Neville Bishop at the Marina

Programme for Neville Bishop and his Orchestra, c. 1940

By Laura Matthews

Many local people have fond memories of Neville Bishop at the Marina, some of their memories can be seen below.

"Neville Bishop and his orchestra used to pack the Marina out. He did three shows a day: one in the mornings for children and afternoon and evening performances with his orchestra of 20 people. He was fantastic. He was hilarious. It was packed out especially the Sunday shows when there used to be a queue a 100 ft long to get in, he used to fill that place from the time they opened to the time they closed."

"My mother was addicted to the shows at the Marina; we went there several times a week. Neville Bishop and his band used to get all the kids marching around the top of the Marina. Then there were beauty contests, glamorous grannies and most attractive families, and it was all such good-natured fun. At the time it was wonderful."

Photo:Marina programme, c. 1940

Marina programme, c. 1940

Courtesy of Mrs Wilson

Photo:Marina programme, c. 1940

Marina programme, c. 1940

Courtesy of Mrs Wilson

Photo:Marina programme, c. 1940

Marina programme, c. 1940

Courtesy of Mrs Wilson

This page was added by Laura Matthews on 17/01/2008.
Comments about this page

I remember in the early 1950s that the BBC did an outside live broadcast from Great Yarmouth. I stood with my parents outside the Windmill Theatre and saw Tommy Trinder get into Frank Bately's old pre 1904 Daimler car. Neville Bishop's Band marched down the road with the old car and played their signature tune "MacNamara's Band."

By Paul Godfrey
On 01/05/2008

My grandparents were avid TV wrestling fans - until they went to see the Sunday Wrestling Bouts at the Marina - they then realised what a put-on show it really was!

By John Layton
On 29/07/2008

I was about 7 years old I entered a talent contest for children as cowboy Joe, Mr Bishop invited me back on stage many times in all the shows.  My mother had no idea I was doing this till she heard about it.  This was 1947, I got all kinds of gifts from the visitors as they were called then; you would not let your kids do this today.

 

By Tony Farrow
On 22/10/2012

I HAVE FOUND A LOVELY SMALL PHOTO , SIGNED NEVILLE BISHOP , MARINA 1948 BUT ON THE BACK IT SAYS JULY 2nd 1947. NEVILLE BISHOP & ORCHESTRA (DINTY, ARNOLD, & HARRY) SINGING: SUN IN THE MORNING & MOON AT NIGHT

By Nigel Guiver
On 28/03/2021

Nigel, I would love to see a copy of that. Dinty Lewis is my Great Grandfather 

By Natalie Keane
On 30/12/2022
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