Monday 20th October 1947 was opening night of the musical play “Rio Rita”, performed by Keighley Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society at the Hippodrome theatre in Keighley. The music was by Harry Tierney, with words by Joseph McCarthy, from the book by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson. The original 1927 stage musical was turned into a RKO film in 1929, directed by Luther Reed.
The story is set on the US/Mexico border, where cabaret singer Rita Ferguson falls for Texas Ranger Captain Jim Stewart, while pursued by Mexican General Esteban. Meanwhile, Captain Stewart is seeking the notorious bandit Kinkajou, whose real identity is unknown (but could be Rita’s brother Roberto!). The climax is reached onboard the pirate barge owned by Esteban, which serves as a floating cabaret…
The Keighley production starred Hylda Saville Smith (1) as Rio Rita, Arthur Day (2) as Captain Jim Stewart, Eric B. Boster (3) as General Esteban, and Fred W. Pye as Roberto. Supporting roles were played by Albert E. Shepherd, Arthur Shackleton, Ernest Marsden (4), Dorothy M. Williams, Betty Phillips, Keith Marsden (5), John H. Crabtree, Pamela Fitzjohn, Victor J. Wood, Frank Hopkinson, Margaret Best and Marjorie Riley. It was produced by T. C. Wray. The cast photographs were taken by John Tobin of Keighley.
The programme was loaned to Keighley and District Local History Society for scanning by Tim Neal in April 2022. The full 48-page programme is available to view on our Flickr site.
