown by Reading and Grant who did their work on a spring net. Another artist who gave a meritorious performance Du-Lay who was a magician, Percy Garside who had a magnificent baritone voice. It is only necessary to say that all the acts were always well staged and the dresses were in keeping with the show. Shows like this had the audiences mesmerised, feeling that they had only been sat there an hour when in fact it was practically two hours. Nearing the end of every performance Albert played his various instruments, theses included his Drums, Xylophone, Harmonica and Trumpet.Modley’s Restaurant
Modleys Restaurant was situated on Morecambe seafront next door to Albert’s home of over 40 years. Doris kept every newspaper article, bill poster and theatre agent letter. She also kept his nhand-written jokes, pictures and costumes. The restaurant had pictures on the walls of most of the artists of that era, namely 40s and 50s. There was also some personal video of Albert’s appearances on television. The restaurant served A La Carte with locally caught fish and seafod being their speciality. They also served unusual meats to give their customers high protein foods with little or no cholesterol. Vegetarians were also catered for. Sadly Modley’s is no more.
© Debbie Cain 2010-2016
Biography
"I bet I'm the proudest man in
Morecambe or anywhere else
for that matter. I feel really
honoured."
Albert went to Ilkley National School where he met his wife Doris, they married on January 27 1927, at Ilkley congregational church, the rev Tomkin officiated.
Physical Training
Albert was originally trained by his father to be an instructor in physical training, he won the amateur boxing championship of Yorkshire in 1917. He was also a wharfdale diving champion. First he was a grocers boy, then he worked for the butchers, learning to ride on the butchers delivery horses.. Then he joined the railway looking after the parcels, many of which involved looking after the animal cargo, he would try to feed and water them because he felt sorry for them, resulting in them escaping! He put his hand in a basket of monkeys to give them a drink of water and one of them went for him! So he let go of the lid and they all jumped out - they tore up the place, parcels and all! What a mess, so all he could do was wait outside with the police until the owner returned. Once he tried to give a crust to a basket of pigeons - he didn’t know they were prize- racing pigeons and they escaped! The owner was furious because they wouldn’t come down from the station roof. He said to Albert that they were almost responsible for winning the first world war!!
Albert Modley gets Better and Better
In the late 1930’s Albert started his Road Shows. November 1937 headlines read 'Albert Modley Gets Better and Better'. His road shows were a combination of his own stand up comedy and sketches with other artists. Song and dance artists included The John Tiller Girls (which later included Leann’s Nana Pat Modley), Enchanting Soprano Mary Hale, The Bonita Sisters and Neaeen performed quick fire acrobatic work, a fine accordionist Harrision Viney. Skill combined with humour were shown by Reading and Grant who did their work on a spring net. Another artist who gave a meritorious performance Du-Lay who was a magician, Percy Garside who had a magnificent baritone voice. It is only necessary to say that all the acts were always well staged and the dresses were in keeping with the show. Shows like this had the audiences mesmerised, feeling that they had only been sat there an hour when in fact it was practically two hours. Nearing the end of every performance Albert played his various instruments, theses included his Drums, Xylophone, Harmonica and Trumpet.Modley’s Restaurant
Modleys Restaurant was situated on Morecambe seafront next door to Albert’s home of over 40 years. Doris kept every newspaper article, bill poster and theatre agent letter. She also kept his nhand-written jokes, pictures and costumes. The restaurant had pictures on the walls of most of the artists of that era, namely 40s and 50s. There was also some personal video of Albert’s appearances on television. The restaurant served A La Carte with locally caught fish and seafod being their speciality. They also served unusual meats to give their customers high protein foods with little or no cholesterol. Vegetarians were also catered for. Sadly Modley’s is no more.
