Theatre dynasty

“Memories of Dundee’s Palace Theatre brought a reference from a correspondent about the Logan Family from Glasgow who, in the immediate post-war period, were christened Scotland’s Theatre Dynasty,” writes Fraser Elder.

“In the boom time for variety entertainent, the family stage name was originally Short, with parents Jack and May the initial double act later to be joined by James, Buddy, Annabelle, Ben and Heather.

“The name change was initiated by Jimmy who adopted the name Logan from his aunt Ella, herself a Broadway star in America.

“Later, Annabelle, adopting the name Annie Ross, was to join her in the USA to become one of the world’s leading jazz singers in the 1960s.

“Jimmy was then to establish himself on BBC radio and along with Stanley Baxter created the popular Fifties show It’s All Yours in which he gained national fame with his catch-phrase ‘sossidges are the boys!’

“His most popular link with the Palace Theatre was his production of a stage show based on DC Thomson’s Sunday Post character Oor Wullie and he later brought his Harry Lauder one-man tribute production to the venue.

“The main Logan heritage to Scottish entertainment was the Half-Past Eight Show which was staged annually in Glasgow’s Alhambra Theatre, also starring singers Kenneth McKellar and Eve Boswell of Pickin’a Chicken fame.

“The comedian then attempted to save the ailing variety show business by buying the Empress Theatre in Glasgow in 1964 and reinventing it as the New Metropole but the venture failed.

“Before his death in 2001 at the age of 73, James Allan Short, OBE, the leading light of the Logan family, made one of his last stage appearances at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.”

“This advertising poster for The Palace Theatre in Dundee, includes many of the names your readers remember,” says Jim Howie. “So far no mention has been made of Sydney Devine who appeared well down the bill.”

“An added splash of colour at Arbroath Harbour,” says John Crichton who took the photograph.