Raised in Plaistow, in Londons East End, young Doug's school life virtually finished in September 1939 at the out break of World War II. Evacuated to North Curry in Somerset he attended a Girls school in that village and learned to knit!
At 14 worked for Associated Press in Fleet Street as a messenger/office boy and darkroom assistant.
Left AP to work for Wykehams a high street photographer in Balham SW London, where, owing to the older men being called up he became Darkroom Manager at 15 years of age. After a year there Doug realised that at 18 he would soon be conscripted into one of the services for the duration of the war. He also took an evening & Saturday job working a "Lime" (spotlight) on "Peter Pan" at the Adelphi Theatre in the Strand London.

With the threat of conscription hanging over him, Doug decided to get out of the darkroom and toured with the show "Peter Pan" in which Alistair Sim played Captain Hook/Mr Darling. He enjoyed it so much he stayed with show business, working on shows such as "Black Vanities" (Jewel & Warris), "Monsieur Beuicaire" (Derek Oldham), "Fifth Column" (Roger Liversey), "Peter Pan" (second year with Alistair Sim) and finally as Stage Manager with "Panama Hattie" (Bebe Daniels, Richard Hearne & Max wall)

The dreaded call-up papers arrived in November 1944 whilst Doug was in Glasgow with the show "Panama Hattie". The young Mckenzie was converted to a trained soldier in just six weeks with the General Service Corps. Served as a Gunner with the Royal artillery for three & a quarter years, in the UK, India, Egypt & Greece.

After demob he had to make a choice between show business or photography and chose photography, but within months managed to combine the two by becoming a show business photographer.
Doug McKenzie has had no regrets because during his long career he has met and photographed the greats of show business from the "Crazy Gang" through to the present day giants.

A few samples of  his work over the years are featured on this site, including the most important photograph he has ever taken. It was shot on a 35mm Agfa Karat camera on the 1st June 1947, it shows Doug's wife to be, Kay, at the actual moment they met. Doug & Kay married in September the following year and are still blissfully happy together.

Doug is proud to be a Barker of the "Variety Club" receiving their Presidential Citation in 1997. In 1999 during Gorden Kaye's reign as King Rat he was honoured to become a member of the historic show business charity "The Grand Order of Water Rats",
PKR Gorden Kaye refers to him as being a "Paperat"!

The other love after his family is cricket and is the proud president of a thriving club, "Deando Ruxley CC"

These days Doug McKenzie's work is mostly involved with many National and International Charities.
Unfortunately he is not a charity himself but a professional photographer so has to charge for his services, but will try to give the best possible rates for his work.
He is pleased to undertake private commissions such as weddings etc. When you need a professional photographer do contact Doug McKenzie, he likes to keep his diary as full as possible as he still has the photographic bug and loves to take photographs.

The 8th Royal Gala Show in aid of
The Prince Philip Trust Fund and the Grand Order of Water Rats

Theatre Royal Windsor Sunday July 11th 2004 The 8th Royal Gala Show in aid of The Prince Philip Trust Fund and the Grand Order of Water Rats

Copyright © 2003  Doug McKenzie.   All RightsReserved.

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