Jack Buchanan was truly, a generational superstar. He graced many an international stage with some of the finest names in film and theatre, making it all the more exciting that he once graced the grounds of The Glasgow Academy.
So who was this illustrious star of stage and screen?
Walter J. Buchanan as was his birth name, grew up in Helensburgh. The son of an auctioneer, and a joker of the pack, it was clear from a young age that Jack was destined for stardom. Perhaps there was even something in the water in Helensburgh? For just along the road lived Jack’s childhood friend, one John Logie Baird.
Jack’s road to success was far from plain-sailing. Born into a modest home, his teenage years in particular were a far cry from the bright lights of the stages he would become so accustomed to. When Jack’s Father Walter passed away, the Buchanan family moved to Glasgow, plagued by financial hardship. The responsibility of being the ‘man of the house’ weighed heavy on Jack’s young shoulders, nonetheless, he focused on his education and began attending The Glasgow Academy in the early 1900s.
Jack studied at the school for three academic terms between September 1902 and June 1906, with an unfortunate early departure prompted by the prolonged financial difficulties faced by the Buchanan family at the time. Jack would leave school at the end of fourth year to support his Mother and began working at the auctioneers where Walter Snr had worked years before. His saving grace, however, was joining the Glasgow Amateur Operatic Society, where he would quietly pursue his love of performing outside of working hours.
Ultimately, life as an auctioneer would prove unsuccessful for young Jack, but it mattered not. In 1911 he made his first appearance on the professional stage at the Panopticon in Glasgow. A subsequent move to London – via a short-lived spell in Edinburgh – would catapult Buchanan into international stardom.
In the years that followed. Jack would travel regularly between London and New York, where he enjoyed significant success on Broadway. Travelling by boat, he would often use his journey time to write plays with fellow entertainers and writers, one of them being the great Noel Coward.
Handsome and debonair to his core, at one time Buchanan was even rumoured to be the highest paid entertainer in the world. For years, his standing in theatre continued to grow, as would his film career. In fact, he even achieved the unusual feat of starring in the London stage musical ‘This’ll Make You Whistle’ whilst concurrently filming a big screen version as well. The film was released whilst the stage show was still running, and for a time, the two productions found themselves in the unusual state of competing with one another.
Jack’s time on the big screen consisted of stellar contributions to films such as Monte Carlo, Brewster’s Millions and Goodnight Vienna. His most notable performance, however, was in 1953’s The Band Wagon – starring opposite Fred Astaire. Although ten years older than his counterpart at the time – and suffering with spinal arthritis – Buchanan more than held his own as the pair danced side-by-side. The Band Wagon would go on to become one of MGM’s most acclaimed musical films and was undoubtedly the pinnacle of Buchanan’s career. Sadly, Jack would pass away just four years after his greatest performance.
“I tell you, if it moves you, if it stimulates you, if it entertains you, it’s theatre. When the right combination gets together and it spells theatre, well I got to be right in there up to my armpits.”
Jack Buchanan portraying Jeffrey Cordova, The Band Wagon, 1953.
Before his death, Buchanan had even befriended Sir Lawrence Olivier by teaching him how to tap dance. Olivier had often commented on just how easy both Buchanan and Fred Astaire had made it look, whilst humorously confirming that it definitely wasn’t.
Not only a tremendous performer, Jack was also considered to be of fine, upstanding character. He had been devastated when ill-health prevented him from joining the war effort in 1917 and was widely recognised for his generosity towards less fortunate actors and performers. Composer, Sandy Wilson, once recalled that each year during the running of the Grand National, Buchanan would cancel that day’s performance and would charter a train to the racecourse, supplying meals for the entire cast and crew whilst also giving them £5 each for a ‘flutter’ on the horse of their choice.
Needless to say we are extremely proud to call the great entertainer – Jack Buchanan – a former pupil of The Glasgow Academy.