I had the pleasure of receiving in this mornings post a lovely letter from Pippa and recordings of the lateTommy Elliott playing English and miniature English Systems. They are just fantastic.I must admit not knowing about Tommy, but he played from the age of seven having been tutored by his Father who I understand was also an excellent player in the Newcastle area.Tommy was still playing in his seventees from what I am led to believe.His music is mainly popular tunes of his era Sound of Music,Slow boat to China,
China Town,rags etc and I cannot understand why I do not know of him.
His style is a mixture of single note,chords and fast movement of the bellows in and out to create tremelo effect.I wonder if this was developed from his miniature playing as the few players I have heard on miniatures play in this fashion.These techniques of playing vary from tune to tune.
I had a lovely phone call with Tommy`s daughter and Son in Law and are both delighted that we hope to include him on English International.At the age of 67 Viona still has a twinkle in her eye and she is going to do a History of Tommy with Concertina details etc.I am also hoping to get a video of Tommy and his variety act and if the quality is there we will put it on CD.
I hope to let the ICA archive department have a copy of these recordings as I think they are important.
Thank you again Pippa.
Al

My pleasure! Viona was delighted to find people were still interested in that style of playing. She's just trying to get the video copied for you.

Meanwhile I'm really enjoying Anglo International - there's so much to savour on it, you've done a wonderful job. Thanks.

Pippa

I was delighted to discover a stunning 5-minute long undated (1930s?) newsreel clip tonight, titled "Sea Shell Have Music", of the Elliotts' Seven performing on various instruments, including Tommy on what appears to be a metal-ended New Model:

https://www.britishpathe.com/stills.php?id=47578&searchword=squeezebox&searchword=squeezebox&frame=70

...as well as on an Aeola miniature:

https://www.britishpathe.com/stills.php?id=47578&searchword=squeezebox&searchword=squeezebox&frame=180

They were quite something!

Here's a link to the website listing, so you can download it: http://www.britishpathe.com/product_display.php?searchword=the+elliots&Search.x=16&Search.y=23

Or you can view the stills here (without having to register): https://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnails.php?id=47578&searchword=squeezebox&searchword=squeezebox

Tommy Elliott is included on English International and he will be one of the talking points of the collection.Thanks to Pippa and Viona (Tommy's Daughter and a member of the Musical Elliotts) providing a recording of Tommy playing on a program called "The Straw Hat" we have included recordings of Tommy playing "Avalon" and "Bye Bye Blues" "A slow Boat to China" and "China Town" and two tunes played by Tommy on his miniature English.He was an outstanding player. His History and that of The Musical Elliotts will soon be published.
I hope to provide further info on E.I shortly.
Al

"Tommy Elliott and the Musical Elliotts," Viona's article co-authored with Chris Algar and me (Randy Merris) will appear in the Papers of the International Concertina Association this Fall. It is a fascinating history of a performing family, which starts with Viona's great grandfather--J.B. Elliott--inventor of the unicycle and originator of the trick cycling act and musical act of his children (Viona's great aunts, great uncles, and her grandfather). The centerpiece of the article is Viona's recollections, which provide rare glimpses into life on the road/rails for musical hall and circus perfomers who were constantly on the move.

Looking again at the clip, which I keep doing as it is so good, the costumes are typically 1930s. However, it couldn't have been filmed before 1935 since the tune they play in sailor costume (on bulb horns) on the ship's wheel is "On the Good Ship Lollipop", the trademark song of the child actress Shirley Temple, which she first sang in the movie Bright Eyes - released in the USA on 28 December 1934.

Stephen,

Regarding the British Pathe clip of the Elliots [sic], you pretty much nailed the data. It was from 1936.

Randy or Pippa ,of the two girls spinning the disks ,which one is Viona?
Al

Thanks Randy, I thought it must be from when the song was "all the rage"!

In the discussion of the 1936 newsreel from British Pathe, the question was asked: "Which one of the ladies spining the 'sea shells' (i.e., disks) was Viona? The answer is neither. Viona was only age 7 at the time. (She joined the act at age 11.) The ladies were Tommy's wife, Florence Hazel (stage name Hazel), and Hazel's sister--Olive May. It can get a bit confusing, since Tommy's sister was Olive Lillian, and both Olive M. and Olive L. performed in The Elliotts. In the original posting of this topic, it is stated that Viona is age 67. When I told Viona, she had a good laugh. She was born on 5 October 1928.

Thanks for that information Randy.
After speaking on the phone to Viona ,she may be physically old, but has a very sharp mind and certainly has a twinkle in her eye.
A lovely lady.
Al