Wolverhampton Grand at 125: An arresting sight along city street
It was the day the Keystone Cops came to Wolverhampton– and they made an arresting sight as they chased a scantily clad young woman down a city street.
Truncheons held high in perfect synchronicity, our trio of cops are captured mid-step in pursuit of their quarry.
The quirky scene was captured by an Express & Star photographer in 1984 when a local drama group, the Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company, were about to stage a production of the musical Mack and Mabel at the Grand Theatre.
The humorously incompetent policemen featured in several silent-film slapstick comedies between 1912 and 1917.
Mack and Mabel involved the stormy romantic relationship between Hollywood director Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand who became one of his biggest stars.
In a series of flashbacks, Sennett relates the glory days of Keystone Studios from 1911, when he discovered Normand and cast her in dozens of his early films through his creation of the Bathing Beauties.
Some observant readers might notice that the constable on wheels is riding a pre-war Sunbeam bike which played a supporting role not only in this publicity shot but also featured in the production itself.
The 1932 Wolverhampton-made machine was lent to the company by Paul Nuttall, who helped run a cycle shop in Bilston Road, Monmore Green at the time.
Sunbeam bicycles continued to be made in Wolverhampton until 1937 when the cycle and motorcycle business was sold to Associated Motor Cycles of Plumstead, London.
The woman pictured in her frilly-legged bloomers striking a pleading pose as the cops close in on her was actress Angela Sheffield. Her costume suggests her role in the musical was one of Mack Sennett's famous Bathing Beauties.
The other members of the cast were, from left to right, Rod Bicknell, Peter Dudgon and Gary Hook.
