SALFORD MUSIC HALL MEMORIES

You may be aware that I have a love of my hometown Salford and all things connected with it, especially social aspects such as Cinemas, Music Hall, Pubs, people, and places, so I was delighted to discover these theatre posters in Salford Local History Library, which had previously been in cabinets and rarely looked at, but now on open display.

Before we get to talk about the artistes on these wonderful posters a quick reminder of these venues and a brief history.

Salford Windsor Theatre started life as The Royal Hippodrome Theatre and opened in 1904, seating 1,800 on three levels, it attracted such names as W.C. Fields. and possibly Chaplin no proper evidence though, Len Johnson the boxer gave exhibition bouts on stage, in later years stars such as Hylda Baker, Tessie O' Shea, Tommy Cooper and Roy Castle trod the boards.

With the advent of television the theatres suffered badly and in 1955 it changed it's name to The Windsor Theatre putting on variety shows and pantomimes, with the so called slum clearance of Hanky Park the theatre was demolished in 1962, Thorn Court now stands on the site of it.

Victoria Theatre, Broughton opened in 1900 is a beautiful Grade !! listed building, which like all theatres has transitioned from being a variety theatre, cinema and finally a Bingo Hall closing it's doors in 2012,

I can recall seeing Charles Hawtrey there in Pantomime in the 1960s and he obviously had taken a drink shall we say.I was lucky enough to be allowed in in 2013 and filmed the incredible, architectural features, ornate plasterwork which has to be seen to believed, a group called Salford Victoria Theatre Trust are campaigning to restore the theatre and get it reopened.

Let's take a look at The Windsor Theatre poster from February 1958, for many people that date is synonymous with the Munich Air Disaster of February 6th 1958.

Phyliss Dixey aka "Queen of Striptease" was an English actress and singer who rented The Windmill Theatre in London and put on "Tableaux" shows, these were women with strategically placed feather boas who were forbidden to move by the Lord Chancellor or else, but were very popular throughout the country.

Gus Aubrey is on the bill, Gus was born in Pendleton in 1905 and achieved fame appearing in several Frank Randle films for the Mancunian Film Company, he deserves a medal for putting up with Randle!

The Victoria Theatre posters are a real peep into the past, with such names as Arthur English the original "Spiv" in films and in later years appearing in, Are You Being Served and Till Death us do Part.

Ken Platt a Lancashire comedian whose catchphrase was.." Allo, I wont take me coat off..I'm not stopping" he was a household name appearing on many radio variety shows and TV shows such as, The Good Old Days.

Roy Rolland  was an actor who was an understudy for Arthur Lucan's Old Mother Riley character who eventually took over the act and changed the name to, Old Mother Kelly when Lucan died, he went on to have a long career and appeared on several Danny la Rue shows.

Many of these names on these posters did achieve some fame whilst others faded into obscurity, but I am so pleased these have survived and are on display after all these years.....I fear I am becoming a Luvvie...