Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Zandra Bell fonds
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- Source of title proper: Title based on the provenance of the fonds.
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Fonds
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Physical description area
Physical description
2.21 m of textual material. -- 29 videocassettes (16 hrs., 23 min.).
Publisher's series area
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
<p>Zandra Bell is an Edmonton-based performing artist. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, she moved to Alberta in 1987 and worked as the regional director of the passport office for the federal government. She began performing with the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre in 1988 and pursued acting as a hobby until 1994, when she left the civil service and became a self-employed performer. She developed several characters that she performed in several venues, including the Edmonton Street Performers Festival, the Halifax Buskers' Festival, and the Vancouver Comedy Festival. The most prominent of her characters is Shirley Best, a flamboyant and brash portrayal of a middle-aged woman.</p>;<p>In 1994, Bell created a company, At Wit's End, to manage appearances at corporate events, parties, weddings, etc. These appearances form the bulk of Bell's work and are customized comedy shows that feature her character, Shirley Best, in comedy routines based on extensive research that tailor the show to the needs of the clients.</p>;<p>In her career, Bell has performed one-person shows centred on Shirley Best, appeared in the Edmonton Fringe Festival, written a book entitled I Was a Middle-Aged Dating Machine, and has been featured in programs on CBC, CBC Radio, WTN, CLT, and ACCESS.</p>
Custodial history
The material remained in the possession of Zandra Bell until the time of donation.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of scripts, research notes, correspondence, and posters related to Bell's performance career. There are also videocassettes that contain TV appearances by Bell, promotional clips of her various performances and characters, complete recordings of her one-person shows, and demo reels.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The records were donated by Zandra Bell.
Arrangement
Language of material
- The material is in English.
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions on access. Permission for use required. Subject to the Copyright Act.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
File list is available.
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
General note
Information for biographical sketch was taken directly from the donor and from a biography available on zandrabell.com.<br><br>Record No. PR3551;PR2009.0528<br><br>
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Bell, Zandra (Subject)