Ray Johnson Film Archive
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Gertie was one of our greatest Music Hall artists. She became "The Tommies' Favourite Songbird" during WWI - The Forces' Favourite - and she was the equivalent of Vera Lynn in WWII. Some of her contemporary songs were popular among the forces at the Front when they adopted them and added their own lyrics (some of these songs feature in the Stage play and film Oh What a Lovely War). Archive film footage helps tell her story, we then chart her career through to retirement in the 1950s - and hear her own recordings of her songs, including her greatest hit Nellie Dean.
MAC Community days brings you a programme of accessible film all in a bid to break barriers and create a happy place for our community. MAC Community days are in partner ship with Able Stoke, North Staffs Pensioners' Convention, and Staffordshire Sight Loss.
