Hinge & Bracket: Royal Variety Performance 1979 HD 720p

Ivor Novello selection.

[@tommoncrieff1154]

I loved Hinge and Bracket. In the late 1960s as a child, I had an elderly music tutor to whose faded home I went once a week after school, where she sat at her Steinway grand. She was unmarried and on the piano was a photo of a young man in Great War uniform, we kids always assumed this was her betrothed who never returned. Her very deaf mother, who lived to be over 100 years old, sat in on all the music lessons and to our great amusement tried to listen through an ear trumpet. They were exactly like Hinge and Bracket, dressed similarly, bickersome, the home was full of antiques and sepia photos and their stories were of days of tea dances, tennis parties and empire in Africa where Father was something in the Colonial Service. There were African tribal relics in the hall, an assegai and a knobkerrie. Hinge and Bracket clearly based their characters on exactly these types of genteel ladies who lived on into a very different world, that’s why they were so popular, because they were both not only musically highly talented but observant and authentic in their impersonation. All the old ladies and their world are gone now and so sadly are Hinge and Bracket, who delighted us so. RIP.

[@bahoonies]

@Tom Moncrieff Such a magical memory you conjoured up. You could have been describing the people and the house where I grew up in the 1960s. My mother, the last of the old generation passed away last year aged 96 and now the old house is empty and silent but still full of wonderful memories. Needless to say, they were big Hinge and Bracket fans.

[@tommoncrieff1154]

@@bahoonies I am sorry for your loss but so pleased to hear that similar memories resonate for you as much as for me.

[@bahoonies]

@tommoncrieff1154 Indeed. We grew up in special times and I wouldn't change any of it.

[@dingopisscreek]

Patrick Fyffedied in 2002. George Logan died just yesterday aged 78. They were very popular in the 1970s & 80s, having their own TV and radio shows. Now their partnership is renewed in the glorious hereafter. R. I. P. LADIES. Thank you 😪

[@simonf8902]

Talent no longer possible.

[@simonf8902]

How do we classify a male voice that’s capable of such acrobatics. ❤

[@simonf8902]

Dr Bracket was a distinguished lookin woman indeed. ❤

[@simonf8902]

Back to Stockton Tressle.

[@michaeltreadwell777]

We'll NEVER see the likes of them again. R.I.P Dear Ladies - thanks for all the joy you brought.

[@carolinemuncey5353]

Legendary. An act never to be equaled xx

[@stevewestlondon1955]

Lovely talented duo, sadly missed, never forgotten 😘😘

[@jenniferbattarbee4003]

Just wonderful. So professional and wonderful to watch.

[@virginiafry9854]

Incredible voices for men!

[@lordmartin2933]

Absolute Legends 🤩🤩- Love To The Ladies XX

[@silasfatchett7380]

I met these guys in the mid 1970's while working at the Wimbledon Theatre. They came and sat with us in the stage crew room. No side, really nice guys.

[@FJMLAM]

Lovely, clean act.

[@bronwyncurnow7091]

Remember watching a production of Die Fledermaus from Covent Garden of New Year's Eve, early 1980's, Placido Domingo conducting. H&B appeared in the part scene! If memory serves me Pablo Cassals also appeared playing the cello. Marvellous entertainment

[@petergolding5733]

This is a wonderful performance by them. I saw them onstage many times and got to know Patrick well (George wasn't always too welcoming). I remember in my hometown I'd seen them (after seeing them around the country). I went backstage and chatted to them and Patrick asked me about my music career (going to the Guildhall) and said if I needed somewhere to stay in London he had a spare room. On that night he said 'Do you live here?'. I said 'Yes - about a mile away'. To which he replied 'I'll give you a lift home on my way back to London'. So we got into the Jaguar with his driver and he dropped me off at home. I'll never forget it

[@frombrum]

good bye our dear ladies

[@Vivamancer]

I had the good fortune to meet the pair, out of costume & roles, when I was working as a waiter in a café in Hull in the Mid-80s. I recognised them & we chatted about Puccini, Gianni Schichi & La Boheme. They knew their stuff! Charming guys.

[@simonf8902]

These performers knew and loved music. They present beautiful pieces with talent. Humour. And emotion.

[@andrewhubbard4044]

Sadly or the real talented variety act's are now gone George and Patrick RIP ❤

[@jackieporter5323]

I went with my grandmother to see a production of Novello’s Dancing Years at the Opera House in Blackpool, Olive Gilbert made a guest appearance and sang ‘We’ll gather Lilacs” this must have been in the early fifties.

[@harryparody3098]

Thankyou for the years of entertainment and laughter. ❤🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹

[@terrygibbs1147]

National treasures!!

[@zerotoleranceforsataniceli4794]

It's funny looking back now, how many believed they were 2 ladies !

[@SimonandJojo]

This is 1979, but if you see anything in the 1990's they were older and looked even more authentic.

[@zerotoleranceforsataniceli4794]

@@SimonandJojo I always assumed that they were women ! They didn't dress as drag queens & I don't think that was something they wanted to do either. I don't remember my parents correcting my impression at the time so I'm unsure now looking back if they knew. The credits to the programmes used their stage names so again, easy to be confused. I made the comment here in light of the fact that today we see so many people whose gender may not quite be as they appear that we can pick up on things very quickly, so today we wouldn't need to ask are they or are they not women.

[@iwasglad122]

True story: Dame Eva Turner invited H&B to appear at her 90th birthday gala concert at the Royal Opera House. She was a huge fan. A world renowned conductor was standing in the wings, watching them perform and was furious that these two old female has-beens of the English opera world were on the bill of such a prestigious occasion. He would not believe the truth until he was taken to their dressing room where, of course, he found two young men removing their alter-egos! He was so impressed that he took them out to dinner!!!

[@SimonandJojo]

@@iwasglad122 yes I've heard that story before. Still a wonderful story after all these years.

[@Londonfogey]

@@SimonandJojo As a child I just thought of them as more low-key versions of pantomime dames or Dame Edna. My grandmother and her friends were massive fans, and I remember one elderly lady saying 'it's so easy to forget they are actually men!'

[@justinepenman6081]

Only the best

[@AnnaRead-ds3zw]

Oh dear, my coffee went down the wrong way....

[@simonf8902]

Vale. We shall see their like no more. ❤

[@mgrainger3805]

Can you plz upload the whole evening?

[@Wanamaker1946]

…..so much for AI, it can’t print the words of the song in the transcript. ……in fact AI can’t do what these two dames could do.