CLIFF GORDON WELSH SHOWMAN 1920-1964
Cliff Gordon: 1920-1964 : Actor, Playwright
The man who discovered Shirley Bassey
A tribute from William Cross, FSA Scot of Newport, South Wales
Cliff Gordon was born in West Wales in 1920 and died in Hastings in 1964. He found fame as an actor and playwright and a musical impresario. Best known for his musical play “ Valley of Song” about two feuding Welsh choirs, it was made into a film with John Fraser and Maureen Swanson.
Cliff was described as “The Welsh Icarus” he often found himself on the wrong side of the law, because he was a homosexual and was prosecuted for sexual offences with other adult males. After serving in the army with ENSA in Palestine in the post war period he worked almost non stop in London shows, with his own musical reviews at the famous Windmill Theatre. He also worked with Ivor Novello, and toured with Donald Houston in Dylan Thomas’ “Under Milk Wood” Throughout his working life he did a good deal of writing and presenting for BBC Wales, earning high regard. He also made several feature films, co-starring in “ A Man’s Affair” ( 1949). After the death of Dylan Thomas in 1953, Cliff’s closest friend and confidante was Thomas’ widow, Caitlin, the two of them drunk each other under tables at bars in Cardiff, Swansea, London and Italy.
In the mid-late 1950s Cliff saw Shirley Bassey perform in Cardiff Bay and later invited her to tour with two of his shows, thus effectively giving Bassey her first ‘big break’ into show business. Mental health issues, depression and the onset of serious ill- health overshadowed Cliff , in his last years he settled into marriage. A sad, brave but often amusing tale of a hugely talented Welshman, but born before his time who burnt the candle at both ends in pursuit of his dreams. He is hardly remembered by anyone, hence this long overdue tribute.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of “The Sexual Offences Act 1967" , and the recent universal pardon given to men who were prosecuted under the Victorian law of ‘ gross indecency’ an illustrated talk is available from William Cross, FSA Scot on Cliff Gordon's life and times
The man who discovered Shirley Bassey
A tribute from William Cross, FSA Scot of Newport, South Wales
Cliff Gordon was born in West Wales in 1920 and died in Hastings in 1964. He found fame as an actor and playwright and a musical impresario. Best known for his musical play “ Valley of Song” about two feuding Welsh choirs, it was made into a film with John Fraser and Maureen Swanson.
Cliff was described as “The Welsh Icarus” he often found himself on the wrong side of the law, because he was a homosexual and was prosecuted for sexual offences with other adult males. After serving in the army with ENSA in Palestine in the post war period he worked almost non stop in London shows, with his own musical reviews at the famous Windmill Theatre. He also worked with Ivor Novello, and toured with Donald Houston in Dylan Thomas’ “Under Milk Wood” Throughout his working life he did a good deal of writing and presenting for BBC Wales, earning high regard. He also made several feature films, co-starring in “ A Man’s Affair” ( 1949). After the death of Dylan Thomas in 1953, Cliff’s closest friend and confidante was Thomas’ widow, Caitlin, the two of them drunk each other under tables at bars in Cardiff, Swansea, London and Italy.
In the mid-late 1950s Cliff saw Shirley Bassey perform in Cardiff Bay and later invited her to tour with two of his shows, thus effectively giving Bassey her first ‘big break’ into show business. Mental health issues, depression and the onset of serious ill- health overshadowed Cliff , in his last years he settled into marriage. A sad, brave but often amusing tale of a hugely talented Welshman, but born before his time who burnt the candle at both ends in pursuit of his dreams. He is hardly remembered by anyone, hence this long overdue tribute.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of “The Sexual Offences Act 1967" , and the recent universal pardon given to men who were prosecuted under the Victorian law of ‘ gross indecency’ an illustrated talk is available from William Cross, FSA Scot on Cliff Gordon's life and times
Cliff Gordon, Welsh Actor and Playwright.
Born in Llanelli 11th February 1920. Died 16th October 1964.
Clifford Gordon, aka Clifford Moses ( 1920-1964): Welsh born actor, writer & producer Cliff Gordon was born today in 1920. Best known for Valley of Song (1953), Choir Practice & A Man’s Affair (both 1949) .
Cliff was one of those caught up in the Abergavenny Gay Witch Hunt, the subject of the book “ THE ABERGAVENNY WITCH HUNT: AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROSECUTION OF OVER TWENTY HOMOSEXUALS IN A SMALL WELSH TOWN IN 1942” By William Cross, FSA Scot.
In 1942 the 22- year-old Cliff Gordon was described as an actor and charged with two counts of gross indecency.
The Judge took a shine to him and he was given a light sentence. It did not affect his ability to work and he did several shows in London's West End and was in war time shows ( including post war shows with ENSA) for soldiers / airmen overseas.
Cliff enjoyed close friendships with Noel Coward, Ivor Novello, Christopher Isherwood & Caitlin Thomas.
He also turned his hand to producing musical shows and is cited as the man who gave Shirley Bassey an early break. However illness struck him and he died in 1964. He married it seems too, although the Abergavenny case was not his only brush with the laws of “gross indecency” , now repealed and with the so called Turing case coming into full effect, with those charged under that law granted a pardon.
A chapter of “ The Abergavenny Witch Hunt: An Account of the Prosecution of Over Twenty Homosexuals in a Small Welsh Town” is devoted to Clifford Gordon, a notable Welshman and man of the theatre.
Born in Llanelli 11th February 1920. Died 16th October 1964.
Clifford Gordon, aka Clifford Moses ( 1920-1964): Welsh born actor, writer & producer Cliff Gordon was born today in 1920. Best known for Valley of Song (1953), Choir Practice & A Man’s Affair (both 1949) .
Cliff was one of those caught up in the Abergavenny Gay Witch Hunt, the subject of the book “ THE ABERGAVENNY WITCH HUNT: AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROSECUTION OF OVER TWENTY HOMOSEXUALS IN A SMALL WELSH TOWN IN 1942” By William Cross, FSA Scot.
In 1942 the 22- year-old Cliff Gordon was described as an actor and charged with two counts of gross indecency.
The Judge took a shine to him and he was given a light sentence. It did not affect his ability to work and he did several shows in London's West End and was in war time shows ( including post war shows with ENSA) for soldiers / airmen overseas.
Cliff enjoyed close friendships with Noel Coward, Ivor Novello, Christopher Isherwood & Caitlin Thomas.
He also turned his hand to producing musical shows and is cited as the man who gave Shirley Bassey an early break. However illness struck him and he died in 1964. He married it seems too, although the Abergavenny case was not his only brush with the laws of “gross indecency” , now repealed and with the so called Turing case coming into full effect, with those charged under that law granted a pardon.
A chapter of “ The Abergavenny Witch Hunt: An Account of the Prosecution of Over Twenty Homosexuals in a Small Welsh Town” is devoted to Clifford Gordon, a notable Welshman and man of the theatre.
