Sydney George Hulme Beaman (28 February 1887 – 4 February 1932), was a British author, actor and illustrator. He was best known as the creator of the Toytown stories and their characters, including Larry the Lamb . He also illustrated the 1930s John Lane edition of a Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde .
17-501: Toytown is the name given to a series of radio plays written by S.G. Hulme Beaman and broadcast by the BBC from 1929 to 1932, 28 of which regularly repeated on Children's Hour until 1964, by which point it had expanded into a media franchise . Although he was not the main character of the original works, Larry the Lamb became the main character, together with his clever sidekick, Dennis
34-587: The BBC believed the best tribute would be to continue it, his plays continued to be remounted until 1964, when Children’s Hour ended. Hulme Beaman's friend Hendrik Baker worked to keep Toytown popular, with a stage adaptation of The Cruise of the Toytown Belle and vinyl records by EMI . In 1962 he founded Larry the Lamb Ltd. to handle the television rights to the plays; producing two cartoon films with Halas and Batchelor ( The Showing Up of Larry
51-465: The BBC believed the best tribute would be to continue it, his plays continued to be remounted until 1964, when Children’s Hour ended. Hulme Beaman's friend Hendrik Baker worked to keep Toytown popular, with a stage adaptation of The Cruise of the Toytown Belle and vinyl records by EMI . In 1962 he founded Larry the Lamb Ltd. to handle the television rights to the plays; producing two cartoon films with Halas and Batchelor ( The Showing Up of Larry
68-811: The Dachshund. Each story involves Ernest the Policeman, the disgruntled Mr Growser the Grocer and the Mayor. Toytown was perhaps the most famous children's series at its peak. It consistently headed the votes for Request Week on Children's Hour for twenty-five years, was believed to be more recognisable than Alice in Wonderland and was seen in over two dozen territories around the world. Around 1928, S. G. Hulme Beaman , originally an actor, began to create wooden toys in light of Germany losing its grip on
85-528: The Dachshund. Each story involves Ernest the Policeman, the disgruntled Mr Growser the Grocer and the Mayor. Toytown was perhaps the most famous children's series at its peak. It consistently headed the votes for Request Week on Children's Hour for twenty-five years, was believed to be more recognisable than Alice in Wonderland and was seen in over two dozen territories around the world. Around 1928, S. G. Hulme Beaman , originally an actor, began to create wooden toys in light of Germany losing its grip on
102-525: The Lamb and The Tale of the Magician ) before authorising a musical stage play by David Wood and then a stop-motion series distributed by the ITA Network and repeated until 1984. In addition, from 1956 to 1958 Gordon Murray adapted eighteen of the 30 original plays in puppet form, deciding to use rod puppets to emulate Hulme Beaman's original models. Following Hendrik's death in 1991, Larry
119-406: The Lamb and The Tale of the Magician ) before authorising a musical stage play by David Wood and then a stop-motion series distributed by the ITA Network and repeated until 1984. In addition, from 1956 to 1958 Gordon Murray adapted eighteen of the 30 original plays in puppet form, deciding to use rod puppets to emulate Hulme Beaman's original models. Following Hendrik's death in 1991, Larry
136-546: The Lamb Limited was dissolved, with his family doubting whether they still owned copyright for the series. The first radio performances were as follows: The Noddy stories, written from 1949 to 1963 for children by author Enid Blyton , take place in a location called Toyland, which in some media is misnamed as Toytown. Sydney George Hulme Beaman Beaman was born in Tottenham , London , on 28 February 1887,
153-490: The Lamb did feature in the original stories, he was not the main character. This changed when Derek McCulloch , who narrated the series and voiced him all the way until the end of its run, asked Hulme Beaman to give Larry a bigger role. Inspired by Walt Disney ’s early cartoons, Hulme Beaman experimented with marionettes and animation with Pathé , adapting his radio play The Arkville Dragon for this medium. Sadly, Hulme Beaman died that same year of pneumonia , however, as
170-488: The Lamb did feature in the original stories, he was not the main character. This changed when Derek McCulloch , who narrated the series and voiced him all the way until the end of its run, asked Hulme Beaman to give Larry a bigger role. Inspired by Walt Disney ’s early cartoons, Hulme Beaman experimented with marionettes and animation with Pathé , adapting his radio play The Arkville Dragon for this medium. Sadly, Hulme Beaman died that same year of pneumonia , however, as
187-679: The eldest of three children. As a child he was particularly interested in mechanical objects. According to his lifelong friend Hendrik Baker, his attention to detail in his work came from his father. Beaman attended the Heatherley School of Fine Art , and during that period founded the theatre group known as the Dickens Fellowship , which led to him being invited to perform at smoking concerts . He met his wife, Maud Mary Poltock, during these performances. After his stint there he turned to making wooden toys, taking advantage of
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#1732788084631204-399: The fact that Germany was no longer the dominant force in the industry. He began to weave stories around them, which led to the birth of Toytown in 1928. May Jenkin, or "Aunt Elizabeth", arranged for his Toytown stories to be adapted into radio plays for Children's Hour , and when they became successful she wrote to Hulme Beaman demanding more. Beaman used to work out his ideas for
221-455: The industry. These became popular with the children of his local area of Golders Green , and in 1928 he published the book Tales of Toytown , based on them. May Jenkin, who was "Aunt Elizabeth" for Children's Hour , came across the book and arranged for its six stories to be adapted for radio. The plays were successful, with Jenkin writing to Hulme Beaman demanding more, who would formulate them using his original wooden toys. Although Larry
238-453: The industry. These became popular with the children of his local area of Golders Green , and in 1928 he published the book Tales of Toytown , based on them. May Jenkin, who was "Aunt Elizabeth" for Children's Hour , came across the book and arranged for its six stories to be adapted for radio. The plays were successful, with Jenkin writing to Hulme Beaman demanding more, who would formulate them using his original wooden toys. Although Larry
255-448: The next six decades. Toytown Toytown is the name given to a series of radio plays written by S.G. Hulme Beaman and broadcast by the BBC from 1929 to 1932, 28 of which regularly repeated on Children's Hour until 1964, by which point it had expanded into a media franchise . Although he was not the main character of the original works, Larry the Lamb became the main character, together with his clever sidekick, Dennis
272-432: The programme. This continued until the last Tuesday before his death. Later in his career he was inspired by the early Walt Disney cartoons to create marionette and animated renditions of his Toytown play The Arkville Dragon . He died on 4 February 1932 of pneumonia : however, his plays were remounted for radio until 1964, and his friend Hendrik Baker would adapt his original plays for stage, vinyl and television over
289-478: The show in a miniature theatre at his home, using his original models. Prior to his creating the Toytown series, Hulme Beaman was already well known for having created the strip cartoon Philip and Phido in 1923. This was about a boy and his dog, and featured Ernest the Policeman, later a main character of Toytown . He was often in the studio while his work was being broadcast, and occasionally took part in
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