November 1923 Webster made his professional debut in Yeomen of the Guard with D’Oyly Carte in Brighton. He was known as Leslie W. Booth in those early days. The programme above is dated 4 February to 26 July 1924 at the Princes Theatre, London.
8 September 1925.
3 June 1926. Webster is listed as First Yeoman as Leslie W. Booth. D’oyly is spelt incorrectly in this notice!
He began broadcasting in 1927.
After Webster left D’Oyly Carte, he joined Tom Howells in his Opiero’s Concert Party. Webster is seated back right. Tom Howells is in the middle of the group.
1930 West End Debut at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
1933 Scarborough
1 February 1933- Galashiels Concert with Garda Hall and George Baker.
Webster in The Invader with Buster Keaton (1934)
Irené Eastwood in Holst’s The Wandering Scholar in Liverpool (1934)
1935
5 July 1935. A Kingdom for a Cow with Jacqueline Francell.
1936 The Robber Symphony
December 1935
Webster’s first Good Friday Messiah – 10 April 1936.
Hallé Messiah 17 December 1936
Cinderella in Edinburgh, December 1936 with Will Fyffe.
11 February 1937
February 1938
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden 1938
November 9 1938
Hosiery Workers Concert, The King’s Theatre, Sutton In Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
FEAST OF MUSIC AND SONG
For Sunday’s concert the promoters had been fortunate in securing the services of Mr Webster Booth and Miss Anne Ziegler, two popular radio artistes, and they quickly won their way to the hearts of their audience who displayed in no unmistakable manner their great appreciation of the contributions. Then, too, Mr Jim Wright, of Huthwaite, who has also appeared in broadcast programmes, enhanced his reputation as a bass vocalist, whilst another favourite was Master A. Shelton, a Skegby boy vocalist. The instrumental side of the programme was entrusted to the Teversal Colliery Prize Band, under the able direction of Mr T. Parkes, whose fine playing was a feature of the concert. It was truly a feast of song and music, and like Oliver Twist, the audience were anxious for more, with the result that encores were the order of the evening.
APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE
Miss Ziegler first gave delight with a charming rendering of Edward German’s “Waltz Song,” from ‘Merrie England,’ followed by “Bird of Love Divine,” and “John,” in which her beautiful clear voice charmed everyone. Her other solo contributions were Puccini’s “Musetta’s Song,” (La Boheme) a delightful little light composition “If no one Ever Marries Me,” “Ave Maria,” and a medley of old songs including “Danny Boy,” “Drink To Me Only,” and “Just a Song at Twilight.” The remarkable texture of her voice and her charming personality at once made her very popular with the audience, and it is not exaggerating to say that all would have willingly remained much longer in order to have enjoyed her singing. And the same was equally true of Mr Webster Booth, whose choice of songs was a source of real delight and in each he gave fine and sympathetic interpretations and he generously responded to the inevitable encores. His first group of songs comprised Easthope Martin’s “The Minstrel,” “Morning,” and the serenade “My Eternal Love,” while later he sang “Your Tiny Hand is Frozen,” “Macushla,” “Christopher Robin,” and “Rigoletto. Miss Ziegler and Mr Booth were also associated in duets and rarely, if ever can they have sung to a more appreciative audience, the perfect blend of their numbers being a source of real delight. In the first half of the programme they sang Verdi’s “Miserere” from “Il Trovatore” and “Deep in My Heart” and concluded their appearance with “Bitter Sweet.” “The Keys of Heaven,” and “Paradise For Two.”