Famous Faces of Torbay: Ray Lamar and the showbiz stars he brought to our theatres

In this series of features, Ian L Handford (President of Torbay Civic Society) looks at famous individuals who lived and worked in Torbay during the 20th century.

Born in the City of Leeds on December 2nd 1917 to Army Captain Lamar, Ray Lamar at age 16 was already working with the Harry Gold Yachtsman’s Pierrot Group on Ramsgate beach in Kent. The group did three shows a day and each member took turns to take “the bottle around the audience” which subsequently was used as wages.

As Ray was able to dance and even play the saxophone once that season had ended he left Ramsgate and went off to work in any variety or revue show anywhere.

Then he was called up to do his National Service and mirroring his father joined the Army. He rose to also become a Captain in the Tank Corps and with the National Service complete he returned home and eventually married - Madge Nicholls.

They formed what in essence was Ray’s first “stage role” when using their names - The Ray and Madge Lamar Act. They spent years touring in shows throughout Britain, finally ending up at the London Palladium in support roles to Winifred Atwell and Christine Norden.   

Their marriage unfortunately ended in 1956 and Ray then married his second wife Betty Bushell and in time produced two sons and a daughter.

But once again, the marriage sadly ended in divorce by which time Ray was employed in theatre management. He was to introduce dozens of British and American stars into Britains provincial theatres whjich included: Judy Garland, John Hanson, Guy Mitchell and Johnney Ray and many others, while lesser known stars were placed in local theatres including Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay. 

It was when in Torquay that Ray first met Ruby Murray and being immediately smitten during the late 1950’s Ruby was already a star at the peak of her popularity with at least one of her songs in the pop-charts during the whole year.

Ruby had appeared at her first Royal Command Performance show in 1955 starring alongside Norman Wisdom. Now, whether his two failed marriages were the reason we can never know, but it was a fact that Ray couldn't find the courage to propose to Ruby at this time. Soon they went their separate ways and in 1957 Ruby married Bernie Burgess a member of “The Jones Boys Pop Group”.

During the next period, Ray joined the Bernard Delfont Organisation who then sent him to open the new Princess Theatre in  Torquay. In it’s first season, he signed Arthur Askey and Jessie Matthews to be the stars at the new Princess Theatre 1962 Summer Show.

The Delfont Group were associated with many of Torbay’s theatres for decades although Ray was their first permanent theatrical manager. It seems it was Bernard Delfont who had suggested to Ray he move permanently to Torbay which he did.

His first bookings in the managing role were at the Princess Theatre and the small Babbacombe Theatre. Soon after his arrival, Ray was signing Anthony Bygraves (son of Max Bygraves) as lead at the Babbacombe Theatre for the following season while continuing to sign up numerous stars for theatres all around Britain.

He finally learned that Ruby Murray was to star at the Festival Theatre Paignton (not under his control yet) and of course after her arrival they soon remet. Ruby had already divorced Burgess and Ray had just divorced Mary so it almost seemed that destiny had brought them together at last.  

By 1993 they were married and from the start of their reunion, Ray had been aware that Ruby had previously become a “chronic alcoholic” yet she believed she had cured herself.

Living in Brixham and regularly singing there, and at Paignton and Torquay pub’s and clubs etc, access to alcohol was always readily available. Her national appearances had finished long ago and she admitted to actually hating long-distance travelling. 

But now Ray was to be her saviour as he attended every event she fulfilled and locals soon noted “they were inseparable”. Having moving from Brixham, she purchased an apartment on Victoria Parade alongside the Strand Torquay and at one birthday party, even told the visiting journalist this was going to be her “permanent marriage home”.

Having married Ray in 1993 she was a very contented woman and they enjoyed three glorious years together until she died in Torbay Hospital at 61 in 1996. Ray of course then inherited all royalties etc and he lived to an age of 88 and never remarried.

A truly successful theatre manager, Ray was responsible for dozens of stars appearing at our three main theatres - Babbacombe, Princess at Torquay and eventually the Festival Theatre at Paignton.  

NEXT WEEK: Charlotte Schreiber (Artist).