Jack Leuty
Flamboyant - Jack Leuty (1911 1999)
Jack Leuty died at his home Fairbourne, Wales, on January 14 1999. The funeral was held at Aberystwyth Crematorium on January 21 1999.
Jack, on leaving the army where he held the rank of Major came, together with his first wife Phyllis, to live in Redditch in 1947. He immediately took out a lease on the Cosy Cinema, Studley, which he operated for a short period before also acquiring a lease on the Palace Theatre from its owner Teddy Wilkinson. He was the manager of the Palace from 1947 to 1951.
He was a larger-than-life character and from day one set out bring an enthusiastic, to style of management never before, to the theatre. With previous Knowledge of the town, he was determined to revitalise the Palace, which had been going through a chequered period during the war years. He presented a wide variety of productions six nights a week in order to gauge the demand of the Redditch public, but he resisted the temptation to present nude shows, which were popular at that time.
He was an enthusiastic supporter of the legitimate theatre and encouraged the Midland Theatre Company, which alternated with a week at Kidderminster. one at Coventry and then back to Redditch. He presented a resident repertory company which, together with visiting professional variety and revue companies, filled in the vacant weeks. During this period, some (later) very famous names learned their craft. Among the performers were Geoffrey Kendal and his wife Laura Liddell. Their better-known daughter Felicity appeared on stage as a babe in arms at the age of six weeks and again, aged three, when she appeared as an Indian boy in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Also in the cast were Graham Stark. Bernard Cribbins *, Anthony Quayle, Alfred Burke and N Fraser. Although Jack persisted over a long period with these actors, he soon learned the hard financial lesson that only a tiny minority of Redditch folk would support live theatre.
Jack was very supportive of local talent and enthusiastically supported local operatic groups, charity concerts, and in particular Elsie Siddele Downing's Stage School. I can see him now, standing in the foyer, resplendent in his dress suit, personally welcoming as many patrons as possible.
Jack was always game for a laugh and would always be willing to take an active part in any publicity stunt to attract business. I remember when after a week of capacity business for the Frank Randle Show, he did, in response to a dare, a stylish tap dance on stage in front of the whole company.
When he left the Palace at the end of 1951, he joined the local Arm of Abel Morrells and became Its overseas representative, a post he held for a number of years, eventually retiring to live in Wales. The last time I spoke to him he was a guest at one of my Sunday night Shows in 1974. On that particular occasion there was a full house and he remarked how surprised he was on the ability to fill it after all these years. His last words to me were, "There is nothing like the magical atmosphere of a capacity audience at the Palace" - a view I share.
He is survived by his second wife Wendy.
Written for "The Stage" by Colin Wheeler - 1999
* Colin later revealed that Bernard Cribbins, on reading the Jack Leuty obituary, rang him to say he never appeared at the Palace, Redditch.