This is the Biograpy that Terry-Thomas in person
have made in 1953 for the Newspaper.
Terry-Thomas (Thomas Terry Hoar-Stevens)
Born Finchley. London, N3 - Educated at Adringly College, Sussex.
Appeared in West End Cabaret at Paradise, Coconut Grove, etc.
during 1938 and 1939.
First professional stage January 1939 at the Tivoli Theatre, Hull.
To France with Ensa in 1940.
Toured for ENSA with own show "Cabaret Parade" 1940-1942.
In the army (Royal Corps of Signals) April 1942
With "Stars in Battledress" 1943-1945 - touring in France,
Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Demobilized 1st April 1946.
Started broadcasting and variety tour.
First West End Stage appearance July 1946 in "Piccadilly Hayride"
at the Prince of the Wales Theatre with the late Sid Field.
In November 1946 appeared for the first time at a Royal Command
Variety at the London Palladium.
Following his great success in "Piccadilly Hayride" he had
his own Radio Show "To Town with Terry" and later on his series
on TV "How do you View".
In 1950 he starred in a cabaret at the Annual Ball of the Royal
Household at Windsor Castle and in the same year also did a
Burlesque af J. Arthur Rank's "Man with the Gong"
trade mark at the Royal Command Film Show.
In March 1951 to the U.S.A to play cabaret at New York
Waldorf Astoria. Whilst there he also appeared on TV.
Played the Summer Season at the Opera House Blackpool and in the
same year played his first pantomime as the King in "Humpty Dumpty"
at the London Palladium and also carried out a repeat of his TV
Series "How Do You View".
In 1952 he again played the Summer Season at the Opera House
Blackpool and in this year appeared for the second time at the
Royal Command Variety at the London Palladium.
In November 1952 to South Africa to play pantomime - Hon. Idle
Jack in "Dick Whittington".
Returns to England April, 1953.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Curiosly enough Terry-Thomas was not considered good enough to play
in his school Dramatic Society.
He took his revenge by forming and conducting his own Ukelele Band.
After leaving school he Joined the London offices of
the Union Cold Storage Company but although he scored a great success with
the Company's Dramatic Society, he soon tired of office routine
and left his Job.
His commercial experience continued with other jobs including
a short spell as a meat salesman in Smithfield Market; but all of
which he finally abandoned (to the dismay of his father, a wealthy London
business man) in favour of the theatrical profession.
In his early days he became a professinal ballroom dancer, a film extra
and then a cabaret artist.
He appeared in Vic Oliver's first film "Rhythm in the Air" as a drunken
Exhibition Dancer.
During the war he made his mark with his own "Stars in Battledress" show
and as the result soon after his demobilization he was signed up
by George and Alfred Black to appear in their West End
show "Piccadilly Hayride", in which he scored an istant success.
He was already an established star comedian of stage and radio when
given his first TV series "How Do You View" which proved to be
an enormous success and placed him in the forefront of TV personalities.
Whilst in New York he was accorded the great honour of an invitation
to the Players' traditional "Pipe Night" as the result of his personal
success on their TV in "Toast of the Town".
During his current tour in South Africa he has been described by
the critics as "the cleanest, most polished solo comedy act in the years".