Entertainment Special

The Royalty Theatre opened in 1882 in CityRoad – on the site of an earlier makeshiftwooden structure known as The Prince of WalesTheatre which had been used for a variety ofentertainments including the circus, MonsieurDace’s Waxworks and Madame Beatrice’s FrouFrou Company.This was taken down and the new theatreerected in its place. The Chronicle wasentranced by this new addition to the city: “..it isa perfect bijou theatre (one of the prettiest in theprovinces I should say) capable of housing2,000 persons..the galleries curve round theinterior in the most beautiful lines and their frontsare bowed forward in swans neck curves andare covered in rich tracery of buff and gold.” Twostatues graced the side walls above the boxes –representing music and drama - and the curtainwas of crimson velvet. Entrance from City Roadwas by five double doors – the two centre onesopened into the dress circle and box vestibulewhich was a lofty and spacious room on thefurther side of which was a handsomebalustrade staircase. This led up to an elegantreception area with a refreshment room andcloaks.

The edges of the boxes were cushioned withvelvet and could hold six people. The gallery –known as “the Gods” and normally priced atonly 6d –also had its own refreshment bar. Yetanother bar was conveniently located forpatrons of the 30ft wide pit where tickets wereoffered at 1s.

The first production was thepantomime Aladdin which openedon Boxing Day 1882. It was writtenby the stage manager JohnBannister who also played the partof Abanazer although most of theprincipal actors were engaged fromLondon theatres. The Chronicleenthused over the “ witty and sparkling libretto”and warned readers that very few seats wereavailable for the early bookings . The original owners were Walker, Charlton andCarter but in later years James Carter becamethe sole proprietor. It was during his tenure in1898 that films were first shown in the theatre –“the greatest living pictures ever seen” andbilled as “the most expensive and unequalledengagement of the Cinematograph – worked bythe Electric Light!” He sold out in 1905 to theimpresario Milton Bode. Many music hall greatsappeared on the large stage including MarieLloyd, Sir Harry Lauder and Sandy Powell. Thecelebrated actor Sir Henry Irvine also performedthere.

In 1915 the Royalty was the scene of a tragicaccident on stage. A Japanese acrobatic group,the Mikado Family, were performing their actwhen Ishiao Ishimura, aged just 23, failed tocomplete a somersault and landed badly on theback of his neck. He died the following day inthe Infirmary and was buried in OverleighCemetery.In 1932 Bode sold the Royalty to Chesterbusinessman Edmund Keyes. In 1957 DennisCritchley, “Chester’s Mr Showbiz”, joined as

General Manager and was responsible forproducing and directing the shows, plays andpantomimes. During those years many popularstars appeared at the theatre including KenDodd, Jimmy Young, Harry Worth and FrankieVaughan. Pop stars such as 14 year old HelenShapiro, Freddie and the Dreamers, TonyChristie, the Rolling Stones and Gerry and thePacemakers were also engaged. The Beatlesappeared in 1963. They performed sevensongs: Some Other Guy, Thank You Girl, Do YouWant To Know A Secret, Please Please Me, YouReally Got A Hold On Me, I Saw Her StandingThere and From Me To You.The Royalty was extensively altered andrenovated in 1957 when the ornate balconieswere replaced by cantilever designs and pillarsand boxes were removed. Despite thismodernisation, audiences dwindled and thedecision to close it in 1966 was taken. Ironicallythe last pantomime to show there was Aladdin,this time starring the popular musical duo, Mikiand Grif.It was subsequently used as a cabaret club,bingo hall, wrestling arena, and skateboard hallbefore becoming a nightclub. In 2001 however itwas announced that the whole building was tobe demolished and the much loved Royalty wasno more.

SPRING 2017

A Perfect Bijou Theatre

2

History and Heritage

EditorialWelcome to our Spring 2017 edition of our newsletter –with the opening of the new Storyhouse not far off andour current displays of All The World’s a Stage we havedecided to dedicate this edition to entertainment! Wehope you enjoy it and if you have any tales to tell of thecinemas, theatres and performances of the past wewould love to hear about them

Chester History & Heritage, St Michael’s Church,Bridge St Chester CH1 1NW

Tel: 01244 972210

email: chh@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

The Family History Society of Cheshire, Chester Branch aremoving. For many years they have held there meetings atthe Count Sports Club but from January 2017 they will meetin the Church Centre, All Saints Church in Hoole. All SaintsChurch is located on Hoole Road and the centre is behindthe church with access from Vicarage Road. The meetingswill be on the last Thursday of the month from 7.30 -9.30pm. Doors open at 7pm. There will be a speaker eachmonth and admission is £1.50 for members and £2 forvisitors; this includes tea/coffee and biscuits. All arewelcome.

News!!!

The Hammond School – by Caroline HamiltonOn the 13th of June 1917 a fundraising concert tookplace at Chester Town Hall in aid of Hoole Bank RedCross Hospital. The concert featured the popular local‘Whizz Bang Pierrot Troupe’ with new danceschoreographed by Miss Irene Hammond.

100 years later The Hammond School is now housed inHoole Bank House.

In 1917 Miss Irene Hammond,a dance teacher and performerfrom Cheltenham, moved toChester where she beganteaching dance for Mrs AmyBroom, née Webster, who wasknown for her classes at theGrosvenor Ballroom. TheWebster school was alreadyan established enterprise inChester having been run byMrs Broom’s father Edgarsince 1833, although theschool actually dates back a decade earlier to the arrivalof dancing master Louis Doré from London in 1823. By1919 "Ham" had officially taken over the school and theMiss Irene Hammond School was born. Over the lastcentury, ‘The Hammond’ has grown and developed,changing and adapting with the times. In the 1950s and'60s the school expanded into first one and then threehouses in Liverpool Rd under the direction of BettyHassall. Today, some 60 years later, the school is rankedas one of the top performing arts schools in the country.

Hoole Bank House has been home to The HammondSchool, first as the Education Department and eventuallyserving the whole school, since 1969. The current house,built in the early 1860s, was a modern and fashionablehome at the centre of a large estate until the outbreak ofWorld War One. The last family to live in the house was

George and Eva Hayes, their two young sons and a smallarmy of servants. At the outbreak of war the Hayesoffered the house to the Red Cross, and from 1914 –1919 Hoole Bank was run as a convalescent hospital,treating over 1000 soldiers. The house was thenbequeathed in 1921 to the National Institute of the Blind,and ran as guest house for the blind until the mid-1930s.American soldiers were stationed in the house andgrounds during the World War II, and for ten years it wasa Youth Hostel. By the early 1960s the house, now half itsoriginal size, was home to Hoole Bank House School.

Across 2017, The Hammond School will celebrate the100 years since Miss Irene Hammond first came toChester. The Hammond will be hosting a range ofperformances, workshops, talks and tours, culminating ina Centenary Gala in July 2017.

We will be gathering stories and memories about TheHammond School,Miss IreneHammond andHoole Bank House.We would love tohear from anyonewho went to theschool or hasmemories of thehouse.

For what’s on and glimpses into the unfolding researchplease see our website and social media pages.http://www.thehammondschool.co.uk/

https://thehammondschoolcentenary.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thehammondschoolcentenary/

You can also contact me at:caroline.hamilton@thehammondschool.co.uk

Past exhibitions

3

History and Heritage

Spotlight on the Garden Quarter to 16 December

Sugar Spam and a Sherbet Dip to 16 DecemberWe all remember thelocal corner shop wherewe were sent for many amessage with ourpennies clutched tighttogether with a hastilyscribbled note to theshopkeeper. Theseestablishments were amainstay of ourcommunity and most ofour daily needs couldbe bought there. Thisdisplay looked at avariety of these shopsand brought back manywonderful memories –especially of thosewonderful penny trays!

Our latest “Spotlighton” mini exhibitionwas on the GardenQuarter, which isthe vibrantcommunitysurroundingGarden Lane andOld Port Square. Ithas proved to bevery popular withcustomers.It became thestarting point for a“Then & Now”exhibition by DougStewart which weare looking forwardto later next year.

4

History and Heritage

Current exhibitions

2017 sees the opening of Chester’s brilliant cultural resource – Storyhouse.To celebrate this our current displays look back at the performances of the past– The Royalty Theatre, the cinemas, the Gateway Theatre, the HistoricalPageants, the fantastic Mystery Plays and much loved amateur dramatics.Come along and take a look at our photographic extravaganza!

We are currently working on two fabulous new displays for the period July to December 2017. Tocommemorate the 200th anniversary of landscape architect Edward Kemp’s birth in 1817 we shall be lookingat his work on Grosvenor Park and a second exhibition is a “then and now” photographic record aroundChester using images from our historical collection alongside current photographs of the same view by DougStewart. Full details will be in our next newsletter.

All the World’s a Stage to 30 June

Future exhibitions

Oh What a Night!The grand opening of the newOdeon Cinema in October 1936was a glittering affair. Film starDouglas Fairbanks attended,along with founder Mr OscarDeutsch, the Jack Payne Bandand the Mayor of Chester.Thousands of people watchedoutside as they arrived – for manymonths they had seen theconstruction grow behind tallhoardings from a shell of ironframework into a palace ofentertainment with gleamingsigns and impressive glassdoorways.

Now here at last was the grandunveiling and to theaccompaniment of the kiltedband of the CameronHighlanders the great and thegood arrived in their finery whilstcommissionaires in smart greenand gold uniforms attended totheir limousines and taxis.Onlookers surged forwardclutching autograph books andpencils, hoping that the ladies intheir flowing gowns and thegentlemen so smartly attired inwhite tie and tails would stop fora moment. It was certainly amagnificent piece of organisationby cinema manager Harry Yorkewho had worked so hard for thissplendid event.

Inside were luxurious carpets,baskets of flowers and sweepingstaircases. Designed by MrsOscar Deutsch the interior décorwas striking: the light and darkrose shades of the carpet tonedwith heavy velour curtains andgreen illuminated panels stoodout, bathed in the soft lights.Leading from the foyer werelounges furnished with pale bluedivans and decorated withpictures of Odeon Cinemas fromdifferent parts of the country. In aglass case was displayed thecollection of Roman remainsincluding pots, jugs and jewellerywhich were found on the siteduring the building work. TheMayor and other officials stoodon stage and formally opened thecinema with the Mayorproclaiming “We are in Chesteralways glad to welcome bigthings and this is a big thing”.After the speeches it was time forJack Payne and his band toentertain the audience and tothunderous applause theyproceeded to play many of theirfavourites, including “Tiger Rag”and “Celebratin’”. After his setJack was presented with a hugefloral horseshoe bearing thewords “Jack’s the Boy for theOdeon”.

Then came the star of the show –Douglas Fairbanks Junior.

He told his avid audience that hehad been unprepared for thewaiting crowds outside, “I waswonderfully excited. I know I am terribly late but studiocommitments did not permit meto leave earlier and in addition mycar broke down” Twenty minutesafter his appearance the film starwas on his way back to London.

The film show that followedincluded Universal Sound News,a coloured Silly Symphony shortcartoon and “Two’s Company”starring comedians GordonHarker and Ned Sparks. Duringthe interval uniformed nursesfrom the Royal Infirmary made acollection on behalf of thehospital, the proceeds of whichwere over £32. After the showended guests were entertained ata reception in the auditorium withdancing taking place on thestage until well after midnight.

There was still a crowd of peoplewaiting patiently outside at 1am,watching the departure of the lastcars and taxis and doubtlesslooking forward to their turn in thecoming days to enjoy the silverscreen at Chester’s latestcinema, the Odeon.

5

History and Heritage

6

History and Heritage

There’s no Business Like Show Business . . .

February 28 1959The Royalty: March2- 6.30 & 8.40pm;The sensational starpersonality of TV’s“Oh Boy” CuddlyDudley. Coma androck with Cuddly,Britain’s newest starsHoward Jones andReggie Arnold plusfull supporting staracts.

March 7 1959The Chester Y.M.C.A. Dramatic Society presents TRAVELLERS’JOY; A comedy by Arthur Macrae in the lecture hall, Y.M.C.A onWednesday, Thursday, Friday, March 11th, 12th & 13th at 7.30pm.Admission 2/6.Tickets obtainable at Y.M.C.A.

April 11 1959Chester Opera Group: “The Jacobin”(Opera in three Acts byDvorak); Saltney Secondary Modern school, on Wednesday &Thursday, 29th & 30th April at 7,15pm. Tickets 3/6, 5/ & 7/6obtainable from Hilda Catherall, 3 St. Werburgh Street. Cast of over60 and full orchestra

May 2 1959

Dvorak opera “The Jacobin” brilliantly performed. The ChesterOpera Group staged the opera “The Jacobin” and by so doing areundeniably making history, “The Jacobin” having been producedonly once in the country previously. It is difficult to understand whythis work is so neglected. Perhaps the action is rather drawn out,and could do with a little “pruning” here and there. Even so, thepresentation of it on Wednesday night was most excellent. Theopera Group are to be warmly congratulated for giving us theopportunity of seeing and hearing “The Jacobin”.

Civic Theatre for Chester soon? A Civic Theatre for Chester hasbeen the goal of many people for several years and at last there aresigns that a live centre for the Arts will be established. Lt –Col. H.A.Howell told the audience at the Cheshire Community Council PlayWriting Festival in Upton Village Hall on Saturday that the CitySurveyor had seen premises in the city which would be suitable foradaptation. However he would not say where the premises were forthe proposed theatre as the arrangements were not yet certain.

June 13 1959

Play of the Year Festival revived; Chester Theatre Club’s productionof “Teahouse of the August Moon” won the highest award in theCounty Play of the Year Festival organised by the CheshireCommunity Council & sponsored by the Chester Chronicle.

April 23 1960

Royalty Theatre April 25 & week. Once nightly 7.15pm. Mat. 2.30pmWednesday, & 5.15pm Saturday. Direct from Wyndhams & CriterionTheatres “A West End smash hit success” Shelagh Delaney’s Ataste of Honey; The play that set the country talking! The Timessaid “ Miss Delaney has had an exhilarating success. An adult playfor adult minds not suitable for children.

With the new Storyhouse about to open, it is time to take a nostalgic look back through the newspapersto what used to entertain Cestrians at the theatre half a century ago.

These newspaper extracts are taken from the Chronicle which used to be published on Saturdays.

7

History and Heritage

Hamilton Street Methodist Church The Hamilton Players present“The House by the Lake” by Hugh Mills on April 28 & 29 1960 at7.45pm, in the schoolroom.

Tickets 3/6 & 2/6 & 2.

May 28 1960At Royalty may 30 & week 6.30pm & 8.40pm. Haymarketproductions present A Summer festival of plays – Agatha Christie’slatest and greatest play Verdict.

June 11 1960At Royalty Monday June 13 and week 6.30pm & 8.45pm.The play the Lord Chamberlain banned – Tea & Sympathy.Owing to the daring theme of this play patrons pleasenote- suitable for Adults only.

February 3 1962The Y.M.C.A. Dramatic Society presents “Intent to Murder” byLeslie Sands on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 7th, 8th, & 9thFebruary at 7.30pm in the Y.M.C.A. Lecture Hall. Tickets 3/ & 2/6.

Chester Amateur Operatic Society call attention to the productionof “Carousel,” which will be presented during the week February19th- 24th 1962 at the Royalty Theatre at 7.15pm.

June 11 1960At Royalty Monday June 13 and week 6.30pm & 8.45pm. The playthe Lord Chamberlain banned – Tea & Sympathy. Owing to thedaring theme of this play patrons please note- suitable for Adultsonly.

February 3 1962Chester Mystery Plays; Producer Christopher Ede. The Promise –Matinees; 3pm 27th, 30th June 4th, 7th July 1962. Evenings; 8pm28th June 2nd 5th July. The Redemption - Evenings 27th, 29th,30th June. Prices 10/-, 7/6, 5/-, 3/6. Further information from TownHall, Chester.

February 10 1962Chester Mystery Plays; Producer Christopher Ede. The Promise –Matinees; 3pm 27th, 30th June 4th, 7th July 1962. Evenings; 8pm28th June 2nd 5th July. The Redemption - Evenings 27th, 29th,30th June. Prices 10/-, 7/6, 5/-, 3/6. Further information from TownHall, Chester.

Friday March 11 1966

Two specially projected “Scenes” depicting Duke Orsino’s palace,and Olivia’s estate form the background to the King’s School’sproduction of “Twelfth Night” which opened on Wednesday andhas its final performance tomorrow (Saturday). Included in the castare pupils from the fourth year classes and upwards. Female rolesare being played by pupils of the City High School for Girls. TwelfthNight is one of the “O Level” texts and the school’s DramaticSociety are hoping for a fair measure of support from examinationcandidates welcoming the chance to see the play in a liveperformance.

May 61966ChesterTheatreClub’s 21stanniversarycelebrations,The LittleTheatre,GloucesterStreet. “TheRelapse” bySir JohnVanbrugh. Friday & Saturday; 6th & 7th May, 7.30pm. Tuesday toSaturday; 10th -14th May 7.30pm. Tickets 5/- from Hilda Catherall,St. Werburgh’s Street

Events diary - SPRING 2017

FEBRUARY1 Backford Mollington & District

Local History Society, Village Hall7.30pm. David Rowe, “NotableWelsh Houses”

6 Frodsham & District HistorySociety, Main Street CommunityChurch 7.45pm. ElizabethWilliams, “The Life and Workof Elizabeth Gaskell”

8 Malpas Field Club, Malpas HighStreet Church 7.45pm. JohnDakin, “Hadrian’s Wall: ItsHistory and a Walk Along It”

14 Weaverham History Society,University Primary Academy7.30pm. Michael Crumplin,“Losing Sight of the Glory – 600Years of Combat MedicineCovering Azincourt to Helmand”

15 Pulford & Poulton Local HistoryGroup, Pulford Village Hall7.30pm. Dr David Ewins,“Porphyria”

23 Chester Family History Society,All Saints Church Hall VicarageRoad Hoole 7.30pm. MegParkes “Tins, Tubes andTenacity, Inventive Medicineand Survival in Far EastCaptivity 1942-1945”

25 Chester Society for LandscapeHistory St Columba’s Parish HallChester 2pm. Anthony Annakin-Smith, “Reading the WirralLandscape”

MARCH

1 Backford Mollington & DistrictLocal History Society, Village Hall7.30pm. Doug Haynes, “CheshireFamilies”

6 Frodsham & District HistorySociety, Main Street CommunityChurch 7.45pm. Professor IanMorison, “The Story of JodrellBank”. AGM

8 Malpas Field Club, Malpas HighStreet Church 7.45pm. ChrisSmith, “Whitchurch as the Centreof the Cheshire Cheese Industry”

14 Weaverham History Society,University Primary Academy7.30pm. Dr Simon La Frenais,“Charles Darwin”

15 Pulford & Poulton Local HistoryGroup, Pulford Village Hall7.30pm. Colin Green, “Dredgingthe Manchester Ship Canal”

15 Chester History and Heritagefilmshow “West Side Story”1.30pm-4pm. Free but bookingessential 01244 972210

27 Chester Society for LandscapeHistory Grosvenor Museum7.30pm. Keith Lilley, “MappingMarcher Landscapes”

29 Chester History and Heritagefilmshow “The King and I”1.30pm-4pm. Free but bookingessential 01244 972210

30 Chester Family History Society,All Saints Church Hall VicarageRoad Hoole 7.30pm.Denise Bates. “Breach ofPromise to Marry”

APRIL

3 Frodsham & District HistorySociety, Main Street CommunityChurch 7.45pm. Chris Pendlebury,“A Runcorn Man with anExtraordinary Past”

5 Chester History and Heritagefilmshow “West Side Story”1.30pm-4pm. Free but bookingessential 01244 972210.

5 Backford Mollington & DistrictLocal History Society, Village Hall7.30pm. Edward Hilditch, “TheHistory of Burton”

11 Weaverham History Society,University Primary Academy7.30pm Elizabeth Royles,“Cheshire Before the Romans”

12 Malpas Field Club, Malpas HighStreet Church 7.45pm. Tony Ord,“The Natural History of BickertonHill”

19 Pulford & Poulton Local HistoryGroup, Pulford Village Hall7.30pm. Jill Burton, “The Servantsof Erddig”

26 Chester History and Heritagefilmshow “The King and I”1.30pm-4pm. Free but bookingessential 01244 972210

MAY

3 Backford Mollington & DistrictLocal History Society, Village Hall7.30pm. AGM.

8 Frodsham & District HistorySociety, Main Street CommunityChurch 7.45pm. Elizabeth Davey,“Edward Kemp LandscapeDesigner”

9 Weaverham History Society,University Primary Academy7.30pm Pauline Lloyd, “Kill orCure”

10 Malpas Field Club, Malpas HighStreet Church 7.30pm. Chris Kay,“The History and Developmentof The National WaterwaysMuseum at Ellesmere Port”AGM.

11 Chester History & Heritage guidedwalk with John Whittingham,“Down by the Riverside”. Meetat the Bear and Billet 7pm. £3,booking essential 01244 972210

17 Pulford & Poulton Local HistoryGroup, Pulford Village Hall7.30pm. AGM followed bymembers’ mini talks.

Lache & Westminster Park Local History Group hold various events and activities – please contact Linda Shuttleworth, shuttleworths@talktalk.net for further details.