It has recently emerged that the musical theatre sequence in the 1955 film The Dam Busters was performed by the Television Toppers dance troupe and filmed in the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith.
The information comes from one of the dancers, Jackie Lee, whose daughter Susie Ball has recently posted some comments on an earlier post on this blog. Jackie is seen second from the right at the start of the routine and second from the left at the end. Unfortunately she can’t now recall the name of the singer. Update: Michelle Powell, in a comment below, has said that the singer was her husband’s aunt, June Powell.
The whole routine was filmed in a day: the dancers were given their routine to learn when they arrived. They shot the first half before lunch, and the other half afterwards. They were introduced to Richard Todd, playing Guy Gibson, who is seen in the film in the audience. During the song and dance routine, Gibson notices how the spotlight operators on each side of the stage move their lights to follow the singer as she moves from side to side. This is supposed to give him the idea for using intersecting spotlights on the Dams Raid aircraft to keep to a fixed height while approaching their targets. In truth, the idea of using spotlights came from a scientist at the Ministry of Aircraft Production, and they had been installed several weeks before the raid.
In the 1950s, the Television Toppers were one of Britain’s best known female dance troupes and were contracted to the BBC. They first appeared on television in 1953 and are probably best remembered for their appearances on BBC TV’s Black and White Minstrel Show, which ran from 1958 until 1978. The Toppers were also much in demand for personal appearances and openings. Jackie Lee left them in 1958 when she got married.
Jackie also remembers that the soldier-style costumes worn by the dancers were borrowed from the Empire Leicester Square and made by the well known West End wardrobe suppliers, Berman’s. Costumes in this style were very popular during the war, and would have complemented the music used in the sequence. Earlier research published by this blog has revealed the song to be “Sing, Everybody Sing” by John P Long.
[Thanks to Jackie Lee and Susie Ball for their help.]
Dambusters Blog 
I really enjoyed this scene and the whole film. I used to love to see The Television toppers on TV, years ago.
The name of the singer was June Powell my husbands Aunt
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Ben Lockspeiser supplied the spotlight altimeter method for the Dambusters raid I do believe .
Thanks as always for maintaining the Dambuster blog with so much enthusiasm!
Son of Flt.Lt. E.C. Johnnie Johnson SDC
Should read:DFC – apologies for typo!
One of the many highlights of the film. The switch from a studio train carriage to actual theatre footage of the troupe is a wonderful contrast, and the perfect link to Gibson supposedly discovering how to fly the Lancasters at 60 feet (even though we all know now Gibson had nothing to do with this aspect)
Can you post the scene?
My mother in law was one of the Television Topeers Dance Troup “Roma Dale” stage name.
I was a Topper back in the 50s
I knew your Mother Roma Dale
very well We danced at the Astor Club
my grandmother was also a topper and i have been trying to find as much info i can on them, her name is Gillian Michell
Hi Darci — do you know if your mother was in the line-up used in the film? — Charles
. I worked a year with Dicky Aftons ‘Toppers’
I was also in the film of the ‘DamBusters’ !
It was a prestigious job at the time It payed better and we were introduced by our names Hence we received fan mail It was all very exciting
I left whenJacky Billy’s left because I disliked his replacement Mr Roberts forget his first mane but he was a very unpleasant man
Sending my love to Roma and Jackie
GillianVaughan
. I worked a year with Dicky Aftons ‘Toppers’
I was also in the film of the ‘DamBusters’ !
It was a prestigious job at the time It payed better and we were introduced by our names Hence we received fan mail It was all very exciting
I left whenJacky Billy’s left because I disliked his replacement Mr Roberts forget his first mane but he was a very unpleasant man
Sending my love to Roma and Jackie
GillianVaughan
i have no clue, all i know is she was in the group some time in the 50s,
i have only 3 photos from when she was in it but i can’t tell what year they are from
I’ve only just seen this reply.
Do you have any photos? My husband has only managed to find a few on Getty images.
Do remember me to your Mother inn law Allesdandra .
Dear Gillian,
Thank you for the reply. I have asked my husband to have a look in on this chat at some point. Sadly Roma is in care with advanced Alzheimer’s. I wish I had discovered this blog years ago. Although, my husband has said that she didn’t have fond memories of this period and never like to talk about it. She had quite a few photos which we hope to find one day. It’s easier to identify her on the TV but I think she is third in from the right in this photo.
I hope yoh are keeping well.
So sorry to hear Roma is in Care.
Do you know if any of theToppers are still active and well or am I the only one left still strutting my stuff.👯
Good afternoon Gillian,
If you manage to find any of Roma my husband would really appreciate a copy. With thanks
I thought the singer in The Dambuster was Jean Baliss
. I worked a year with Dicky Aftons ‘Toppers’
I was also in the film of the ‘DamBusters’ !
It was a prestigious job at the time It payed better and we were introduced by our names Hence we received fan mail It was all very exciting
I left whenJacky Billy’s left because I disliked his replacement Mr Roberts forget his first mane but he was a very unpleasant man
Sending my love to Roma and Jackie
GillianVaughan
Thanks for this information, Gillian. Very glad to hear from you. Can you pick yourself out in the line-up? I don’t think there are any close-ups so it might be difficult. If you have any photos please email them to me — charlesjfoster@gmail.com
And my brother worked for Barney Wallace
I was second from the left
Toppers I remember when I was under contract
jacky , Roma Dale !AnneTalbert !
ThelmaBaker
Thank you for your interest
Gillian
Gillian, having lost mum a little while ago (Roma Dale), I’m beginning to collect some stories and information. Did you write an autobiography about your career ? Vaguely remember reading that somewhere. There’s not a huge amount of information about the profession over that golden era. Hope you are well.
Sean — Sorry about the delay in approving this comment. It is your first, and I was in hospital so didn’t see it until today. — Charles
No, it was definitely my late Aunt June Powell. I have further details I can tell you about the film, but I would rather speak to the owner of this blog before commenting further. I can also shed further insight into June’s career in showbiz if so desired.
Hi Tim — I’m the owner of the blog, so please get in touch. I’m sending you an email. Best wishes — Charles Foster
Do you have a photo of June Powell?
I recall appearing in the Dambuster film very well
Others I remember were Thelma Baker and Anne Talburt
I have several lovely Photos ,that need unearthing of us all taken at the Stockton Races
Hello I was asked forgot a photo of my Aunt June powell so here are a few
Hi Michelle — I don’t think you can post a picture from your computer directly to the blog. However, if you send them to me by email, I can do them on your behalf. Best wishes — Charles
Thank you but for some reason photos aren’t showing can you email them to vitalejamess@hotmail.com.
Sadly my mother in law (Roma) passed away 2 weeks ago. But my husband would love any photos I’m sure. We Also found a few.
With thanks.
Very sad to hear of Romas passing
Iremember her very well Having worked together in theToppers ,and also at the elete ‘Aster club inBerkley a square London
Billy Petch was our cheograper
I have lovely photos taken of the girls taken at a day at the races when we were working a theatre in Stockton on tees with Harry Secome .
Is there any chance of sending a photo of Roma Dale (Rosemary) if you have any?
Anne Tolbert ,Thema Baker,
Jacky Lane ,&Roma Dale ,we’re two Iremember
I will try and find them
is there any chance you know what year this is from?
https://i0.wp.com/bbctv.transdiffusion.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/televisiontoppers.png?fit=2000%2C1119&ssl=1
I joined the TVToppers in the Summer of ‘1954 Makes me sound old but have no fear .I’m still strutting my stuff as usual
Another’ I-remember on the extreme left was Anne Talbert
Your aphotoattached showed the line of girls just after I left I was not in it sinse it was soon after I left
From G V
In that photo Anne Talburt was First on right Thema Baker was fifth .
I wasn’t there in that line up just fifth right in the film . We were under contract, to Dicky Afton The TV series called ‘Quite Contrary ‘ filmed at Shepards Bush Empire ,and the Shepards bush TV Centre .
lady Bowl was compare. Amundo Ross resident orchestra
Correction I was fifth from the right Fourth from the right was Topper Thelma Baker
Charles when we got the Script of the Film (sent to Mum before they released the film or before they made the film) and it was said Gibson and Hay went to see this show. It was said that Dad got the idea of the lights while they were there watching the girls. Perhaps to lighten the show. I read later it was someone else that got the idea of when to release the bomb.
Denise: I believe that the whole theatre sequence was made up by the writer, R C Sherriff. However, it gave the actor playing your father a bigger part, so I’m sure he was happy! Best wishes, Charles
I must be the last living ‘Topper ‘ to tell the tale Gillian Vaughan
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
Good to hear from you, Gillian! Best wishes, Charles