This image shows the rear side of a simple event ticket or small place card featuring the signatures of entertainers Harry Gordon (1893-1957) and Jack Train (1902-1966).
Gordon was born in Aberdeen as Alexander Gordon and rose to prominence on the stages of the North-East.
He was known as "The Laird of Inversnecky" and was particularly associated with Aberdeen's Beach Pavilion. Aberdeen Local Studies have a large collection of programmes for his shows. He also played in other venues around Aberdeen like His Majesty's Theatre and the Music Hall.
Gordon was a pioneer of resident shows in variety theatres in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. He performed extensively in pantomimes, particularly in Glasgow. He also worked with the BBC in the 1920s and 1930s and produced many gramophone records.
Jack Train was a British comic actor best known for his appearances as a variety of eccentric characters in the BBC radio series It's That Man Again (ITMA). Perhaps his most famous character was Colonel Chinstrap. Playing on his name, his signature features a British Railways train engine and carriage.
This ticket and the signatures likely date from 1952 when these notable entertainers opened that year's Aberdeen Flower Show at the Music Hall on Friday 15th August.
On the other side of this ticket is printed "Mrs. Wyllie". This was Alexandra T. Wyllie (née McCombie, 1906-1999). Newspaper reports from the time indicate that her husband, William Riach Wyllie (1894-1968), was the head steward at the flower show (see Evening Express, 15th August 1952, page 6). William R. Wyllie was chairman of the successful local seed and nurserymen business W. Smith & Son, so he would have been an experienced candidate for this role.
This ticket was kindly donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by a granddaughter of the Wyllies. A photograph showing William R. Wyllie and Alexandra T. Wyllie socialising with their friends can also be found on this website.
