| Theatres |
| noel | I was talking to a pal of mine today about the theatres that used to exist in Preston. The subject got a bit fuzzy and we talked about Theatre St. and where was the theatre now. My pal remembered going to a theatre where C&A later opened on Friargate, to see, wait for it, G.H. Elliott who was described as "The Chocolate Coloured Coon".
This made us laugh obviously but then we did a web search and identified he died in 1964, 7 years after he appeared in Preston. I wonder if any of you remember this guy , the theatre, any others that used to exist and "coon singing" which I think involved blacking up. You'd never get away with it now in this PC world. |
| William R | Noel, I can remember one, but where I don`t know for sure. There used to be the Public Hall at the end of Lune St. Wasn`t the Theatre Royal opposite the Parish Church once a Theatre? Cheers,Bill. |
| noel | quote:
Originally posted by William R
Noel, I can remember one, but where I don`t know for sure. There used to be the Public Hall at the end of Lune St. Wasn`t the Theatre Royal opposite the Parish Church once a Theatre? Cheers,Bill.
Done some more research William, it was called The Royal Hippodrome.
Here's a quote from a Leonard Rossiter site.
"Leonard Remembers:
"It was 1954 that I did my very first job in Preston, at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre, which hs long since disappeared - I think it's C & A's now. I came here for a fortnight from Liverpool, which is my home town." "I left the job with the insurance company when I got the job for a fortnight here [Preston]. At the end of the fortnight, the manger Reggie Salberg said I could stay on if I wanted as Assistant Stage Manager, which I did. I was here for about five months - and then the theatre closed!"
"
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| noel | [img]http://www.pf757.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/lr/LR-GayDogPlaybill.jpg[/img] |
| Lady Griffin | Mr Bull used to take a group of us regularly from Balshaws to the Royal Hippodrome for matinee performances and although I always thought VU Oldland was quite puritanical in many ways ,he did allow us to go, even to a performance of Streetcar Named Desire.Maybe he didn't check the content-it was quite racy in those days.
There were some fabulous productions -a real mixture from Charlie's Aunt to Lady Windermere's Fan.
I seem to remember seeing Gracie on stage there at one time.
One thing I always remember about the cinemas was the ritual of the queue.
You could move from cinema to cinema trying to get in and waiting for ever only to be turned away.
One cinema was just round the corner from the bus station in Church St -a very old one.I forget the names now.If there was a real demand they would reluctantly allow people into the GODS as a special concession.It was probably very unsafe up there and certainly was a dizzying experience.
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| noel | You must have caught the Hippodrome as it was close to closure Lady G. I'm getting frustrated now having missed all these theatres that seemed to close just as I was growing up. Now all we have is the over-used and over-rated box in the corner.
We only have the Charter Theatre now for productions. Rather sad. |
| Lady Griffin | I just found these handwritten notes among my souvenirs( another old song) about cinemas and theatres in the Preston region and I think I got them originally from the Yesterdays supplements sent to me at some stage years ago.Can't read my lousy handwriting very well so apologies for errors.
The first cinema to open in Preston was in the old Temperance Hall.-early 1900's.
Then the Alexander Picture House Walker St,Picture Palace Brook St,
Imperial near Prison,Beckett's Electric Theatre Cragg's Row.According to my copied notes most of the theatres were converted from small halls and chapels.Then in the 20,s The Empire,Princes and Theatre Royal changed over from live entertainment.
Then followed the Palladium,New Vic,Empress ,Carlton, Ritz-between 25-37.
There were about 18 during the war and in the 50's evidently in the area including the Rialto,Star,Plaza,Picturedrome etc.Some of these were close but not in the immediate centre-
The Hippodrome and the Kings Palace continued with stage shows and there was a lot of talent especially from the Hippodrome.I remember Frederick Jaegar playing in one of the Restoration comedies as a young actor and until fairly recently saw him quite often in TV roles.I loved the live theatre.
Sorry you were born too late Noel.It was a magic time especially during the War and after when things were so grim to be able to escape for a while.I remember the Eyes and Ears of the World news flashes and the pictures of all the things we couldn't have like bananas,real cream cakes and big roast dinners.We used to laugh but about it but it wouldn't go down well now I'm sure.
Bamber Bridge Pictures a real treat-especially the Saturday matinee with Flash Gordon and plenty of Westerns that we could roar at.
Cheers everyone. |
| noel | http://www.green.glowinternet.com/page9.html
The above link gives a chronological listings of local openings and closings of the area's theatres and cinemas.
I will study some more , but baby sitting at the mo my 8 months old grandson
It'll have to wait I'm afraid. It's great that you kept such memoires for so long LG. |
| William R | A bit of nostalgia here with all this talk of old cinemas, the Pavillion Cinema in Chorley had a number of double seats for couples who wanted to be together without the armrest between them. It was entirely up to the lady with the torch whether you were directed to one. Were there any more of this type of seating, I led a very sheltered sort of life you see?? Oh, and why were the double seats always in the darkest part of the cinema? Regards, Bill. |
| Lady Griffin | I realise you had a sheltered life, William but I have to tell you that many of the older cinemas had those double seats, so courting couples could come in out of the cold .It must have been extremely chilly on the canal bank-explains why the picture theatres were booming in those days.
Only know this from hearsay you understand.
Great web site for the history of the cinemas.Thanks Noel. Am trying not to be a junkaholic so a lot of stuff has been biffed but it's a case of How Come! You keep bits and pieces for decades and the minute you throw them out somebody wants them.
I have a stack of 72 and 92 Guild supplements and have carried them out to the rubbish bin several times only to give them a reprieve at the last minute.
LG |
| David | quote:
Originally posted by William R
A bit of nostalgia here with all this talk of old cinemas, the Pavillion Cinema in Chorley had a number of double seats for couples who wanted to be together without the armrest between them. It was entirely up to the lady with the torch whether you were directed to one. Were there any more of this type of seating, I led a very sheltered sort of life you see?? Oh, and why were the double seats always in the darkest part of the cinema? Regards, Bill.
Yes there was at least one more cinema that had the 'love seats'. I used to frequent the Queens in Preston back in the 1950's and they had a few along the back row.[8D]
The Theatre Royal, later to become the ABC was situated on Fishergate at the corner of Theatre Street, about where Sainsbury's is now located.
David Hughlock
Los Angeles |