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Sadly, no mention of David Nixon though.Real Name: Anita Harris Birth Date: 3rd June 1942 Birth Place: Midsomer Norton, Somerset
Even today, Anita Harris dressed in uniform as 'Nurse Clarke' in the 1968 Carry On movie "Carry On Doctor" remains a fantasy for many red blooded males! It's perhaps a little easier to now forget her early singing career as a chart breaking recording artist or even her numerous TV appearances as an actress, singer and dancer. Anita has certainly shown herself to be multi-talented and has done so since a very early age.
Anita's musical career began as a child although her expectation was to become a dancer. Soon after leaving school she left the UK to train as a choreographed skater in Las Vegas. Even today this would be unusual, but in the 1950s it was an exceptional experience and gives some idea of the kind of expectation held by her family. However, her first significant professional engagement in the UK was as a singer- briefly as one of the few ladies to sing with the Cliff Adams Singers. These were choralists who were to enjoy an astonishingly long run with BBC radio's "Sing Something Simple". She was still in her teens when invited to cut her first recording- with the John Barry Seven- a band who at that time were at the most active part of their own pop chart career.
This early single did not succeed as hoped and it was a few years before Anita tried again. The late 1960s saw her career at its peak. Besides her important hit "Just Loving You" -acquired through her friend Dusty Springfield from brother Tom- she also made appearances in several British movies and had a very popular presence on UK television. She made a most successful appearance at the San Remo Song Festival in Italy- something that perhaps one associates with more established stars like Petula Clark. In fact, at the time of writing she still shares the same musical arranger as Petula- Kenny Clayton.
Mandrake wrote:This is him - probably explaining very politely to the young lady that she's sitting in his chair!
The young lady is Stephanie Beacham now in 'Bad Girls'.
Alternative title:
Sorry miss, you'll have to move - the Pope will be here any minute.
vic_vdb wrote:I grew up with David Nixon's show being one of the highlights of the family viewing life. His gentle manner and continuous smile kept my mother happy and Anita Harris was enough to make dad turn over to watch it.
This was where I started getting the magic bug and the reason for my first Gamages's magic set (what a great shop - magic - fishing - guns and the Christmas railway layout and the trip to Santa - this little boy's idea of heaven).
I do remember David vanishing Anita in many different ways but the motorcycle vanish doesn't remain in the memory (mind you if you'd missed it then there were no ITV+1) channels so might not have seen that one.
Funnyhow people think Barbara Windsor was the sexy one in Carry on Doctor, but the prize, according to almost every bloke I've spoken to, goes to Anita:
I remember David Nixon vanishing Anita in a large gramaphone which he exploded with Anita inside. I also remember him performing an early version of the Radium Girl with her.
What a nice topic - thank you!,
Vic
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