Byng (Douglas)

Three scrap albums formerly belonging to English comic singer and songwriter in West End theatre Douglas Byng. One album features 76 mounted telegrams dating from the 1930s to the 1980s, sent to Byng by various celebrities, mostly sending good luck wishes or congratulations for new shows and birthday wishes, highlights including: Beverley Nichos, Gerald Du Maurier, Charles Cochran, Fred and Adele Astaire, Tallulah Bankhead, Elsa Maxwell, Ivor Novello, Stanley Holloway, Tony Armstrong-Jones, Evelyn Laye, Barbara Cartland, Danny La Rue, Dorothy Ward, Terence Rattigan; the other two albums feature typed and handwritten letters and notes sent to Byng by fans and prominent figures, including: Danny La Rue (typed letter saying how much he enjoyed seeing Byng acting at Wimbledon, 18 April 1966); Barbara Cartland (two typed letters, one reading "You must take care of yourself so will you please take my Stress Formula which is absolutely wonderful and will make all the difference to your life. I could not be without Ginseng which is really fantastic.", 18 June 1976); Godfrey Wynn (autograph note thanking Byng for his letter, n.d., together with a signed photograph); Stanley Baxter (typed letter reading "I understand that you saw the piece in Brighton and did not really care for it. An awful lot of people don't. It's just one of those plays that you either love or loathe.", 9 March 1969); handling wear, some letters loosely inserted, various bindings, v.s., 1930s-1980s (3)