The first edition of Garrison Theatre was broadcast on 10 November 1939. The variety show was devised to entertain wartime audiences by Harry S Pepper and Charles Shadwell. Shadwell drew on his First World War experience as entertainments officer in the West Yorkshire Regiment to create a radio version of the revues with which he used to entertain the troops. The raucous atmosphere was aided by an invited audience of service men and women.
Garrison Theatre made stars of Jack Warner and Joan Winters and originated several catchphrases. Winters played an usherette, "Private" Warner's "little girl", though she invariably rejected his advances, sticking to her line "programmes, chocolates, cigarettes, map of the camp”. Each week Warner arrived on his bicycle, which would end up in the way, to cries of "mind my bike".
He read his brother Sid’s letters, which were heavily marked by the censor's Blue Pencil, especially where swearing might be involved; "yesterday the colonel caught his thumb in a tank. His only remark was 24 blue pencils".
Garrison Theatre ran for over a year and transferred to the London stage. It formed part of the BBC’s response to the War, giving light entertainment and news equal priority, to maintain national morale. The repetition of the show’s catchphrases in everyday life – along with ones from other shows such as Band Waggon and ITMA – brought people together and emphasised the shared experience of the war.
November anniversaries
First regular hi-definition television service
2 November 1936
Hancock's Half-Hour
2 November 1954
Edge of Darkness
4 November 1985
Life with the Lyons
5 November 1950
