VICTOR LEOPOLD

As we have seen, Victor's family was steeped in Theatre. It would seem unlikely that he and his sister Georgina would have considered a future in any other field. Indeed, he made his first appearance in pantomime in Glasgow at the age of 10. He went on to play juvenile dancing lead for such great stage personalities as Clayton and Waller, Walter Bentley, Frank E. Franks, Fred Karno and Fred Emney.

Enlistment, in 1914, into the British Army for the First World War at the age of fifteen interrupted his developing career. The sheer ghastliness of this war in the trenches proved an experience which, as with so many other veterans, precluded recall and discussion throughout his life. He was awarded the 'Croix de Guerre'. A brief diversion here involves 'Auntie Taffy', the mother of Marjorie Davies (see Charters Part One) who was affectionately known for her malapropisms. She adored Victor and when on introducing him she would often say, with great pride, "You know, Vic has the Gare de Nord!" He returned to the 'boards' and worked music halls and cabarets throughout the country. Prestigious venues included Blackpool and Skegness where on many occasions he featured in the popular Pierrot show, 'The Royal Follies'.  He sometimes appeared with his sister, Georgina and was ever under the watchful eye of his father, Val Kimm. In Skegness he played eleven summer seasons for Fred Clements.

He was an "elegant song and dance man" (Mary Clarke), specialising in tap dancing for which he was a much admired and influential exponent in the profession. In drawing the crowds he became a 'matinée idol' and was well rewarded for his popularity. It enabled him to indulge in what became a life-long passion for motor vehicles. Many from the London days will remember his beloved Lagonda and at Charters the Bentleys (always a good second-hand deal!). He was the first dancer to appear on television; the BBC invited him to perform in a test transmission, tap being easier to film on a tight spot with only one camera. The only downside was no fee! However, he and his young family did enjoy, for many years, a brand new Pye television set as compensation; his son, Paul cannot remember whether they actually watched the transmission.

 

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