Free tickets to see film starring 1930s Goole actress

Free tickets for a special film screening featuring Goole-born ‘star of the silver screen’ Dorothy Bartlam. The event was been organised by Goole Civic Society, who also unveiled a Blue Plaque to honour Dorothy

Goole Civic Society organised the showing of ‘Fascination’, a 1931 film starring Dorothy Bartlam, who was born in Goole in 1907 and went on to be one of the leading British film stars of the 1920s and early 1930s.

Starring in more than 50 films, Dorothy was a renowned actress, author, dancer and beauty (the face of Lux toilet soap) but retired from celebrity life in her late 20s and lived the rest of her life in obscurity, dying in Bournemouth in 1991. The Civic Society aims to re-establish her as a film star and tell about her life and career.

‘Fascination’ stars Dorothy as Vera Maitland, Carl Harbord as Larry Maitland and Madeleine Carroll as Gwendal Farrell. It is a romance story of childhood sweethearts, young love and heartbreak set against a backdrop of 1930s London.

The Civic Society is still trying to trace any members of Dorothy’s family. Her parents were Charles Ruby and Henrietta Bartlam (nee Ezard) and her uncles, Charles and Herbert, were involved in shipping in Goole and had large extended families. The society would like to connect with any members of the Ezard family as they may be related to Dorothy. It can be contacted on goolecivicsociety@gmail.com or 07867547932.
The Civic Society produced booklets documenting Dorothy’s life. Funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Do It For East Yorkshire Community Grant. If you would like further information about the grant please visit www.doitforeastyorkshire.co.uk/#community-grant.