Late Night Supper, 1958

The final hurrah of the Actresses' Franchise League was in December 1958 at a special Ball held in the Savoy Hotel. 
The programme for the event is fantastic - a treasure trove of information and a tantalising glimpse into what sounds like an amazing evening. The great and the good had their dinner at 8pm but there was a later "Actresses' Supper" served at 11pm, presumably so that actresses in shows could come and join the festivities after their performances had come down. ​

Set on the Strand and close to all the major theatres, the Savoy was a perfect choice and the Actresses' Supper, held in the gorgeous Lincoln and Lancaster rooms at the Savoy, was a lighter menu than the one served earlier in the evening. 
Curious, I looked up the dishes - and thought it would be fun to share the results with you! 

First Course

Le Consomme Madrilene En Tasse
Recipe here - looks delicious

La Galette Au Parmesan
Various recipes here

Second Course

Le Supreme De Volaille Jeanette
Here's how you do it

Le Salade De Legumes
Too many recipes to pick one

Third Course

Les Oeufs A La Neige
Make your own faux snowball dessert 

Les Friandses
A small pastry or sweet eaten with the fingers

Le Cafe

The beautiful Lancaster room at the Savoy. It has a small stage - perfect for after dinner cabaret

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The Actresses' Supper was followed by cabarets, entertainments and dancing until 3am. The theatre community supported the occasion and the programme lists eleven West End theatres and two producers - H.M. Tennant and Moss Empires Ltd - as having contributed gifts, along with some of the most exclusive shops, restaurants and hotels in London. 

There were also lots of fabulous performers who donated their time and talents including Marty Wilde, Dudley Moore and the stage astrologer and clairvoyant Maurice Woodruff - the Actresses' Franchise League could clearly still attract the support of prominent individuals within the entertainment industry fifty years after they first formed as an organisation.

If you're interested in historical hotel and restaurant menus then do have a look at this brilliant site from the New York Public Library, called What's On The Menu. It's a wonderful resource!