Dennis's life in the backstage spotlight
DENNIS York worked backstage at theatres across Scarborough for more than 50 years and toured with the Black and White Minstrel Show. He is now vice chairman and publicity officer of the Scarborough Electronic Organ Society. Reporter Paul Derrick spoke to the 81 year old about his career.
ON his 80th Birthday, Dennis York received a card from comedian Ken Dodd.
Mr York has known the comic for nearly 40 years from working backstage at the Futurist Theatre.
During his career he has rubbed shoulders with some of the glitterati of the theatre world from Jimmy Tarbuck to Frankie Vaughan, Danny La Rue, Kathy Staff, Joe Longthorne, Jimmy Cricket and the cast of It Ain't Half Hot Mum.
Mr York says: "The stage crew is an integral part of the show. When you're stage manager, you're the man that matters no matter how big the star is."
Born in West Hartlepool, he attended Jesmond Road School until 1939 when he was evacuated to Scarborough three days after the start of the Second World War.
He was billeted to a home in Fairfax Street and then The Dene, attending Gladstone Road School.
When he returned to Hartlepool, Mr York trained as a plumber and electrician but later went back to Scarborough.
He delivered milk for Newhams Dairy in Dean Road for two years and was an assistant at Scales grocers in Dean Road for three years.
Then he landed a job backstage at The Opera House in St Thomas Street, starting as a spotlight operator.
Mr York remembers: "While I was at the Opera House the electrician at the Arcadia Theatre, which was next door to the Futurist, was taken poorly.
"The Opera House was called to see if there was anyone there who could help them and I was sent down."
When the electrician was taken ill again, Mr York was called back to the Arcadia and offered a part time job as a member of the stage crew.
Mr York says: "It was very enjoyable. We did summer seasons which ran from May to September and we did about three changes of programme.
"They were review shows and there's a difference between variety and review. A variety is single acts made up for a bill but with a review everyone in a company takes part with songs and sketches."
After 11 years at the Arcadia, he transferred to the Futurist Theatre to work behind the scenes and took on a variety of roles including stage lighting, moving scenery and stage management.
He says: "It was a case of doing everything – I was never fastened to a complete spot. I could cover them all and did do especially at a moments notice. It was a very happy time and there was always a job to do."
During his career he has met a range of stars and counts Ken Dodd as a good friend.
Mr York says: "It was something you just got used to. You weren't in awe of them and it was just a pleasure to meet them.
"Ken is a very nice person. His shows usually start at 7.30pm and finish at 12.45am and you never find him using foul language or a filthy joke."
In 1960, the Black and White Minstrel Show started at the Futurist and ran frequently until 1981.
Mr York worked on the show at the theatre and went on tour with them as their deputy stage manager.
He says: "It was interesting and very exciting because it kept you on your toes. With that show everything was timed."
After finishing at the Futurist in 1982, he was stage manager at the Spa for seven years.
He was then asked to come back to the Futurist to look after the stage door for 12 years before retiring.
Mr York says: "It was always said that when you retire from the theatre you would miss it and I'm sorry to say that in a sense when I retired it just didn't bother me. I was sad to finish but I have another hobby to keep me occupied."
He is now vice-chairman and publicity officer of the Scarborough Electronic Organ Society, which holds regular concerts in the New Hall at Scarborough College with organists from across the country.
The society allows him to enjoy his favourite type of music, which he used to play when he was younger.
When asked what he has learnt from his experiences, Mr York says: "It's what you make of your life and what your interests and hobbies are. If you're interested enough in certain things you can take it a step further."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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