This Is Your Life: James Corrigan

James CORRIGAN (1925-2000)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - James Corrigan, businessman, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while on a business trip to a fairground in London.

James, who was born in Leeds, started his working life as a child in his family's travelling fairs. After leaving school at 14, he worked as a mess boy on the tug boats in Hull before joining the Merchant Navy in 1943. After some time in Canada, he returned to the UK, settling in Scarborough, where he established several entertainment businesses, including a bingo hall and amusement arcades.

In 1964, he rented a bingo hall in Batley, West Yorkshire, where, two years later, with his wife Betty, he founded the Batley Variety Club. Modelled on the Las Vegas-style clubs, it soon became a known venue on the entertainment circuit, attracting the biggest stars of the time, including Louis Armstrong, Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey.

programme details...

Edition No: 348
Subject No: 349
Broadcast date: Wed 14 Feb 1973
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Wed 7 Feb 1973
Venue: unknown
Series: 13
Edition: 14

on the guest list...

Betty - wife
Jamie - son
Charlie Williams
Albert - uncle
Edwin - uncle
Joe - brother
John - brother
Joey - brother
Stan Lindberg
Freda Chambers
Mary Foster
Bill Harrington
Derek Smith
Alan Clegg
Vince Hill
Randolph Rhodes
Jason Corrigan
Gene Pitney
members of staff at Batley Variety Club
Frankie Vaughan
Shirley Bassey

production team...

Researcher: unknown
Writer: unknown
Director: Margery Baker
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

That's Entertainment

there's no business like it

Eamonn Andrews surprises James Corrigan for This Is Your Life

Series 13 subjects