The Beginnings
The Prince’s Theatre, Park Row,
Bristol began life as the Theatre Royal. In 1866 John Henry Chute bought the
site on the South side of Park row-formerly an old mansion known as “The
Engineers House”. The estimated cost of his completed theatre was between
£12,000 and £18,000, and it opened its doors on October 14th,
1867. with a production of “The Tempest”.
Chute was married to Emily Mazzarine
Macready, the half sister of the famous tragedian, and their sons James
Macready Chute and George Macready Chute were later to inherit the running
of the building along with their mother.
When the “Royal” opened it boasted a
stage 107’ across, and a seating capacity of 2,100- at one time extended to
2,800 seats. Chute lavished every new invention and luxury on his building,
and within a year was staving off bankruptcy.
From the beginnings the biggest
financial success for the theatre was the annual pantomime- beginning with
“Aladdin” in 1867 and continuing virtually unbroken through until 1940- a
total of 72 productions over as many years, making the Prince’s Theatre
Pantomime one of the premier pantomime houses in the country.
Disaster at the
pantomime
Exterior of theatre, 1869
The story of the Prince’s Pantomimes
was almost doomed from its early beginnings- the third pantomime- “Robinson
Crusoe” opened on Boxing Night 1869. When Chute had his theatre built the
pavements and entrances on Park row sloped towards the building. A huge
crowd began to form to await the doors opening on the first night of the
pantomime.
The pit and gallery queues had built
up in the enclosed space as the doors were opened, and, in the rush to get
inside, the back of the crowd surged forward. The result was the people at
the front were trampled on, and between 14 and 18 people were killed, with
over 40 injured.
MATCHAM REFURBISHES
Aa a result of this disaster Chute
implemented safety precautions, ones that Frank Matchum, architect of the
later refurbishment was to keep in mind in all his buildings. It had a
devastating effect on Chute both emotionally and financially. It was his
sons James and George who restructured the seating at the theatre, and
installed a plush new refreshment room, finally renaming the theatre “The
Prince’s” in 1884. The stage was relaid, and the theatre played host to
major touring companies like the D’Oyly Carte, and Henry Irving.
Pantomime continued to flourish at the
“Prince’s” after the death of George M Chute in 1888, now run by his brother
James (“Jimmy Chute”) and his wife, Abigail. Abigail fostered a good
relationship with many major theatrical figures, and was a close friend of
Ellen Terry- this friendly relationship ensured the major stars played the
“Prince’s”
The leading architect Frank Matcham
redecorated the theatre throughout in 1889,with electric lighting added in
1895.
The second Frank Matcham refurbishment
was in 1902, and the theatre re-opened with “Merry England” on Coronation
day, 1902. It was now the most lavish provincial theatre hosting the finest
pantomimes. In 1907 a new ventilation system was installed making it one of
the grandest and most comfortable of provincial venues.
PANTOMIMES
However, there was the occasional
problem in the auditorium- students were often blamed for rowdy behaviour in
the gallery. In 1888 the last night of “Babes In The Wood” on 18th
February the performance was spoiled by the antics of a group in the gallery
who shouted down the manager, threw squibs onto the stage during the ballet,
and hurled dried peas at the actresses. The rabble rousers turned out to be
in the form of one solicitor, one traveller, three medical and three law
students, and the leading members of the three local football clubs!
During this period the esteemed
designer Charles Wilhelm was the costume designer for the Prince’s
pantomimes between 1882-1886.
In 1896 the pantomime took a departure
from it’s usual format of Pantomime followed by a short Harlequinade with
the introduction of a series of “interest” films shown at the conclusion of
the pantomime. The age of cinematography was dawning, one that was later to
return and bite the hand that fed it.
In 1912 “Jimmy” Chute died, and the
Prince’s became for the first time a limited company. The day to day running
of the building was left in the hands of Mrs Chute- the widow of “Jimmy” and
her co-director, John Hart. The days of staging the finest “In House” plays
and musicals were waning, and the future of the Prince’s as a play house
were numbered. More and more touring productions were engaged, and more than
ever the pantomime revenue was needed to support the theatre. By the time
Mrs Chute and Hart were in charge the Theatre’s year consisted of 18 weeks
Musicals, 10 weeks comedies, 2 weeks of drama and 11 weeks of Pantomime.
CINEMA
During their tenure, the Prince’s was
to face competition from the popular vogue for the cinema. All around the
theatre cinemas began to spring up- in the 1930’s over six cinemas were
within walking distance, and the Prince’s was facing growing competition
from the Coliseum and the Hippodrome. Films were damaging the income needed
to keep the larger Prince’s Theatre afloat.
VARIETY
Mrs Chute died in 1931, and Hart
continued to run the theatre until 1936. The new manager, Tommy Hicksons was
forced to turn the building into a variety house- the license was applied
for the previous year, and the theatre began to suffer from a loss of
revenue and was in need of refurbishment and redecoration.
THE FINALE
With the outbreak of World War Two
Bristol became a chief target for the bombs that were falling in the area of
the Bristol channel. It was the fifth most heavily bombed city in Britain.
The BBC transferred many of its departments to Bristol, as London was taking
the brunt of the Blitz. The popular wartime radio programme “ITMA” (It’s
That Man Again”) starring Tommy Handley was broadcast from Clifton Parish
Hall in Bristol throughout this period.
On the 2nd November 1940 a
severe bombing raid destroyed or damaged over 10,000 houses, with much loss
of life.
On the night of 24th
November 1940 the centre of Bristol suffered heavy bombing raids, and the
Prince’s Theatre, along with the Coliseum were totally destroyed.
Chute’s grand palace of culture and
entertainment was reduced to rubble. After the war it was intended that the
Prince’s would rise from the ashes, but in 1954 Stoll Theatres sold off a
large portion of the site intended for the “New Prince’s”, and it became
obvious that the Park Row theatre would never be rebuilt.
PRINCE’S THEATRE BRISTOL
PANTOMIMES 1867-1939
1867-68 ALADDIN
1868-69 Field Of The
Cloth Of Gold
1869-70 ROBINSON CRUSOE
1870-71 FORTY THIEVES
1871-72 DICK WHITTINGTON
1872-73 TOM THUMB
1873-74 Valentine and
Orson
1874-75 RED RIDING HOOD
1875-76 LITTLE CINDERELLA
1876-77 BABES IN THE WOOD
1877-78 BEAUTY AND THE
BEAST
1878-79 HOUSE THAT JACK
BUILT
1879-80 SINBAD THE SAILOR
1880-81 JACK AND THE
BEANSTALK
1881-82 ALADDIN
1882-83 DICK WHITTINGTON
1883-84 CINDERELLA
1884-85 FORTY THIEVES
1885-86 RED RIDING HOOD
1886-87 SINBAD THE SAILOR
1887-88 BABES IN THE WOOD
1888-89 ROBINSON CRUSOE
1889-90 SWEET CINDERELLA
1890-91 ALADDIN
1891-92 DICK WHITTINGTON
1892-93 BABES IN THE WOOD
1893-94 FORTY THIEVES
1894-95 LITTLE BO-PEEP
1895-96 CINDERELLA
1896-97 ROBINSON CRUSOE
1897-98 RED RIDING HOOD
1898-99 SINBAD THE SAILOR
1899-00 ALADDIN
Harry Claff as 'Pi-Krust'
A. W. Clark as Aladdin
The Chorus and Dancers
1900-01 DICK WHITTINGTON
1901-02 BABES IN THE WOOD
1902-03
CINDERELLA
Nora Brocklebank, Will Evans
(as Peter The Page-the
name “Buttons” was still not universal), Edgar Granville & Stephen Adeson as
the Ugly Sisters, John Humphries as Baron.
Will Evans,
eccentric comedian performed in pantomime from a young age, and appeared on
the halls in 1890. His most famous solo sketches were” Papering A House” and
“Whitewashing A Ceiling”. He died in 1931 aged sixty-four.
A copy of the programme can be found at
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Bristol/PrincesProg.htm
1903-04 PUSS IN BOOTS
1904-05 THE SLEEPING
BEAUTY
1905-06 MOTHER GOOSE
Lily Morris (as Colin), Wilkie Bard (as
Mother Goose)
1906-07 HUMPTY DUMPTY
Horace Mills, Olive Crellin, Carlton (The Human Hairpin)
1907-08 JACK AND JILL
Lily Morris, (Principal Boy) Nipper Lupino Lane, Mabel Russell, Geo. Miller,
Tom E Murray
Mabel Russell
Lily
Morris, born in 1884 made her first appearance in pantomime as a child in
1894, becoming a famous principal boy, and singer of character songs such as
“Why Am I Always The Bridesmaid” in the 1920’s. She died in 1952 aged
sixty-eight.
“Nipper”
Lupino Lane was one of the Lupino dynasty of performers who had first
appeared in this country during the reign of James II, and continued through
to variety and eventually Hollywood. He became famous for creating the role
of Bill in “Me and My Girl”, introducing London to “The Lambeth Walk”.
1908-09 ALADDIN
Bransby Williams, Daisy Wood,
Ouida McDermott, Topsy
Sinden, WH Powell, Winnie Chapman, Ethel Brookland
Bransby
Williams was the star of Music Hall famous for his character parts and
recitations. He began impersonating famous actors in 1896.His most famous
recitation being “The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God”, much parodied. He
died in 1961 aged ninety-one.
Daisy Wood
was the sister of Marie Lloyd, who first appeared “on the Halls” in 1891.
She also died in 1961 aged eighty-four.
Ouida
McDermott was the daughter of G.H.McDermott, the first star of the Music
Hall to be engaged for Pantomime. It was his success in “Bluebeard” (1871)
that led to the influx of Music Hall stars into pantomime thereafter. Ouida
was a popular Principal Boy.
Topsy Sinden
was a
well-known skirt dancer in her day and did a lot of pantomime. First
appeared on stage at age six in "Dick Whittington" - mid-1880s - and
after taking some time off she seems to have retired sometime in the
1930's. She played
"Yu Bu Tee" in Aladdin. We are very
grateful to Anne Gilhuly for this information and the images.
Further information is available from John Culme's Footlight Notes site
by following this
link.
The Chorus and Dancers, Winnie Chapman,
Ethel Brookland
1909-10
MOTHER HUBBARD
G.H.Elliott, Fred Conquest, Lulu Valli (P.Boy) Alice Pollard (P.Girl),
Sydney Fairbrother, Charles Harvey, Minnie Gardner
G.H.Elliott
was a headliner in Music Hall, and his minstrel act in immaculate frock coat
and top hat introduced songs like “I Used to sigh for the Silvery Moon” and
“Lily Of Laguna” which he reintroduced after it’s success sung by Eugene
Stratton. He first appeared in London in 1902, and lived until 1962 dying at
the age of seventy-nine.
The Chorus and Dancers
Minnie Gardner
NEW
PICTURES - 1910-11 JACK HORNER
Winifred Ward (Jack Horner), Ernie Mayne
(The Prince of Hearts), Albert Le
Fre (Simple Simon), Esta
Stella (Charity), Fred Allandale (The Knave of Hearts), Sam Poluski Jnr
(Teddy), Alfred Wellesley (The Queen of Hearts), Charles MacNaughton
(The King of Hearts), Doris Dean (The Princess of Hearts), David Fisher
Jnr (The Pieman), Marion Edwardes (Verita), Ernest G Hay (Perjurus),
Little Irene Le Fre (Colleen), Master Percy Mayne (Boy Scout).
Fred Allandale, Doris
Dean, Esta Stella
Ernest Hay, Albert Le Fre, Ernie Mayne and Percy Mayne
Mr Allandale and Ernie Mayne / Ernie and Percy Mayne
1911-12 JACK AND THE
BEANSTALK
Daisy Wood, Harry Rose, Horace Mills, Daisy
Stratton, Daisy May, Jay Laurier, George Lake Grange, Eleanor Wilson, John
Walker
Daisy Wood
Horace Mills
The Company
1912-13 DICK WHITTINGTON
Winifred Ward (P.Boy) Tom Conway, Fame & Fortune, Nora Guy,
William Pringle, George French, Ethel Hall
Winifred Ward
*Rumours were spreading the male
Principal Boy might be introduced more often in pantomime. Winifred Ward
comments: “I don’t think there are enough “Pretty Gentlemen” to fill the
parts for the numerous theatres in England, so I think “The Girls” still
stand a good chance. Anyway, I’m not afraid!”
1913-14 ROBINSON CRUSOE
Nellie Taylor (P.Boy), W.H.Rawlins,
Dorothy Craske, Harry
Dent, Harry West, W.H.Powell, Harry Rignold, Aston Bros.
Dorothy Craske
Harry Rignold
1914-15 HUMPTY DUMPTY
Handbill and Maud Darling
Dorothy Ward, Shaun Glenville,
Rowland Hill, Maud Darling
Shaun Glenville and Dorothy Ward
We are very grateful to David
Hartshorne for supplying us with a scan of this programme
Maud Darling
This picture is supplied by and appears by kind
permission of Len Darling
1915-16 GOODY TWO
SHOES
Sybil Arundale (P.Boy) Lupino Lane,
Sam Walsh,
Horace Mills, Dolly Booth, Margaret Kean, Doris Lind.
1916-17
CINDERELLA
Jack Pleasants, Louie Beckman,
Dolly Harmer, Queenie
Gwyn, Edith Heron Brown, W.M.Brough, J.F. McArdle
Jack
Pleasants, the Yorkshire comedian first appeared in 1901- His comedy songs
made him famous, including “I’m Twenty-One Today”, and “I’m Shy Mary Ellen,
I’m Shy”. He died in 1924 aged forty-nine.
1917-18 OLD KING COLE
George Miller (Dame) Beatrice Allen, Renee Reel, Arnold
Richardson, W.T.Thompson, Elsie Cowie, Queen & Le Brun, Frank Haytor,
George Elliston
1918-19 SINBAD
Daisy Wood, Albert Le Fre, Beatrice Hunt, William Stephens, Murielle
Langley, Mewse & Singer, Edward Lewis, John Morley
1919-20 MOTHER GOOSE
Fred Wright, Jack Lennol, Madge White, Lily
Eyton, Fred Conquest,
J.H. Wakefield, W.T.Thompson, Peggy Shannon, Doree Thorne, Mirabelle Wear,
Cedric Forbes, Eric Marshall
Madge White
Fred Wright, Lily Eyton
1920-21 TOM TOM THE
PIPER’S SON
Hal Bert, Violet Vernon, Angus Strong, W.S.Percy,
Edgar Marriott, Lila Wood, Hilda Simpson, Nevill Delmar, Lawrence Caird,
Pamela Lindley, Katie Kay, George Ali
1921-22 ALADDIN
Horace Mills (Dame) Renee Reel, Elsie May, J.H.Wakefield,
Jack Mayne,
Mia Sylva, Jack Tregale, Dolly Stevens, Terry Twins, Phil & Phlora, Kit
Keen, Edith Pearson
Elsie May
1922-23 JACK AND
JILL
Dan Leno Jnr, Barry Lupino, Madge White, Ivor Vintor, Peggy
Shannon, C.Dawson Hodder, Eileen Scott, Queen & Le Brun, Katrina & Joan,
Jack Lennol, Doris Evans.
Dan Leno Jnr
This
particular year the Lupino family were in the West, with Barry (The son of
George Lupino) in Bristol, and Stanley and Wallace in Cardiff. Mark Lupino
was at the London Hippodrome.Barry (1882-1962) was to become a fine
pantomime Dame. The Prince’s Theatre received stiff competition this year
from the Bristol Empire Pantomime.
Dan Leno Jnr (Top Left), Barry Lupino
(Bottom Left), Ivor Vintor (Top Right), C. Dawson Hodder (Bottom Right)
1923-24 KING OF THE
GOLDEN MOUNTAIN
Marriott Edgar (Dame) Hilda Newsome, Teddy Brogden
John Murray Stewart, Rennee Mayer, Dick Evans, Freda & Zelda Jensen, Henry
Carter, Doris Bransgrove, The Bounders, Thea Blair.
Marriott Edgar, Dick Evans
1924-25 GOLDILOCKS AND
THE THREE BEARS
Johnny Scholfield Jnr, Horace Mills
(Dame), Dorothy Leigh, Irene Wisher, Kit Keen, Beryl Lesley.
Horace Mills - Dorothy Leigh
1925-26 ROBINSON
CRUSOE
Arnold Richardson, Teddy Brogden, Moya Nugent
,Stephanie
Stevens, Walter Outhwaite, Doffe Woodhill, Larola, Eileen Goodall,
Benson Kleve, Devere & Welbo, Kenna Brothers, Hero DeRance, Rob Gilmore
Arnold Richardson, Teddy Brogden, Moya
Nugent (top to bottom)
The number
of picture houses in the area increased, with added competition for the
pantomime season, as well as a strong pantomime at the Bristol Royal that
year.
1926-27 THE FORTY
THIEVES
Tom D Newell, Mariott Edgar (Dame), Dot Temple, The Sisters
St.Vincent , Gaby Joyce, Sylvia Cecil.
The
competition from the “Royal” that year included the young George Lacy, later
to become one of the foremost Dames of his generation.
1927-28 HUMPTY
DUMPTY
Jane Ayr, Johnny Schofield, Dick Evans
Mona Vivian, Jack Stanley, Johnny Schofield, Jane Ayr,
Dick Evans William Thompson, Renee & Godfrey, Fred Holt, Mollie Melvin,
Lutie and the Brothers Griffiths.
This season the star was the popular
Mona
Vivian- a former child star as “Wee Mona”,at this time one of the most
popular Principal Boy’s of the time, and a favourite in West End Revue. (See
the Wee Mona Article on this site)
Also on the bill were Lutie and the
Brothers Griffiths. They performed a variety and pantomime act “The Blondin
Donkey Act”, with the brothers who performed as “skin” or animal artistes.
They also created “Miss Lutie with Pogo the Performing Horse” which they
toured around the country.
1928-29 HOP O’MY
THUMB
Ivor Vinter, George Lacy, Kathie Lyn, Annie
Kasmir, Jeannie Hartley, Charles Heslop, Jack Martlell.
Kathie Lyn, Jennie Hartley,
Ivor Vintner, George Lacy
In the
Autumn of this year both Daisy Wood and Horace Mills- former stars of the
Prince’s (they both appeared here in the 1911 pantomime) both announced
their retirement from the stage.
1929-30 THE QUEEN OF
HEARTS
Clarkson Rose (Queen of Hearts), Olive Fox (P.Boy), Eileen
Fowler, Jack Lennol, Fred Wynne, The Verdras, Athol Tier, Bryn Gwyn.
Clarkson Rose, Bryn Gwyn, Eileen Fowler
The stars
of this pantomime were husband and wife- Clarkson Rose and the Principal
Boy, Olive Fox. They married in 1918. Rose (1890-1968) was a principal
comedian who graduated from concert party, producing his own long running
show “Twinkle”. He had first played dame two years previously, and was later
to become Dame for the Melville Brothers at the Lyceum (1936-38). The year
before this engagement he had appeared in a Royal Command Performance as
Dame. He gave his last pantomime performance in 1967, the year before he
died.
Olive Fox
1930-31 GOODY TWO
SHOES
Dick Evans, Betty Warren, Fred Holt, Cecile Maule
Cole , J.H.Wakefield, Nina Crosley, George Wellford, Norman Griffin.
1931-32
CINDERELLA
Written by Philip Rodway,
Directed by John Hart, Composed by Harry Rushworth
Dick Tubb, Eileen Fowler, Babette O'Neal
Dick Tubb, Violet Field, Percy
Le Fre, Babette O’Neal, Laurie Howe, Eileen Fowler, Alfred Jepson, Smarte Bros, Mary Nightingale, Vera Savina,
C Douglas Cox, Fred Hastings, Joy Snell
Violet Field, Percy Le Fre and Alfred
Jepson
Eileen Fowler
We are grateful to Michael
Crew and to The Crew Archive for this Photo, used with permission
1932-33 ROBINSON CRUSOE
Written by Philip Rodway
Mona Vivian, Tommy Nelldon, Rosamund Belmore,
Marriot Edgar, Flet Mears, Barry Lupino, Sybil Roe, Mary Skeaping
1933-34 MOTHER GOOSE
Written by J Hickory Wood, Directed by Francis Laidler,
Composed by Edwin Thornton
Walter Amner, Audrey Ball, Victor Eynsford, Eileen
Fowler, George Lacy, Flora Macdonald, Richard Milner, Marie Picquart, George
Queen, Angus Strong
We are very grateful to the University of Bristol
Theatre Collection for this information.
1934-35 DICK WHITTINGTON
Written by Francis Laidler
Hart Athol, Mamie Holland, Wilbur
Lenton, Anne Leslie, Isabel Merson, Bonnie Roberts, Mona Vivian.
We are very grateful to the University of Bristol
Theatre Collection for this information.
1935-36 BABES IN THE WOOD
1936-37 ALADDIN
Jean Colin, Leslie Strange, Connie Graham, Monti Ryan, S.
Griffiths-Moss, Norah & Peg St. John, Leslie Noyes & Dorothy Dee, Kiraki
Bros., Eddie Black, Victor King, The J. Sherman-Fisher Girls, Francis
Laidler's 12 Little Sunbeams
Click on Images to Enlarge
We are grateful to Michael Crew and to The Crew
Archive for this Photo, used with permission
We are grateful to Michael Crew and to The Crew
Archive for this Photo, used with permission
The Pantomime Ball - 1936
We are grateful to Michael Crew and to The Crew
Archive for this Photo, used with permission
Leslie Stranger, St Johns, The Kiraku Brothers, Jean Colin, Connie Graham
1937-38 CINDERELLA
Written and Directed by Francis Laidler
George Baines, Peggy Bedell, Joan Cole, Jack Hayes, Charlie Jass, Wendy Elliott,
Phil Strickland, Jay Galvin, Phyllis Godden, Victor King, Ron Rich
The Laidler Sunbeams
Click on image to enlarge
We are grateful to Ann Brooks for these two press
cuttings and Carol Bellard-Thomson for the Cast Information
We are grateful to Michael Crew and to The Crew
Archive for this Photo, used with permission
The Pantomime Ball - 1937
1938-39 JACK AND THE
BEANSTALK
Written by Randolph Sutton Directed by Francis Laidler
Norman Evans, Jean Colin, Jack Barty,
Joyce Winn, Howard
Rogers, Marie Delaine, Percy Garside, The Lennox Sisters, De Suter Bros,
Shanks Bros, Marion Gerth, J Murray Stewart, Kirby’s Flying Ballet, The
Twelve J Sherman-Fisher Firls, The 12 Little Sunbeams.
This
pantomime starred one of the finest dames- Norman Evans, who created the
gossiping Fanny Fairbottom “Over The Garden Wall”.
Born in 1901, he was
discovered by Gracie Fields, and toured in her husband’s revue “Mr Tower Of
London” three years previously sharing top billing with Betty Driver- now
known to millions as Betty Turpin in “Coronation Street”.At the time of this
panto he had done the first of three Command performances, and by the time
of his death in 1962 he had achieved everything a great comedian could
desire.
Manager of the Theatre
Percy Garside, Joseph Kirby, Shanks Bros,
De Suter Brothers
Jack Barty, Jean Colin, Francis Laidlers
'Little Sunbeams'
We are grateful to Michael Crew and to The Crew
Archive for this Photo, used with permission
The Pantomime Ball - 1938
We are grateful to Michael Crew and to The Crew
Archive for this Photo, used with permission
Marion Gerth and Jean Colin
1939 - 40 RED
RIDING HOOD (The Last Pantomime at the Princes)
We are grateful to Ann Brooks for this information.
Written
and directed by Francis Laidler - Composed by Norman Brooks
Jean Colin,
Bunny Doyle, Madge Escolme, Percy Garside, Richard Hassett, Arthur
Hosking, Rosalind Melville, Tommy Prior, Billy Purvis, Mavis Ray, The
Robinson Twins (Daisy and Rose)
We are grateful to Ralph, Daisy Robinson's son-in-law, for this
handbill. He informed us that Rose died in 2006 and Daisy on the 27th
September 2009 in New Zealand. The family are looking for more information
about The Robinson Twins, please email the site if you have any.
We are grateful to Michael Crew and to The Crew
Archive for this Photo, used with permission
The Pantomime Ball - 1939
We are grateful to Michael Crew and to The Crew
Archive for this Photo, used with permission
Richard Hassett
1940 HUMPTY
DUMPTY (The Pantomime That Wasn't to Be)
We are grateful to Michael Crew for the article and to
The Crew Archive for the Photos, used with permission
Mike Crew -
The Prince’s Theatre Bristol was managed by a Mr. Hickson during the
1930’s-‘40’s. Mike Crew’s Father, Fred worked there as Commissionaire,
Driver and Hickson’s right hand man. In his day to day job
he welcomed artistes to the
theatre on a weekly basis. Around 1936-37 Fred’s wife Ivy joined the theatre
in the Box Office and was responsible for posters and publicity.
Despite the war, the 1940 panto season at the
Prince’s went ahead as usual.
Humpty Dumpty was due to open on Christmas Eve.
Publicity material started arriving in early November and the staff
were excited to learn which old favourites would be returning and which of
the new stars would be coming to Bristol.
They were also treated to photos of scenes from the previous years
performance of Humpty Dumpty at Liverpool.
Scenes from Humpty Dumpty from Liverpool 1939/40
- Snowland and Port Omelette
The production was to be under the control of
impresario Emile Littler and was a follow up
to the successful Humpty Dumpty at the Royal Court at Liverpool the previous
year.
Emile Littler
Charles Olden, better known as Ted Ray, the
accomplished violinist and comedian was to play the part of King Yolk.
Ted Ray
Bobbie Comber, an old favourite was to be Agatha
Applepip who may have appeared at Liverpool the previous year.
Bobbie Comber / Agatha Applepip
The attractive Edna Wood was Princess Marigold and
the equally attractive Margery Wyn was Prince Rupert.
Edna Wood and Margery Wyn
De Haven and Page were the equivalent of the ugly
sisters in the parts of Count Nine and Count Ninety
De Haven and Page
Ernest Arnley was to play the part of Shrimps, the
King’s secretary. The part he
had played at the King’s Theatre Edinburgh in 1939/40
Ernest Arnley
Who was to play Humpty Dumpty remains a mystery.
It is likely that Archies Juvenile Band were also to
be involved possibly as themselves during scene changing.
They may have appeared earlier that year at Birmingham.
Archies Juvenile Band
Normally Ivy or Fred Crew would persuade each
performer to autograph the publicity photos and sign Ivy’s autograph book.
The Photos were then taken home and added to Ivy’s collection whereas
the autograph book remained in the theatre.
It
is possible that the publicity material for this panto had been taken from
the theatre to determine which were to be used by the local papers, as one
of the photo’s of Comber has Ivy’s handwritten instructions regarding the
use of this photo. Whatever the reason, the outcome was that this unique
collection was saved whereas Ivy and Fred had to watch the Prince’s burn
down with the autograph book inside.
The
book contained autographs of virtually every performer at the Prince’s for
the previous seven years together with the usual comments made by the stars.
Nigel and
Simon at its-behind-you.com would be delighted to receive any additional
information regarding both the Prince’s Theatre Bristol, and the playlist of
pantomimes. In particular we would like to fill in the cast list for the
“missing year” on our list 1935.
If you have
any information to add to this article, please send it to the site via
info@its-behind-you.com
