Saved By Wireless

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a thrilling little sketch of an attempt by a German spy to get temporary control of a British wireless station, and from thence to send bogus messages luring the fleet to its destruction by mines. Before it is successfully carried through by drugging and shooting the operator, the plot is fortunately discovered by the Red Cross Nurse in attendance upon the wounded telegraphist, and is defeated in the nick of time through her lucky acquaintance with Morse and other codes. Quite timely in its sensationalism: and recommended for license. Ernest A. Bendall

Researcher's Summary:

'Saved By Wireless' was first performed on 11 October 1909 at the Palace Theatre, Gloucester. Heron rewrote the story to contain a war element and had it relicensed. Gilbert Heron wrote, produced and performed in the play with several other family members. Drawing on his work as a radio engineer and with Marconi, he used real Marconi electronic instruments as dramatic props. When the Great War started, government officials visited the theatre where it was being performed and shut down the electrical effects from the radio transmitter, worried that they might be used to send information to Germany.

Licensed On: 8 Aug 1916

License Number: 392

British Library Reference: LCP1916/18

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66139 P

Performances

Date	Theatre	Type
N/A	Hippodrome, Rotherhithe	Unknown	Licensed Performance
14 Sep 1914	Hippodrome, Rochdale	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
9 Nov 1914	Granville Theatre, Walham Green	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
16 Nov 1914	Coliseum, Portsmouth	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
14 Dec 1914	Market Theatre, Aylesbury	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
18 Jan 1915	Empire Theatre, Preston	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
15 Feb 1915	Theatre Royal, Guildford	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
19 Jul 1915	Empire Theatre, Motherwell, Lanarkshire	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
26 Jul 1915	Electric Theatre, Falkirk	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
6 Sep 1915	Alhambra, Leith	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
13 Sep 1915	Palace Theatre, Arbroath	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
8 Nov 1915	Palace Theatre, Southampton	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
5 Jun 1916	Palace Theatre, Chelsea, London	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
12 Jun 1916	Metropolitan Theatre, London	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
26 Jun 1916	Palace Theatre, Halifax	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
3 Jul 1916	Palace Theatre, Bradford	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
17 Jul 1916	Empire Theatre, Ardwick, Manchester	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron. Noted in The Era, 19 July 1916.
2 Oct 1916	South London Music Hall, London	Professional	Read Narrative The Era, 27 September 1916, listed Gilbert Heron and Co. in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Monday 2 October at the South London Hall.
6 Nov 1916	?, Tottenham, London	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
20 Nov 1916	Hippodrome, Poplar	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
27 Nov 1916	Palace, Hammersmith	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
4 Dec 1916	Grand Theatre, Clapham	Professional	Read Narrative The Era, 29 November 1916, listed Gilbert Heron and company in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Monday 4 December at the Clapham Grand.
11 Dec 1916	Hippodrome, Ilford	Professional	Read Narrative The Era, 6 December 1916, listed Gilbert Heron and Co. in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Monday 11 December at the Ilford Hippodrome.
15 Jan 1917	?, East Ham	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
14 May 1917	Empire Theatre, Islington	Professional	Read Narrative The Era, 9 May 1917, listed Gilbert Heron & Co. in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Monday 14 May at the Islington Empire. Performance noted in The Stage, 17 May 1917.
28 May 1917	Hippodrome, Putney	Professional	Read Narrative The Era, 23 May 1917, advertised Gilbert Heron & Co. in Saved by Wireless at the Putney Hippodrome in the week commencing 28 May.
18 Jun 1917	Palace Theatre, Camberwell	Professional	Read Narrative The Stage, 14 June 1917, listed Gilbert Heron and company in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Next Week at the Camberwell Palace.
25 Jun 1917	Kilburn Empire, Kilburn, London	Professional	Read Narrative The Era, 20 June 1917, listed Gilbert Heron and Co. in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Monday 25 June at the Kilburn Empire.
30 Jul 1917	Hippodrome, Woolwich	Professional	Read Narrative The Woolwich Herald, 27 July 1917, advertised at the Hippodrome, Woolwich, commencing Monday 30 July, a bill that included Gilbert Heron and Co. in the dramatic sketch Saved by Wireless.
6 Aug 1917	Hippodrome, Birmingham	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
13 Aug 1917	Palace Theatre, Camberwell	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
24 Sep 1917	Hippodrome, Balham	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company.
1 Oct 1917	Royalty Theatre, Chester	Professional	Read Narrative The Cheshire Observer, 29 September 1917, advertised at the Royalty Theatre, Chester, 'Gilbert Heron & Co. (late Royal Marine Artillery), including Miss Jessie Danvers, in London's Latest Success - Saved by Wireless.
6 Nov 1917	Empire, Rugby	Professional	Read Narrative 'A delightful one-act topical play, “Saved by Wireless," presented by Gilbert Heron’s Company, occupies the premier position in the program this week'. Rugby Advertiser, 10 November 1917.
3 Dec 1917	Hippodrome, Rotherham	Professional	Read Narrative 'At the Rotherham Hippodrome, last night, “Saved by Wireless,’’ a one-act play, had a topical interest, and provided thrill, in which Red Cross nurse figured prominently. It was excellently presented by Gilbert Heron’s Company'. Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 4 December 1917.
10 Dec 1917	City Varieties, Leeds	Professional	Read Narrative 'The programme at the Leeds City Varieties is an excellent one, and includes a thrilling sketch, "The Wireless Spy," ably presented by Gilbert Heron and company. It covers the machinations of a German spy who, by getting rid of the wireless operators on a British land station, endeavours to lure the British Fleet into a minefield. He is thwarted in his efforts, however, by a Red Cross nurse with a knowledge of wireless telegraphy'. Yorkshire Evening Post, 11 December 1917.
24 Dec 1917	Granville Theatre, Walham Green	Professional	Read Narrative Gilbert Heron and company
11 Feb 1918	?, East Ham	Professional	Read Narrative The Era, 6 February 1918, listed Gilbert Heron & Co. in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Monday 11 February at East Ham.
20 Jan 1919	Empire Theatre, Edmonton	Professional	Read Narrative The Stage, 16 January 1919, listed Gilbert Heron and company in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Next Week at the Edmonton Empire.
27 Jan 1919	Hippodrome, Poplar	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gilbert Heron and company
29 Dec 1919	Grand Theatre, Gravesend	Professional	Read Narrative The Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph, 27 December 1991, advertised at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Gravesend, from Monday 29 December a bill that included Gilbert Heron & Co. in 'the Greatest of all Spy Sketches' Saved by Wireless.

Saved By Wireless

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Performances