There are, so far, only two more brief glimpses of Sylvester Leon, yet these references in the press have considerable significance in the history of Jamaica's entertainers. Read on . . .
West India Committee Circular, February 24, 1927, p 71
Those interested in the West Indies will be glad to learn that Mr Sylvester Leon, a native Jamaican actor, who has been touring in this country, will broadcast a Jamaican dialect sketch, entitled 'Quashie hears Paderewski play', on February 23. Mr Leon will also give a concert at the Central Hall, Westminster, on February 26, when he will present several other dialect sketches of native Jamaica. Mr Leon has an extensive repertory, which, besides giving Quashie's opinions and emotions on many subjects, includes Shakespearean and English dramatic recitals, recitals with vocal and instrumental accompaniment, and miscellaneous humorous and descriptive pieces. We wish Mr Leon all success.
In 'London and Daventry News and Notes', from 'Radio Times', February 11, 1927
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
These two items from the Radio Times in February 1927 confirm the remarkable fact that Sylvester Leon performed all the way back then, on radio, in the U.K., in Jamaican patois! However, a check done by the B.B.C. archives showed that he never appeared again; whether this was because of his inability to adapt to radio, or because the audience did not appreciate Jamaican dialect, we can hardly know, but the mere fact of the single performance is remarkable.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Programmes for Wednesday, February 23, from 'Radio Times', February 18, 1927
from 'The Daily Express', London, February 26, 1927
As the West India Committee Circular had reported, Sylvester Leon performed at the Central Hall Westminster, doing 'Jamaican Dialect Sketches' on the bill in a Saturday Popular Concert.
One more brief reference has recently turned up:
from 'The Daily Gleaner', November 13, 1942, page 2
A researcher at the BBC Written Archives Centre has provided this further information about the programme:
In this edition 'At the Barbecue' is described as a magazine programme compiled by Una Marson, compered by Godfrey Kenton and included a poem ('But You Must Love Her' by Wynne Rutty) read by Una Marson; 'An Annancy Story, Brer Nancy an de Woss-Woss' from a collection compiled by Dorothy Clarke and read by Olive Dwyer and also a poem 'The Isle of Spice' by (and read by) Calvin Lambert. The item featuring Sylvester Leon is listed as "Sylvester Leon reading King Henry's final speech in Act 4, Scene 3, of King Henry V."
From March 1941 to March 1943 Una Marson, the Jamaican writer, was organising the BBC's Caribbean programme, 'Calling the West Indies'. Sylvester Leon's reading was on that programme at 6 p.m. November 12, 1942. Clearly Miss Marson knew, or knew of, Leon in England, but I have found no further references to him, in her biography, or in any other material on that period. So, I keep on looking!
. . . and for the time being, that's all I have on Sylvester Leon. I still hope to find out more about his career in the theatre in the U.K. in the 1920s and '30s, and also when and where he died. Perhaps someone who looks at this site may know more about him.
If you have any such information, please let me know. You can email me at joyousjam@snail-mail.net
.jpg)
