Went to Nottm & Hippodrome.
Notes
Trip to the Theatre
Grandad went to Nottingham to the Hippodrome. I assume he may have gone with grandma although he does not say so explicitly. They were “courting” and it was some five years before they would get married, see Chapter 16.
Hippodrome
The Hippodrome opened as a variety theatre in 1906. It was taken over by the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres (PCT) chain in 1927 and closed as a live theatre that year reopening as a cinema. In 1929, it was taken over by Gaumont. It was re-named Gaumont in 1948 and was closed in 1971. It was demolished in 1973 and replaced by an office block, see Chapter 21.
New Splinters
While grandad did not specify what he went to see, it appears that this was a performance by the New Splinters.
Mansfield Theatre 1928
Grandma and grandad saw the New Splinters again at Mansfield Theatre in October 1928, see Chapter 21. When I first came across this, I was a bit surprised as my understanding was that “The New Splinters” were a drag dance act. However, I am grateful to Trevor Lee for explaining that they were a well-known and widely accepted concert party and while some found “their cross-dressing troubling” others found their feminine mimicry “bewitching“. The group originated during the first world war and I am grateful again to Trevor Lee for guiding me to a souvenir programme for a motion picture titled “Splinters” which was about the group and its formation. This film is available to watch free online.
First Visited Nottingham in 1919
According to an advert for this, it was presented by Lew Lake and featured Les Rouges et Noirs in the New Splinters. The cast was said to include Hal Jones and Reg Stone. They also gave a performance at Ellerslie House. It seems this had been a regular feature of their visits to Nottingham since they came the first time in 1919. According to a preview, it was devised and produced by L Arthur Rose.
First Army Entertainers
A report explained that Les Rouges et Noirs were the First Army Entertainers. They had toured in France and England. It continued that this was a new show with the war element discarded. The musical interlude was given by Val Fenton, Richard Nellor and Gordon Blackford with dancing by Roy Byng and Willie Gunn.
Leave a Reply