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Edward Towers (Female Impersonator) Interview |
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A largely unedited audio-interview with Edward Towers a former female impersonator in the pubs and clubs of Leicestershire. The interview starts out as the story of one man’s life in the early part of the 20th century. Edward Towers was born in Ibstock, Leicestershire in 1916 and recalls his early family life. He started singing at school and by 16 was working as an entertainer in the working men’s clubs, soon he established his female impersonation act which he maintained until he was 74 – just two years before this recording. His stage name was Edwina Towers. Buying his own dresses and learning to do his own makeup, he developed a major stage act. He sang songs like Gracie Fields’ “Sally” and regretfully recalls falling ill when he was due to share the bill with Vera Lynn when the BBC Workers Playtime came from Loughborough. Unfortunately Edward Towers’ memory was starting to fail him and many details are vague. He says many people were completely convinced he was a woman, he could have stayed in women’s clothing and would have liked to, but in fact he never went out socially as a woman, as he felt you could be prosecuted for that. After initially appearing to deny that he is homosexual he readily agrees that he is gay but never really “went down that road”. After he describes teaching himself to ballet dance, just by himself, wearing a dress, a picture of suppressed sexuality starts to emerge. He finishes the interview by singing extracts from two songs in his stage persona. This audio recording lasts 35 minutes and 25 seconds.
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| Creators: |
Interviewee - Towers, Edward
Interviewer - Carswell, J
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Subject: |
Sexuality
Oral History
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| Contributors: |
East Midlands Oral History Archive - Copyright Holder
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Date created:
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15 / 10 / 1992
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Language:
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English
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Country:
Region:
City:
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United Kingdom
Leicester
Ibstock
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Rights:
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Community Media Association has non exclusive rights for the use of the work in The Showcase, but the overall copyright rests with East Midlands Oral History Archive. Copyright East Midlands Oral History Archive.
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