Court Cameos
Penge Players – Noele Gordon
NORWOOD NEWS, MAY 26th, 1939
The third in a series of articles devoted to members of the Court Players, who, after a year of repertory at the Penge Empire, are now firmly established there as great favourites.
When the history of television comes to be written a prominent place in it should be given to a small Union Jack – and to Noele Gordon.
For the Union Jack was the first object and Noele Gordon was the first person ever to be televised in colour.
And local audiences please note – both these important events took place at the Crystal Palace, where early last year Miss Gordon was engaged in experimental work in colour television for S. L. Baird the inventor.
Most of her time in front of the camera was spent wearing hats of weird shapes and vivid colours, and she has equally vivid memories of her work in the confined space of the South Tower.
But Miss Gordon has other claims to be considered a pioneer of television for she has taken part in a number of productions at Alexandra Palace, and among the plays in which viewers saw her was ‘Ah, Wilderness!”
She says acting for television is exacting work, and as might be expected, it presents difficulties peculiar to a new medium.
SHE STARTED YOUNG
Miss Gordon is one of those fortunate people who is doing something she has always wanted to do, for ever since she can remember it has been her ambition to go on the stage.
Made a very early start too, for at two-and-a-half she began singing in children’s concerts and also did dramatic work at school.
After studying at RADA she joined the Strand Theatre’s production of Aren’t Men Beasts? in which she played with Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton.
Then followed repertory work in Scotland with the Brandon Thomas Company and a number of other jobs including television.
Noele joined the Court Players a year ago, and apart from a spell in Birmingham last summer, has been with them ever since. As a matter of fact she has just celebrated her 1st anniversary at Penge Empire.
Miss Gordon likes the local audiences because they are so loyal and appreciative, and thinks the stage is the finest job in the world. So keen on the work is Noele that she actually has no favourite plays or parts, she likes them all, no matter what they may be.
Still, in spite of all that, she did particularly enjoy playing Tondelayo in White Cargo and Dinah Lot in Lot’s Wife. Noele drives her own car and likes riding, but of course, the stage comes first.
Norwood News, journalist unlisted, 1939.
