Main Performers | Vanda Hoffe - dancer, Major Raymond Phillips - speaker, Duke and Duchess of York- presenters |
Orchestra or Band | Paul Whiteman and his Band, RAF Band, Clifford Essex Band |
Royal Presence | HRH The Duke of York, HRH The Duchess of York |
Performance Notes | "The Duke and Duchess of York will be present at the Air League Royal Ball at the Albert Hall on July 17. There will be a complete air raid, with Major Raymond Phillip's wireless-controlled airship acting the part of a Zeppelin, with mimic shells bursting high up in the dome of the hall, and with anti-aircraft guns worked by men of the Royal Air Force and Second Air Defence Brigade, T A. The airship will actually be travelling through the space of the great dome, and a miniature aeroplane will be seen mounting higher and higher, the Zeppelin, being finally brought down in flames with powerful searchlights upon it. The previous sound of maroons and police whistles will be followed by the familiar (All Clear". The Committee includes the names of the Duchess of Marlborough, the Duchess of Sutherland, Lady Louise Mountbatten, the Countess of Limerick, and Lady Maud Hoare, wife of the Air Minister. The ball will be a fancy dress function, but evening dress with decorations will be permitted." (The Times, 3 July 1923)
Prizes for best fancy dress at the Ball included a 25 guinea wireless set presented by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company for the best dress representing wireless. Messrs. Handley Page offered a prize of a return trip to Paris for the best costume representing aviation. (The Daily Telegraph, 26 June 1923) |
Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1923/35) |