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Tommy Trinder 1909-1989 signed b/w photo
Size: 4.75in x 8.5in
UK - c.1960

Signed: 'Sincerely Tommy Trinder'

B/w photo signed by the great British comedian Tommy Trinder corner mount residue.

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Thomas Edward Trinder CBE (1909 - 1989) known as Tommy Trinder, was an English stage, screen and radio comedian of the pre and post war years whose catchphrase was 'You lucky people'

A beloved Cockney cut-up from the 1930s on, London-born Tommy Trinder, the son of a tram driver, quit school and sought the stage, milking laughs at the tender age of 13 in a musical revue that was touring South Africa. Following that he became a boy vocalist at Collins' Music-Hall. The wry, rubber-faced comedian gradually built up his name in traveling variety shows, clubs and dance halls, then achieved stardom in the musical revues "Tune In" and "In Town Tonight" (both 1937). Known for his trademark leering glare, wagging finger, spade-jawed grin, effortless ad-libbing, pork-pie hat and catchphrase, "You lucky people!", Trinder gained entrance into the movies a year later, getting into the mix of things with the musical comedy Save a Little Sunshine (1938). He then top-lined the mild comedy Almost a Honeymoon (1938) and kept things moving starring in Laugh It Off (1940) and _She Couldn't Say No (1940)_. He scored one of his biggest film hits sharing top billing with Claude Hulbert and Michael Wilding in the cheeky WWII comedy Sailors Three (1940), the tale of three tipsy Navy buddies who accidentally stray aboard a Nazi ship and become heroes. Trinder's standout role, in which he also sang two songs, kept him in the Ealing Studios fold for years to come.

A huge radio favorite, he continued on the live stage at such forums as the London Palladium (where he was a major headliner) while managing to entertain war-weary audiences with his special brand of movie escapism. He provided excellent comedy relief in the war adventure The Foreman Went to France (1942), then showed a serious side in a moving tribute to firefighters during London's "Blitz" with The Bells Go Down (1943). Back in top comic form with Fiddlers Three (1944), he stepped into an almost semi-autobiographical role with Champagne Charlie (1944), the story of 1860s music hall entertainer George Leybourne.

Trinder lost major film ground after the war. He did not appear in another film in fact until Bitter Springs (1950). He tested out the new medium of television and eventually became a top star presence in variety shows, particularly with the program "Sunday Night at the London Palladium." In later years he still drew heavy crowds on stage, in pantomime and in cabaret shows, appearing on occasion in film cameos. In 1975, after decades of entertaining British audiences, Trinder was designated a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. He died at age 80 from a heart ailment.


Source :
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0872938/bio

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