Hazel Ascot (born 10 May 1928) was a tap-dancing British child-star in the 1930s who was billed as the "British Shirley Temple". She starred in two films before abandoning her theatrical career.
Ascot was born in Manchester, the daughter of Duggie Ascot, who created a dance troupe with his family called "The Petite Ascots". Film director John Baxter discovered Hazel at her father's dance studio in London. She was made the star of his upcoming film Talking Feet (1937), a "quota quickie" about a girl's attempt to raise money for a local hospital by putting on a show.[1] The film was a success and so Hazel was given another starring role in Stepping Toes (1938), about a child dancer who wins a contest and goes on to star in a London show.
After these films, it was intended that Hazel would appear in a third feature, a more expensive venture, to be shot in colour, provisionally titled "Hazel of the Sawdust" but the outbreak of World War II made this untenable.[2]
Ascot was one of two child stars at the time who were billed as the "British Shirley Temple", the other being Binkie Stuart.[3]
Later lifeedit
In 1943, Ascot appeared in "Magic Carpet", a West End revue at the Princes Theatre, alongside Kay Kendall and her sister Kim. After the war she abandoned performing to marry her childhood sweetheart Peter Banting, an architect. Hazel worked as a school-teacher and had three children.[2] She was interviewed about her memories of the film studios on several occasions, most notably for a 1982 episode of the Anglia Television series Movie Memories[4] and in 1994 at the British Film Institute.[5]
Appreciation societyedit
In 1970, the Hazel Ascot Appreciation Society was created by Tony Willis, who tracked Ascot down via her brother.[2] The society supported events for budding child performers. Though originally a genuine appreciation society, by the late 1990s it had become a front for a network of paedophiles.[6][7] In 2002, a series of arrests were made of members of the society.[8] According to the police, paedophiles "used the fan club as a cover to communicate with each other via the internet." The police emphasised that Ascot was not aware of or associated in any way with the activities of the gang, but "though she has nothing to do with these deviants, she has become an icon for paedophiles."[8]
Referencesedit
^Stephen C. Shafer, British Popular Films, 1929–1939: The Cinema of Reassurance, Routledge, London, 1997, p.188
^ abcThreadgall, D, Shepperton studios: an independent view, British Film Institute, 1994, pp.16-18.
^Vallance, Tom (17 August 2001). "Binkie Stuart obituary". The Independent. p. 6. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
^Milmo, Cahal (19 March 2002). "Paedophile, 80, is freed despite admitting abuse". The Independent. p. 20. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
^Boyd, Don (26 May 2002). "The hunt for Britain's paedophiles". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
^ abEdwards, Jeff (25 February 2002). "42,000 pictures, 118 videos, 500 magazines and a guide on how to chat up children... they called it The Hobby; Exclusive: The Mirror Nails Sick Paedophile Gang". Daily Mirror. p. 20. Retrieved 3 October 2019 – via The Free Library.
Hazel Ascot: The UK's Answer to Shirley Temple? article by Grahame L. Newnham
December 15, 2023
hazel, ascot, born, 1928, dancing, british, child, star, 1930s, billed, british, shirley, temple, starred, films, before, abandoning, theatrical, career, contents, career, later, life, appreciation, society, references, external, linkscareer, editascot, born, . Hazel Ascot born 10 May 1928 was a tap dancing British child star in the 1930s who was billed as the British Shirley Temple She starred in two films before abandoning her theatrical career Contents 1 Career 2 Later life 3 Appreciation society 4 References 5 External linksCareer editAscot was born in Manchester the daughter of Duggie Ascot who created a dance troupe with his family called The Petite Ascots Film director John Baxter discovered Hazel at her father s dance studio in London She was made the star of his upcoming film Talking Feet 1937 a quota quickie about a girl s attempt to raise money for a local hospital by putting on a show 1 The film was a success and so Hazel was given another starring role in Stepping Toes 1938 about a child dancer who wins a contest and goes on to star in a London show After these films it was intended that Hazel would appear in a third feature a more expensive venture to be shot in colour provisionally titled Hazel of the Sawdust but the outbreak of World War II made this untenable 2 Ascot was one of two child stars at the time who were billed as the British Shirley Temple the other being Binkie Stuart 3 Later life editIn 1943 Ascot appeared in Magic Carpet a West End revue at the Princes Theatre alongside Kay Kendall and her sister Kim After the war she abandoned performing to marry her childhood sweetheart Peter Banting an architect Hazel worked as a school teacher and had three children 2 She was interviewed about her memories of the film studios on several occasions most notably for a 1982 episode of the Anglia Television series Movie Memories 4 and in 1994 at the British Film Institute 5 Appreciation society editIn 1970 the Hazel Ascot Appreciation Society was created by Tony Willis who tracked Ascot down via her brother 2 The society supported events for budding child performers Though originally a genuine appreciation society by the late 1990s it had become a front for a network of paedophiles 6 7 In 2002 a series of arrests were made of members of the society 8 According to the police paedophiles used the fan club as a cover to communicate with each other via the internet The police emphasised that Ascot was not aware of or associated in any way with the activities of the gang but though she has nothing to do with these deviants she has become an icon for paedophiles 8 References edit Stephen C Shafer British Popular Films 1929 1939 The Cinema of Reassurance Routledge London 1997 p 188 a b c Threadgall D Shepperton studios an independent view British Film Institute 1994 pp 16 18 Vallance Tom 17 August 2001 Binkie Stuart obituary The Independent p 6 Archived from the original on 9 May 2022 Retrieved 3 October 2019 Movie Memories episode 2 6 BFI Guardian interview Milmo Cahal 19 March 2002 Paedophile 80 is freed despite admitting abuse The Independent p 20 Archived from the original on 9 May 2022 Retrieved 3 October 2019 Boyd Don 26 May 2002 The hunt for Britain s paedophiles The Guardian Retrieved 3 October 2019 a b Edwards Jeff 25 February 2002 42 000 pictures 118 videos 500 magazines and a guide on how to chat up children they called it The Hobby Exclusive The Mirror Nails Sick Paedophile Gang Daily Mirror p 20 Retrieved 3 October 2019 via The Free Library External links editHazel Ascot at IMDb 2017 video interview with Hazel Ascot by the British Entertainment History Project Hazel Ascot The UK s Answer to Shirley Temple article by Grahame L Newnham Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hazel Ascot amp oldid 1185191262, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
