About the Society
Fraserburgh Photographic Society was founded in 1951. FPS and the birth of the Junior Arts
A few years after the Second World War a few keen photographers and camera buffs in Fraserburgh got talking and decided to form a club.
The called it the Fraserburgh Photographic Society and their ambition was to share their knowledge and love of photography with each other and encourage others to take it up as a hobby.
Their first meeting was on the 7th of October 1951 and they had ambitious plans for a small provincial photo club.
To raise some funds they considered several ideas but the one they kept coming back to was the one of staging some sort of small musical concert in a small hall, along the lines of some of the army concerts which had proved so popular in recent years.
With this in mind they approached Mr Charles Fraser who thought it was a good idea but after having a think about it they changed their minds and came up with a much more ambitious project - a pantomime!
Everyone thought that it was great idea, there hadn’t been a pantomime in ages, since who knows when in the Broch, and there was a lot of musical, dance and comic talent out there.
So as the first session of the Fraserburgh Photographic Society was coming to an end in May 1952 David Gerrard the energetic secretary and treasurer of the Society announced the plans for the pantomime.
The Fraserburgh Photographic Society had booked the Picture House in Mid Street for the evenings of the 24th and 25th of December, Christmas Eve and Christmas, and the first pantomime was going to be “Humpty Dumpty”
The Fraserburgh Herald was a great support and broke the news first.
On Tuesday 13th of May the Editor of the Fraserburgh Herald announced in his paper
“The Fraserburgh Photographic Society will be holding an audition for people with musical or vocal talent in the JIC on Wednesday the 21st of May 1952.
They will be pleased to welcome all such persons on that night.
Already wheels are moving under the supervision of Mr Charles Fraser for the super pantomime “Humpty Dumpty” which is to be presented by the Fraserburgh Photographic Society around Christmas time.
I can assure you that when Mr Fraser is at the helm of the production side there are no half measures and that the pantomime will be a huge success and attract a large amount of people.
I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever.”
The committee responsible for staging the panto were overwhelmed by the response and enthusiasm for the project shown by some very talented people who turned up for the audition.
Everyone had the feeling that this was the start of something special.
The feeling continued as rehearsals and preparations started in August and carried on through the autumn, the feeling that something special was happening.
As December approached a little nervousness began to appear, or was it eager anticipation and excitement.
They were just amateurs after all, and the pantomime would be on at the same time as other plays and attractions. Would enough people come to the panto so they could break even.
Back in the day the Broch had two cinemas.
The films “Castle in the Air” starring David Tomlinson and “Behave Yourself” with Farley Granger and Shelley Winters would be showing at the other cinema, the Playhouse in High Street on the same nights as the panto.
Another play was put on at the Dalrymple Hall on the same nights that “Humpty Dumpty” was on at the Picture House.
The Scottish Festival Players were putting on a very popular Scottish comedy called “Beneath the Wee Red Lums” which starred the widely acclaimed Russell Hunter, a young Scottish comedian who had already appeared in big films.
The Fraserburgh public though were keen to see some of their own on stage.
Anticipation was high and interest and excitement was growing, a lot of it thanks to the Fraserburgh Herald editor who regularly included news about the upcoming show in his columns.
A large egg had appeared in the foyer of the Picture House in late November reminding all the cinema goers, that Humpty Dumpty would soon be appearing.
A crack appeared and got bigger everyday until the night of the show.
David Gerrard breathed a sigh of relief when the costumes arrived on the Thursday before and the Herald reiterated an appeal to employers hoping they would allow any performers who worked for them to leave their work early so they could get their make up applied and costumes on to ensure the first show started on time at 6.15pm.
There was also an appreciation of the amount of time and hard work behind the scenes which goes into the production of a pantomime but remains unseen.
The few remaining tickets were sold out the day before the first performance after the Herald devoted a few paragraphs to observations and opinions formed after the dress rehearsal.
Some nervousness had been detected in some of the performers at the dress rehearsal and there had been some sticky moments which it was confident would be ironed out on the actual performances.
Henry Duthie, then in his late twenties, couldn’t find the right key to start the verse of a song and tried every note apart from the right one. His repeated attempts to get the right note in a comical manner reduced everyone to tears. An onlooker said that he hadn’t laughed so much in years. Typical Henry, breaking the ice and setting the tone perfectly.
People in the audience were also advised to look for the special times in Charlie Pressley’s Broadcasting Band when for the first time Charlie Presley himself, Jimmy Crichton and Alex Murison all played violins, playing in harmony with a very pleasing result.
The upcoming pantomime was the talk of the town, no one could really remember when the last one had been, maybe thirty years ago was suggested, but couldn’t be confirmed.
And then the big night arrived and a thousand people took their seats and sat back in the Picture House to see the first performance of Humpty Dumpty performed by local talent, some of whom had never performed in public before.
And what a show it was!
Humpty Dumpty. 6.15pm Wednesday 24th December, Christmas Eve 1952.
The theatre went dark, the band struck up, the curtains drew back, the stage lit up and the principals and cast shone like the diamonds they were keeping their audience entertained, mesmerised and spellbound with music and laughter and dancing for the next two hours.
They had never seen anything like it.
The bleakness and darkness of the war years and post war years were put to the side that night as the lucky ones who were part of the audience got the feeling that there was something special happening there.
They were witnessing the start of something new and the future of local entertainment in the Broch.
It was well worth the 3/6 (seventeen and a half pence) some of the audience had paid for a ticket, they were attending a what turned oil to be a historic event.
There was rapturous and thunderous applause at the final curtain with long standing ovations and repeated curtain calls.
It was the same with the other 3 performances of Humpty Dumpty. The pantomime had been an overwhelming success, everyone thought so and everyone said so, and kept on saying so.
Everyone associated with the panto was very pleased and relieved that it had gone so well and had been so successful, none more so than the members of the Fraserburgh Photographic Society who had backed it and stood to lose a lot of money if it had been a failure.
The review in the following weeks Herald reflected what everyone thought. Humpty Dumpty really continued to be the talk of the town through out the Christmas and Hogmanay period being the main topic of conversation in many a living room as first footers celebrated the new year and discussed what could happen in the future.
Everyone was hoping that all those who took part in the production would stay together and the pantomime would become an annual affair.
There was a lot of excited speculation as to what the Fraserburgh Photographic Society would choose as their next panto for the following Christmas and wondered if it would be revealed at the Humpty Dumpty reunion at the end of February.
A dinner and dance for the cast, crew and friends of “Humpty Dumpty” was held at the Saltoun Hotel on Thursday the 26th of February 1953
Fraserburgh Photographic Society secretary David Gerard was in the chair and welcomed everyone and congratulated them all on having produced such a marvellous show and told the story of how it all began.
When the Photographic Society had came in to being, he said, equipment had to be procured and they were given time to pay back this back.
A committee was formed and the result was the panto, which cost £368 and left a balance of £121 which meant that the society would be able to repay their debt.
Everyone cheered and they cheered more when David announced that there would be another pantomime and that it would be the “Sleeping Beauty”.
In the following months it was clear that something special had been started and job done the photographers stepped away and the performers took charge of all arrangements for the next panto.
The Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society was formed with David Gerard as their secretary and treasurer and it wasn’t long before he was placing adverts announcing auditions were being held for the 1953 Junior Arts pantomime “Sleeping Beauty”.
A brilliant Broch tradition had began and has continued ever since with the Junior Arts putting on a pantomime for the delight and entertainment of Brochers at Christmas time for over 70 years.
The Fraserburgh Photographic Society and the Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society are now entering their eighth decade in which time talented photographers and performers have shared, developed and encouraged their love of photography and performing with thousands.
Two great local institutions, long may they continue.
Many of the cast and crew of that very first pantomime remained with the Fraserburgh Junior Arts for years bringing on many talented youngsters and putting on many, many shows and it is interesting to look back to see who were all involved at the start and some of the things the Herald wrote about them…..
“Humpty Dumpty” . AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS
It is most difficult to individualise the artistes who gave such brilliant performances in the Christmas pantomime Humpty Dumpty which took place in the Picture House, Mid Street on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, under the auspices of the FraserburghPhotographic Society.
The pantomime was the culmination of around four months hard work which began in August of this year under the direction of Mr Charles Fraser.
Mr Fraser deserves the full credit for the production of a show which exceeded all expectations. Fraser was ably assisted by Mr Fred Smart, and his work was equally brillant as the ultimate result proved.
Charles Pressley and his Broadcasting Band rendered the music in their own inimitable style and this greatly enhanced the show.
Words are difficult to find which express the performances of the artistes for they can be truly described as artistes in every sense of the word.
Mr Fraser started from scratch and the finished article speaks volumes for his production ability and the ability of the artistes.
The volume of applause which the artistes received was adequate recompense for their efforts and was thoroughly appreciated.
This pantomime, it is hoped will become an annual affair for it gave over two hours happy enjoyment to over 4,000 men, women and children at a time when the festive spirit prevails.
We offer our congratulations to the entire company of HumptyDumpty for a great show
The following took part;—George Craig, David McDonald. Mrs David McDonald, Ray Beattie, Jean Mowatt, Henry Duthie, James Crockett, Robert Clarke, Vera Smart. Fred Smart. Jnr.. Sheena Gauld, Edward McDonnell, Florence Grant Winfred Birnie, Norma Bisset, Nessie Birnie, Catherine Bruce. Barbara Buchan, Edna Shirran, Betty Strachan, Sheila Symon, John Cooper, James Dick, Robert Leslie, Charles Watt, Roberta Buchan, Alex Burnett, Christine Duthie. Florence Law, Georgie Law, Margo Marshall. Betty May, Lillian Thompson, Robert Cruikshank, James Gauld, William Mutch, William McGregor, Ian Presley, William Simpson, Peter Thompson, John Trail.
Wardrobe Mistress, Mrs Alex Benzie;
Make Up, Alex Smith and assistants;
Prompter Kathleen Buchan;
Lighting and Effects George Christie;
Stage Manager, James Fraser
Property Master Douglas Duthie
Stage Carpenters William Shirran, A. Shirran, A. Cowe, George Duncan
Tap Dance and Minuet by Edna Shirran
Ballet Scene by Florence Law.
There were also a lot of good comments in the popular Round and About feature in the Herald…
A word of congratulations to George Craig who acted as Humpty Dumpty. He gave a great performance and the kids loved him.
Miss Jean Mowatt was the perfect principal boy and I can quite honestly say I’ve never seen a better one in Glasgow which is considered the home of Pantomime.
The artistry of Mr & Mrs David McDonald is well known to the public of Fraserburgh They always give a polished performance.
Henry Duthie and Jimmy Crockett really went to town with their buffoonery in Humpty Dumpty and the result was a terrific performance.
Miss Ray Beattie excelled herself and rose to heights in the actual performance. Well done Ray!.
I quote the Provost Harold J Milne “Humpty Dumpty was a most excellent and entertaining show. I enjoyed it very much.
I wonder what the Fraserburgh Photographic Society will choose for next years pantomime. I am taking it for granted that with this year’s panto being such a terrific success it will become an annual affair, I sincerely hope it does!
Brilliant!
Copyright Billy Watson 2023
A few years after the Second World War a few keen photographers and camera buffs in Fraserburgh got talking and decided to form a club.
The called it the Fraserburgh Photographic Society and their ambition was to share their knowledge and love of photography with each other and encourage others to take it up as a hobby.
Their first meeting was on the 7th of October 1951 and they had ambitious plans for a small provincial photo club.
To raise some funds they considered several ideas but the one they kept coming back to was the one of staging some sort of small musical concert in a small hall, along the lines of some of the army concerts which had proved so popular in recent years.
With this in mind they approached Mr Charles Fraser who thought it was a good idea but after having a think about it they changed their minds and came up with a much more ambitious project - a pantomime!
Everyone thought that it was great idea, there hadn’t been a pantomime in ages, since who knows when in the Broch, and there was a lot of musical, dance and comic talent out there.
So as the first session of the Fraserburgh Photographic Society was coming to an end in May 1952 David Gerrard the energetic secretary and treasurer of the Society announced the plans for the pantomime.
The Fraserburgh Photographic Society had booked the Picture House in Mid Street for the evenings of the 24th and 25th of December, Christmas Eve and Christmas, and the first pantomime was going to be “Humpty Dumpty”
The Fraserburgh Herald was a great support and broke the news first.
On Tuesday 13th of May the Editor of the Fraserburgh Herald announced in his paper
“The Fraserburgh Photographic Society will be holding an audition for people with musical or vocal talent in the JIC on Wednesday the 21st of May 1952.
They will be pleased to welcome all such persons on that night.
Already wheels are moving under the supervision of Mr Charles Fraser for the super pantomime “Humpty Dumpty” which is to be presented by the Fraserburgh Photographic Society around Christmas time.
I can assure you that when Mr Fraser is at the helm of the production side there are no half measures and that the pantomime will be a huge success and attract a large amount of people.
I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever.”
The committee responsible for staging the panto were overwhelmed by the response and enthusiasm for the project shown by some very talented people who turned up for the audition.
Everyone had the feeling that this was the start of something special.
The feeling continued as rehearsals and preparations started in August and carried on through the autumn, the feeling that something special was happening.
As December approached a little nervousness began to appear, or was it eager anticipation and excitement.
They were just amateurs after all, and the pantomime would be on at the same time as other plays and attractions. Would enough people come to the panto so they could break even.
Back in the day the Broch had two cinemas.
The films “Castle in the Air” starring David Tomlinson and “Behave Yourself” with Farley Granger and Shelley Winters would be showing at the other cinema, the Playhouse in High Street on the same nights as the panto.
Another play was put on at the Dalrymple Hall on the same nights that “Humpty Dumpty” was on at the Picture House.
The Scottish Festival Players were putting on a very popular Scottish comedy called “Beneath the Wee Red Lums” which starred the widely acclaimed Russell Hunter, a young Scottish comedian who had already appeared in big films.
The Fraserburgh public though were keen to see some of their own on stage.
Anticipation was high and interest and excitement was growing, a lot of it thanks to the Fraserburgh Herald editor who regularly included news about the upcoming show in his columns.
A large egg had appeared in the foyer of the Picture House in late November reminding all the cinema goers, that Humpty Dumpty would soon be appearing.
A crack appeared and got bigger everyday until the night of the show.
David Gerrard breathed a sigh of relief when the costumes arrived on the Thursday before and the Herald reiterated an appeal to employers hoping they would allow any performers who worked for them to leave their work early so they could get their make up applied and costumes on to ensure the first show started on time at 6.15pm.
There was also an appreciation of the amount of time and hard work behind the scenes which goes into the production of a pantomime but remains unseen.
The few remaining tickets were sold out the day before the first performance after the Herald devoted a few paragraphs to observations and opinions formed after the dress rehearsal.
Some nervousness had been detected in some of the performers at the dress rehearsal and there had been some sticky moments which it was confident would be ironed out on the actual performances.
Henry Duthie, then in his late twenties, couldn’t find the right key to start the verse of a song and tried every note apart from the right one. His repeated attempts to get the right note in a comical manner reduced everyone to tears. An onlooker said that he hadn’t laughed so much in years. Typical Henry, breaking the ice and setting the tone perfectly.
People in the audience were also advised to look for the special times in Charlie Pressley’s Broadcasting Band when for the first time Charlie Presley himself, Jimmy Crichton and Alex Murison all played violins, playing in harmony with a very pleasing result.
The upcoming pantomime was the talk of the town, no one could really remember when the last one had been, maybe thirty years ago was suggested, but couldn’t be confirmed.
And then the big night arrived and a thousand people took their seats and sat back in the Picture House to see the first performance of Humpty Dumpty performed by local talent, some of whom had never performed in public before.
And what a show it was!
Humpty Dumpty. 6.15pm Wednesday 24th December, Christmas Eve 1952.
The theatre went dark, the band struck up, the curtains drew back, the stage lit up and the principals and cast shone like the diamonds they were keeping their audience entertained, mesmerised and spellbound with music and laughter and dancing for the next two hours.
They had never seen anything like it.
The bleakness and darkness of the war years and post war years were put to the side that night as the lucky ones who were part of the audience got the feeling that there was something special happening there.
They were witnessing the start of something new and the future of local entertainment in the Broch.
It was well worth the 3/6 (seventeen and a half pence) some of the audience had paid for a ticket, they were attending a what turned oil to be a historic event.
There was rapturous and thunderous applause at the final curtain with long standing ovations and repeated curtain calls.
It was the same with the other 3 performances of Humpty Dumpty. The pantomime had been an overwhelming success, everyone thought so and everyone said so, and kept on saying so.
Everyone associated with the panto was very pleased and relieved that it had gone so well and had been so successful, none more so than the members of the Fraserburgh Photographic Society who had backed it and stood to lose a lot of money if it had been a failure.
The review in the following weeks Herald reflected what everyone thought. Humpty Dumpty really continued to be the talk of the town through out the Christmas and Hogmanay period being the main topic of conversation in many a living room as first footers celebrated the new year and discussed what could happen in the future.
Everyone was hoping that all those who took part in the production would stay together and the pantomime would become an annual affair.
There was a lot of excited speculation as to what the Fraserburgh Photographic Society would choose as their next panto for the following Christmas and wondered if it would be revealed at the Humpty Dumpty reunion at the end of February.
A dinner and dance for the cast, crew and friends of “Humpty Dumpty” was held at the Saltoun Hotel on Thursday the 26th of February 1953
Fraserburgh Photographic Society secretary David Gerard was in the chair and welcomed everyone and congratulated them all on having produced such a marvellous show and told the story of how it all began.
When the Photographic Society had came in to being, he said, equipment had to be procured and they were given time to pay back this back.
A committee was formed and the result was the panto, which cost £368 and left a balance of £121 which meant that the society would be able to repay their debt.
Everyone cheered and they cheered more when David announced that there would be another pantomime and that it would be the “Sleeping Beauty”.
In the following months it was clear that something special had been started and job done the photographers stepped away and the performers took charge of all arrangements for the next panto.
The Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society was formed with David Gerard as their secretary and treasurer and it wasn’t long before he was placing adverts announcing auditions were being held for the 1953 Junior Arts pantomime “Sleeping Beauty”.
A brilliant Broch tradition had began and has continued ever since with the Junior Arts putting on a pantomime for the delight and entertainment of Brochers at Christmas time for over 70 years.
The Fraserburgh Photographic Society and the Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society are now entering their eighth decade in which time talented photographers and performers have shared, developed and encouraged their love of photography and performing with thousands.
Two great local institutions, long may they continue.
Many of the cast and crew of that very first pantomime remained with the Fraserburgh Junior Arts for years bringing on many talented youngsters and putting on many, many shows and it is interesting to look back to see who were all involved at the start and some of the things the Herald wrote about them…..
“Humpty Dumpty” . AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS
It is most difficult to individualise the artistes who gave such brilliant performances in the Christmas pantomime Humpty Dumpty which took place in the Picture House, Mid Street on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, under the auspices of the FraserburghPhotographic Society.
The pantomime was the culmination of around four months hard work which began in August of this year under the direction of Mr Charles Fraser.
Mr Fraser deserves the full credit for the production of a show which exceeded all expectations. Fraser was ably assisted by Mr Fred Smart, and his work was equally brillant as the ultimate result proved.
Charles Pressley and his Broadcasting Band rendered the music in their own inimitable style and this greatly enhanced the show.
Words are difficult to find which express the performances of the artistes for they can be truly described as artistes in every sense of the word.
Mr Fraser started from scratch and the finished article speaks volumes for his production ability and the ability of the artistes.
The volume of applause which the artistes received was adequate recompense for their efforts and was thoroughly appreciated.
This pantomime, it is hoped will become an annual affair for it gave over two hours happy enjoyment to over 4,000 men, women and children at a time when the festive spirit prevails.
We offer our congratulations to the entire company of HumptyDumpty for a great show
The following took part;—George Craig, David McDonald. Mrs David McDonald, Ray Beattie, Jean Mowatt, Henry Duthie, James Crockett, Robert Clarke, Vera Smart. Fred Smart. Jnr.. Sheena Gauld, Edward McDonnell, Florence Grant Winfred Birnie, Norma Bisset, Nessie Birnie, Catherine Bruce. Barbara Buchan, Edna Shirran, Betty Strachan, Sheila Symon, John Cooper, James Dick, Robert Leslie, Charles Watt, Roberta Buchan, Alex Burnett, Christine Duthie. Florence Law, Georgie Law, Margo Marshall. Betty May, Lillian Thompson, Robert Cruikshank, James Gauld, William Mutch, William McGregor, Ian Presley, William Simpson, Peter Thompson, John Trail.
Wardrobe Mistress, Mrs Alex Benzie;
Make Up, Alex Smith and assistants;
Prompter Kathleen Buchan;
Lighting and Effects George Christie;
Stage Manager, James Fraser
Property Master Douglas Duthie
Stage Carpenters William Shirran, A. Shirran, A. Cowe, George Duncan
Tap Dance and Minuet by Edna Shirran
Ballet Scene by Florence Law.
There were also a lot of good comments in the popular Round and About feature in the Herald…
A word of congratulations to George Craig who acted as Humpty Dumpty. He gave a great performance and the kids loved him.
Miss Jean Mowatt was the perfect principal boy and I can quite honestly say I’ve never seen a better one in Glasgow which is considered the home of Pantomime.
The artistry of Mr & Mrs David McDonald is well known to the public of Fraserburgh They always give a polished performance.
Henry Duthie and Jimmy Crockett really went to town with their buffoonery in Humpty Dumpty and the result was a terrific performance.
Miss Ray Beattie excelled herself and rose to heights in the actual performance. Well done Ray!.
I quote the Provost Harold J Milne “Humpty Dumpty was a most excellent and entertaining show. I enjoyed it very much.
I wonder what the Fraserburgh Photographic Society will choose for next years pantomime. I am taking it for granted that with this year’s panto being such a terrific success it will become an annual affair, I sincerely hope it does!
Brilliant!
Copyright Billy Watson 2023
