Ending 30th Sep, 2025 20:00
THE RONALD WOLFE COLLECTION - ON THE BUSES & BEYOND - BRISTOL - TIMED AUCTION (CLOSED)
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THE RONALD WOLFE COLLECTION – THE RAG TRADE
The Ronald Wolfe Collection – The Rag Trade (1962 stage play, a spin-off from the ITV sitcom) - two original typed master drafts for the stage play, which ran from 19th December 1962 to 23rd February 1963 at the Piccadilly Theatre, London. The first appearing to be an early complete draft, with a brief character list, comes heavily annotated by Wolfe throughout. 200+pp, made up from several other typed drafts as page numbers repeat. Housed in a brown buff folder also noted upon by Wolfe. The second master script appears to be an altered later draft, running to c100pp, with ideas for different endings. This second script is also heavily annotated by Wolfe with altered lines, jokes and scene ideas. Housed in its original yellow folder. Further included is an original theatre programme for the production, annotated to the front and rear cover by Wolfe - likely notes / ideas made during a rehearsal prior to the show opening, and a clipped advertisement for the stage show from an unknown publication. A unique collection of Rag Trade items. (4)
The Rag Trade 'On Stage' was set to be a huge West End hit, but a freak five-week long winter storm that brought 'Siberian' conditions and almost non-stop snow, completely hampered the production. Audiences were understandably small, the theatre suffered weather-related power cuts and the cast had difficulty getting to the venue. By the time the snow had thawed, most of the actors had been contracted to other projects, and the show closed. ('My Life In Memoirs' [paraphrased] Pg 45)
Ronald Wolfe (1922-2011) was a British television, radio and cinema screenwriter, and one half of the Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney writing partnership. Wolfe wrote for some of the biggest stars in Britain from the 1950s to the 1990s, and had major success with the sitcoms The Rag Trade, Meet The Wife and On The Buses. In later life he taught comedy writing at City University, London. He passed away in 2011. The items being offered for sale in this special auction are direct from his estate, and represent an important archive of British comedy, television, and radio history.
*any photographs used for illustrative purposes remain with their respective copyright holders and are not included within the lot, unless specified.
Sold for £400
Auction: THE RONALD WOLFE COLLECTION - ON THE BUSES & BEYOND - BRISTOL - TIMED AUCTION (CLOSED), ending 30th Sep, 2025
The Ronald Wolfe Collection - On The Buses & Beyond
Ronald Wolfe (1922-2011) was a British television, radio and cinema screenwriter, and one half of the Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney writing partnership. Wolfe wrote for some of the biggest stars in Britain from the 1950s to the 1990s, and had major success with the sitcoms The Rag Trade, Meet The Wife and On The Buses. In later life he taught comedy writing at City University, London. He passed away in 2011. The items being offered for sale in this special auction are direct from his estate, and represent an important archive of British comedy, television, and radio history.
SPECIAL SCREENING EVENT Friday September 26th - a showing of the 1971 On The Buses movie at Saltford Community Cinema, Bristol. Tickets HERE.
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