Autograph draft of a circular letter by the comedian Tommy Trinder urging Equity members to vote in favour of Sunday opening in a wartime ballot on that question. With a typescript of the circular, and a printed facsimile of Trinder's signature.

Author: 
Tommy Trinder [Thomas Edward Trinder] (1909-1989), English stage, screen and radio comedian with the catchphrase 'You lucky people!' [C.A.S.T., Campaign of Actors for Sunday Theatres, 1943]
Publication details: 
Undated [1943].
£120.00
SKU: 12294

The three items are stapled to one another, in good condition on lightly-aged paper. The first item is the typescript, which is 1p., 4to. It is addressed to 'Dear Brother Artist,' and begins: 'You will possibly be rather surprised to receive a letter from me, but after having spent most of my life in the Provinces, I now find myself landed in London. I am surprised at the amount of discussion and activity that takes place here regarding the "politics" of the theatre - and realise how you in the Provinces are apt to get left out. With regard to Sunday Opening I think that this is a matter which primarily affects you personally. | I am rather surprised to find that a few West End actors, who know nothing of those train journeys from Scunthorpe to Lincoln via Plymouth (because the Railway Company is repairing a tunnel - on Sunday!) were opposed to bettering the travelling and working conditions of 75% of our Profession - and that means you again.' A reference to 'the Progressive bunch, the anti-D.O.R.A.'S' follows, with an injunction for 'those of you who are Equity members - to vote in the Ballot. Whether you are for or against - vote and vote now - post that card now.' The draft ends: 'Yours sincerely, | (Signature block)'. In a postscript Trinder apologises 'for poking my nose into something that appears not to concern me by sending you this book. But I feel it concerns everyone in the show business, be it circus, music-hall, or the "legit." to give the Forces and the Public what they obviously want and need.' The facsimile of Trinder's signature (the 'Signature block' referred to in the typewritten draft) is 8.5 cm long, on a 5 x 20cm strip of paper. The manuscript draft, with several emendations, is 4pp., 12mo, and is written out in pencil on four leaves. A copy of Trinder's printed circular is among the Robert Donat papers at the John Rylands Library in Manchester.