Mrs Mills TV Appearance on the Billy Cotton Show Dec 1961

[pianomantrm]

Sounds like she was a real fun lady! Some of these comments bring tears to my eyes! Real entertainment has taken a back seat to everyone for him self, earphones stuck in their ears, tuning out the world and not sharing anything with anyone!

[TheFiddlerforlife]

kicks ass on the old 88

[Lhv19]

when you compare this to modern day society.. well.. you can't, it brings a tear to my eye.

[crankbv1]

And people wonder what's gone wrong with society today. People like Mrs Mills,Russ Conway and Joe,Mr Piano Henderson through their music were the glue that held community spirit together,just as it did during WW2. We were closer then,sharing a common appreciation and togetherness...They helped to maintain that. Sadly it's all gone now...no one sings along anymore.

[3dwurli]

@crankbv1 How true is this!!!! No one cares anymore, its every man/woman for themselfs. Even when we do concerts on the Wurlitzer at the Opera House in Blackpool, there might be 500 in the room, all of them know the tune, they will clap along....but they dont sing along anymore. To busy bothered about what other people think of there singing!

[formby2]

@crankbv1 I'm sad to read that they don't sing along to the Wurlitzer any more, but might that be because these are concerts so the organ fans want to listen rather than sing? Three of my favourite albums are the Dixon/Broadbent/Kelsall singalong albums from the Tower, and I love the two sides that Josef Locke recorded to Reg Dixon's accompaniment along with the public making up the chorus. Such a happy atmosphere. I do nostalgia theatre shows and the audiences love joining in with the songs..

[3dwurli]

@formby2 Some organists do a selection of well known tunes for people to sing along to. Maybe they do just prefer to be quiet now, theres not the same sense of community now though. They still clap along though, which is nice to hear! It really depends on the place and the crowd thats in.

[3dwurli]

@russkinrussable Celebrity?! Theres very few true celebrities now! Most are jumped up nobodys!

[honkytonkpiano]

Thank you for posting this most enjoyable video clip. What a pity that Simon Cowell's shows appear to be devoid of the sort of pianistic talent that Mrs Mills displays here. 

[waldenhouse]

@honkytonkpiano Quite right, the trouble is that the Judges would "buzz" something like this straight away.............! I remember BGT when a girl studying a degree in Music was 'buzzed off' within seconds - real talent hasn't a chance on these 'gimmick' programmes - not marketable talent, unfortunately.

[mackenziecoul]

Classic entertainment, Mrs Mills was a real gem who brought pleasure to millions, sadly modern music does not come anyways close to this standard !

[gordonlawler1]

This is so great to hear Mrs Mills on you tube - i still have a few of her LP's- i'm not from that era- but just enjoy listening to the way she hammers that piano.

[retroboyrandell]

Mrs Mills was brilliant,all the songs i remember as i child,my parents were that bit older than my friends but i had a richer childhood for it!

[reindeergirl28]

Lovely to see but this was not her first apperence on the Billy Cotton show .

[KMNKeybordValt]

She Was The First Jo Ann Castel in Those Days

[TheSwingShift]

Actually, no. This was filmed in 1961 from the description (Dec 1961) and by then, Jo Ann Castle had been a star on the Lawrence Welk Show since 1959. That said, leave that in no way at all detract from Mrs. Mills fine and fun piano playing. We love her!

[ThomasDeLello]

Mrs. Mills.. Your old piano is worth a fortune now... why don't you go back to the Road and claim it...!

[EelingStudios]

Wonderful. I must have watched this first time round with my old Mum who also played the piano and admired Mrs Mills and Russ Conway who both often appeared on Billy Cottons Bandshow. Blimey I'm old....

[IVORIESMAN]

Keep these terrific videos coming, this music must never be allowed to become buried by the drivel that passes for entertainment these days. Real talent will always reign supreme.

[ta455driver]

Fantastic listing

[Altres]

Is this early footage of Jools Holland?

[phil5125]

go girl!

[Wolfington]

Go on Glad!

[gwalkron]

Completely brilliant!.

[kiltedtitus]

i used to listen to her at my nana's all the time, brings back memories of my Nana

[JamesMorganLondon]

Sadly, we don't see entertainers like Mrs. Mills these days but, thanks to YouTube and people like you who are kind enough to upload videos, we are able to relive these moments again. Happy memories! Thank you so much.

[BOOTLEGDAVIDBOWIE]

We don't see the likes of Gladys Mills anymore for two reasons: first of all pianos in peoples houses have been replaced by televisions and secondly the likes of Cowell, Walsh and co won't let them on telly except to mock them.

[JamesMorganLondon]

I agree with you. We've always had a piano since I've been playing since early childhood, but many people are not interested now. Many of today's younger people want to play the 'keyboard' instead of the piano and are unwilling to put in the time which it takes to learn to play well. They expect to be able to do everything instantly. Yes, I think that someone like Mrs. Mills would be laughed off the stage if she were around now and entered 'Britain's Got Talent.'

[knausspiano]

Well said sir!

[HELLO2YOU3]

Well said sir.Imean all you have to do is look at Cowells hair i mean all that money and he still looks a cunt

[craig9843]

@BOOTLEGDAVIDBOWIE yeah mock is all they do.

[powerspade]

@BOOTLEGDAVIDBOWIE I still got my piano and play it every day Cowell Walsh & co can get lost I have my own entertainment and still have a family sing song

[formby2]

Looking at the transmission date of 24th Dec 1961, this ties in to within weeks of her first chart record so this could be her first TV appearance, or at least one of her earliest.

[onepack]

play it again Mills

[GarthHickling]

Incredible.....so long ago, yet it seems like only yesterday....{;o;}

[mikewoollett]

Go Glad!