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Description

Madge Allsop - the fictional character created as the 'straight-woman' to Barry Humphries' outrageous female impersonation act Dame Edna Everage - was embodied by English Actress Patricia 'Emily' Perry.

In 1994 while on tour with Humphries, Perry accepted an offer to return to her fictional hometown. A staple of the television celebrity talk show in the 1980s and 1990s, Viewers of the Dame Edna Everage show (and its variants) all knew about her 'sad, po-faced bridesmaid, Madge from Palmerston North'.

Emily remained in character for her seven-hour visit, where a 'Madge' company bus acted as her chauffer between the children’s ward at the hospital and a public reception outside Downtown in Broadway. The Rescue Helicopter then took her out to Linton Military Camp where she christened and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) bound for Bosnia with the name ‘Madge’. Finally, a visit to the residence of Brightwater Home was capped off with Emily pressing her hands into a square of concrete which was to go on display in Broadway.

Emily Perry retired as 'Madge' in 2003, and died in England in 2008 aged 100.

Identification

Object type
Image
Archive
Manawatu Evening Standard Negative Collection
Date
June 20, 1994
Digitisation ID
2024N_2017-20_042897_005
Format
Colour negative

Related items

Madge Allsop granted the (21st) key to Palmerston North
Madge Allsop granted the (21st) key to Palmerston North
Madge Allsop greeted by Mayor Paul Rieger
Madge Allsop escorted by Mayor Rieger
Madge Allsop Visits Palmerston North - Part 1
Madge Allsop Visits Palmerston North - Part 2
Madge Allsop 'dogged by Paparazzi'
Madge Allsop Arrives in Palmerston North
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Taxonomy

Tags
broadway,
emily perry,
fictional characters: promotional activities,
madge allsop,
mayor rieger,
mayoral garments,
Community Tags

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Related items

Madge Allsop granted the (21st) key to Palmerston North
Madge Allsop granted the (21st) key to Palmerston North
Madge Allsop greeted by Mayor Paul Rieger
Madge Allsop escorted by Mayor Rieger
Madge Allsop Visits Palmerston North - Part 1
Madge Allsop Visits Palmerston North - Part 2
Madge Allsop 'dogged by Paparazzi'
Madge Allsop Arrives in Palmerston North
Red Carpet for Madge Allsop
Madge visits the children's ward
Madge Allsop unwraps her 'Cardy-ological' gift
Madge Allsop awarded Honorary Doctorate in 'Cardy-ology'