The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Calls for town’s famous son to be celebrated
Provost appeals for some of Hollywood star Andy Clyde’s work to be screened in Blairgowrie as the 130-year anniversary of his birth approaches
The Blairgowrie-born son of a theatre impresario who left for America to seek fame and fortune in Tinseltown should be properly remembered in his home town, it has been claimed.
Born Andrew Allan Clyde in Blairgowrie in 1892, he would enjoy a hugely successful acting career that would see him honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
As the 130th anniversary of his birth approaches, calls are being made to revisit Clyde’s portfolio of work.
Andy Clyde began treading the boards in vaudeville theatre but moved to America in the early 1920s, quickly earning roles in silent films.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, he successfully made the transition to “talkies” and then to the small screen, in which he appeared in iconic shows of the day including Lassie and Doctor Kildare.
He worked with some of the biggest stars and his comedy work made him a firm audience favourite, alongside contemporary acts at Columbia, including the Three Stooges.
However, he was also known for his role as California Carlson in more than 30 of the Hopalong Cassidy series of westerns.
Dennis Melloy, provost of Perth and Kinross, said the 130th anniversary would be an “ideal time” to reappraise the career of Clyde and his acting family.
He said: “As a young boy growing up in Blairgowrie, I fondly remember seeing Andy Clyde in films that were shown in Quinn’s Picture House in Reform Street and in the Regal Cinema just over the bridge in Rattray, sadly both now demolished to make way for housing.
“He was instantly recognisable and everyone knew who he was and his local connection to Blairgowrie and Helensburgh.
“He was known to be a real character and I think showing some of his work again, in the town where he was born, would be an excellent way of keeping his memory alive, as well as attracting visitors to the area.”
Clyde was part of an acting family. As well as his father John, his brother David was a successful actor and director who moved to America and then Canada, while his sister Jean carved a successful career, predominantly in theatre.
Andy Clyde worked right up until his death at home in Los Angeles in 1967.
A plaque was placed in Blairgowrie’s Wellmeadow some years ago to commemorate him.