Hi. Does anyone have any memories of the Sheffield Moss Empire Theatre on Charles Street? It would be nice if you would share them with us.

In the 50's, I used to go on a fairly regular basis as they had variety shows seemingly every week. I remember seeing Lonnie Donnegan, David Whitfield, Harry Secombe and more. There was a panto there every Xmas, as well as the Lyceum Theatre

I used to go in the gallery at the Empire Sixpence to go in There was a a variety, two shows a night Saw some top turns there, South Pacific Lee Lawrence, Morcombe and Wise Oh yes,and they were rubbish ----- Then. Two singers,Ted and Barbara Andrews and there daughter Julie, yes,the same one,grown up yeah happy days eh Postie

and I saw it burn down Blitze night 1940 shame

I remember seeing the crazy gang and Max Wall, it was funny then

and I saw it burn down Blitze night 1940 shame

It didn’t actually ‘burn down’. Only a part of it was fire damaged. If my memory serrves me it was the stage area plus dressing rooms etc. It was repaired as a priority and I was sitting in the fauteils (front stalls) early in 1945.

The fire at the Empire during the blitz caused a bit of a panic at the BBC as Henry Hall (a prolific performer on the radio) was thought for a while to have been killed in the raid. Hall was unharmed and his 'Guest Nights' were a regular weekly events untill the late 1950s.
I atended the last performance at the Empire. It was sponsored by Smedleys Peas and admission was free. Albert Modley was top of the bill with his 'tram driving' drum kit. A great performer

[QUOTE=tsavo]The fire at the Empire during the blitz caused a bit of a panic at the BBC as Henry Hall (a prolific performer on the radio) was thought for a while to have been killed in the raid. Hall was unharmed........

Didn't Henry Hall used to introduce his show with "This IS, Henry Hall speaking"

He did indeed, and I think the rest of the line was, "and this is my guest night". Sounds very twee now but it was a different world back then.

Does anybody remember when a tiger escaped and was on the loose in the theatre, or if they have heard any stories about it. Not sure when this would have been, maybe in the 40's, but could have been a lot earlier. Would love to hear from you or anybody who can help.

Every time the Empire is introduced as a topic I seem to mention the fact that I saw Tony Bennett there sometime in the 50's. Did anyone else? The place was packed, surely everybody cant have died. He was on a tour of Britain, on the strength of his 'Rags to Riches' hit.
Anybody remember Tommy Trinder? He did fifteen minutes ad-libbing at the end of his regular act, brilliant!
And Jimmy James, when he had the late Roy Castle as one of his stooges.
And anybody remember an act 'Trois and his Mandoliers'? About forty mandolin players all thrashing at once, made me a nervous wreck for weeks. Just kidding, really I love the mandolin, especially when it's tuned right.

I am almost certain it was the Empire that my father used to go to in the early fifties to see nude shows.
He took me along once and I remember the Ladies were draped with see through material and they did not move an inch they just stood untill the curtain closed.
Does anyone else remember if it was the Empire. Mags

I also saw Tony Bennet at the Empire I think he also sang "Cold Cold Heart" as well as" Rags to Riches" exept for the fact that he was a bit short tongued and used to sing "Wags to Wiches" All the same a top singer Don;t breed em like that no more And what about the "Harmonica Rascels" Used to go every week Father in law was doorman for the "Gods" ha ha handy eh!

Every time the Empire is introduced as a topic I seem to mention the fact that I saw Tony Bennett there sometime in the 50's. Did anyone else? The place was packed, surely everybody cant have died. He was on a tour of Britain, on the strength of his 'Rags to Riches' hit.
Anybody remember Tommy Trinder? He did fifteen minutes ad-libbing at the end of his regular act, brilliant!
And Jimmy James, when he had the late Roy Castle as one of his stooges.
And anybody remember an act 'Trois and his Mandoliers'? About forty mandolin players all thrashing at once, made me a nervous wreck for weeks. Just kidding, really I love the mandolin, especially when it's tuned right.

Ah! Jimmy James, a lovely and very generous man. In the late 1940s he made a couple of films for Film Studios (Manchester) Ltd. (commonly known as Mancunian Films) but this contract was for him alone and not his associates which then included Roy Castle. Nevertheless, although they were not actually working he had them sitting around and paid them their full whack.

Also remember the Harmonica Rascals because they set me off learning to play the harmonica! Don’t remember how to spell it but I believe their full title was Borra Minavich and his Harmonica Rascals.

And correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Troise in reality the band leader — forgotten his name but know he had several — who backed Max Bygraves during his Singalong tv series?

I’ll correct myself. It wasn’t Troise, it was Felix Mendelssohn (and his Hawaiian Serenaders. Under his real name he led the band for Max Bygraves and his tv SingalongaMax. Still can’t remember his real name though.

I am almost certain it was the Empire that my father used to go to in the early fifties to see nude shows.
He took me along once and I remember the Ladies were draped with see through material and they did not move an inch they just stood untill the curtain closed.
Does anyone else remember if it was the Empire. Mags

I think you may be mistaken. Nude ladies were the rage at the Palace, Attercliffe.

I am almost certain it was the Empire that my father used to go to in the early fifties to see nude shows.
He took me along once and I remember the Ladies were draped with see through material and they did not move an inch they just stood untill the curtain closed.
Does anyone else remember if it was the Empire. Mags

Hi Mags. I think you mean the Attercliffe Palace.

I also saw Tony Bennet at the Empire I think he also sang "Cold Cold Heart" as well as" Rags to Riches" exept for the fact that he was a bit short tongued and used to sing "Wags to Wiches" All the same a top singer Don;t breed em like that no more And what about the "Harmonica Rascels" Used to go every week Father in law was doorman for the "Gods" ha ha handy eh!My wife and I went to see Tony Bennet at the University of Connecticut only last winter. He sang unstopping for a whole two hours without a break. He doesn't sound as good as he did in the fifties, he sounds better!!. I went to the Empire to see Wilfred Pickles on that show where they " Gave em the money, Barnie " with Ena Sharples ( Can't remember her real name ).

Well thanks milted, I'm glad someone has finally owned up about seeing Tony Bennett at the Empire. I paid 2/6d to sit in the 'gods' to see that show, and then coming down the years a bit, I last saw him perform down in Bournmouth, in a theatre, and it cost about 25 quid.
And Peterw, you obviously knew, or had met, Jimmy James. I think anybody with the ability to make people laugh are up there with the best of the human race, and he was the best of all. I remembered his other stooge, Eli Woods, another brilliant fellow. Do you remember that Jimmy James was notorious for not rehearsing, or very loosely at best. A lot of the laughs came from Eli Woods and Roy Castle trying to trip him up.

My wife and I went to see Tony Bennet at the University of Connecticut only last winter. He sang unstopping for a whole two hours without a break. He doesn't sound as good as he did in the fifties, he sounds better!!. I went to the Empire to see Wilfred Pickles on that show where they " Gave em the money, Barnie " with Ena Sharples ( Can't remember her real name ).

Wasn't it "Give him/her the money Mabel"
Mabel being the one from Coronation St.
Can't think of her name either.
On second thoughts maybe it was Barnie.
Mabel being the piano player.
Now what was his show called?

Wasn't it "Give him/her the money Mabel"
Mabel being the one from Coronation St.
Can't think of her name either.
On second thoughts maybe it was Barnie.
Mabel being the piano player.
Now what was his show called?
------------------------------

Mabel was Wilfred Pickles' wife - 'Mabel at the table'
The Pianist was Violet Carson, who went on to become Ena Sharples in Coronation Street. The show was called 'Ask Pickles', and Wilfred's catchphrase to couples was 'Are you courtin'?'.

And Peterw, you obviously knew, or had met, Jimmy James. I think anybody with the ability to make people laugh are up there with the best of the human race, and he was the best of all. I remembered his other stooge, Eli Woods, another brilliant fellow. Do you remember that Jimmy James was notorious for not rehearsing, or very loosely at best. A lot of the laughs came from Eli Woods and Roy Castle trying to trip him up.

This is a long story that I’ll ty to keep short. Jimmy was kicking around the Manchesteer film studios (but not working there at that time) when a set was being built for a fight scene in which several professional wrestlers were to throw each other around and hit each other with special chairs made of balsa wood.

Jimmy switched one of those chairs for a real one! The fight began, and one wrestler — a well-known Blackpool man — was knocked cold. John Blakeley, the studio owner and the film’s director, realised there would be hell to play, and guessing that said ‘damaged’ wrestler would be round to look at the ‘takes’ the following morning (they were sent at night to London for processing and arrived back in Manchester by 8.15a.m.) he asked the film editor to ‘cut’ the scene showing who had done the damage. He didn’t want to be responsible for what might happen because he knew that the wrestler who used that real chair was a sworn enemy of the wrestler who was hit with it.

Nobody had any idea that Jimmy had switched the chairs, but anyway the scene had been cut before the wrestler arrived to see the ‘takes’, which by now told him nothing. But for more than a year afterwards that same wrestler — whose name escapes me — went to see that film wherever it was showing, in the vain hope of seeing who had clobbered him!

The Blackpool wrestler’s name escapes me, but this was around 1952-53-54 and he had two sons who became heavyweight boxers and Ah! one was Brian London, buut I still don’t remember the wrestling name of his father. The other wrestler was a Manchester man and a complete nutter. He lived near me, but died some years ago and alas his name escapes me.

And Peterw, you obviously knew, or had met, Jimmy James. I think anybody with the ability to make people laugh are up there with the best of the human race, and he was the best of all. I remembered his other stooge, Eli Woods, another brilliant fellow. Do you remember that Jimmy James was notorious for not rehearsing, or very loosely at best. A lot of the laughs came from Eli Woods and Roy Castle trying to trip him up.

This is a long story that I’ll ty to keep short. Jimmy was kicking around the Manchesteer film studios (but not working there at that time) when a set was being built for a fight scene in which several professional wrestlers were to throw each other around and hit each other with special chairs made of balsa wood.

Jimmy switched one of those chairs for a real one! The fight began, and one wrestler — a well-known Blackpool man — was knocked cold. John Blakeley, the studio owner and the film’s director, realised there would be hell to play, and guessing that said ‘damaged’ wrestler would be round to look at the ‘takes’ the following morning (they were sent at night to London for processing and arrived back in Manchester by 8.15a.m.) he asked the film editor to ‘cut’ the scene showing who had done the damage. He didn’t want to be responsible for what might happen because he knew that the wrestler who used that real chair was a sworn enemy of the wrestler who was hit with it.

Nobody had any idea that Jimmy had switched the chairs, but anyway the scene had been cut before the wrestler arrived to see the ‘takes’, which by now told him nothing. But for more than a year afterwards that same wrestler — whose name escapes me — went to see that film wherever it was showing, in the vain hope of seeing who had clobbered him!

The Blackpool wrestler’s name escapes me, but this was around 1952-53-54 and he had two sons who became heavyweight boxers and Ah! one was Brian London, but I still don’t remember the wrestling name of his father. The other wrestler was a Manchester man and a complete nutter. He lived near me, but died some years ago and alas his name escapes me.

The Barney (as in "give em the money Barney") was Barney Colehan the BBC producer of the programme.

peterw, Jack London is the name you are looking for. He did wrestle a bit after retiring from boxing. He was Brian London's father.
Got to thinking about Jimmy James and company. Did you hear of the time when they got to the end of their act to go into the finale, which was a song,and Jimmy says,' What shall we sing then?' Eli Woods and Roy Castle had decided to say something different to what they had rehearsed, but Eli had forgotten the song, so he said ' A,a,a,a,a,a've l,l,l,ost me Ding Dong'. Jimmy just looked at him for a second, then said 'I didn't know you'd got one'.
Roy Castle had to turn away or he would laughed out loud.

Googled for this one which might bring back memories of Jimmy James.

ey! Are you putting it around that I'm barmy?
Jimmy J:
No, no it's not me.
Hutton C:
Well, someone's putting it around that I'm barmy. (Nods in Eli's direction) Is it him?
Jimmy J:
I'll ask him (to Eli) Is it you that's putting it around that he's barmy?
Bretton W:
I don't want any.
Jimmy J:
He doesn't want any.
Bretton W:
How much are they?
Jimmy J:
How much are - no - never mind, it's not him.
Hutton C:
Well somebody's putting it around that I'm barmy.
Jimmy J:
Did you want to keep it a secret? Listen, your face is very familiar - where have I seen you before?
Hutton C:
Oh, I'm out of there now!
Jimmy J:
Oh, that's where I saw you, in there. I didn't know I'd been in. I know I won't be long with you two. No, I've seen you making a political speech somewhere.
Hutton C:
Oh yeah. I'm a member of Parliament.
Jimmy J:
What are you, Conservative, Labour or Democrat?
Hutton C:
Yes.
Jimmy J:
Well it's nice to know we've got one. (To Eli) We've got one.
Bretton W:
Have we?
Jimmy J:
When I look at you, I think we've got two.
Hutton C:
I've been away you know.
Jimmy J:
It doesn't show.
Hutton C:
I've been to Africa, I was very popular in Africa. Just before I came home they gave me a lovely present.
Jimmy J:
What did they give you?
Hutton C:
Two man eating lions.
Jimmy J:
Real lions? Did you fetch'em home? Where do you keep them?
Hutton C:
(indicating box) In this box.
Jimmy J:
(to Eli) Go and get two coffees, one with strychnine in.
Hutton C:
Are you telling him about the lions?
Jimmy J:
Oh yes, you've got two lions in that box. Are they in there now?
Hutton C:
Yes.
Jimmy J:
I thought I heard a rustling. (To Eli) He's got two lions in that box.
Bretton W:
How much are they?
Jimmy J:
He doesn't want to sell them.
Hutton C:
I've been to Nyasaland as well.
Jimmy J:
Ah, they're nice people, the Nyasas. I'll bet they gave you a present.
Hutton C:
They did. They gave me a Giraffe.
Jimmy J:
Did you bring the giraffe home?
Hutton C:
Yes.
Jimmy J:
I don't like to ask him. Where do you keep the giraffe?
Hutton C:
In the box.
Jimmy J:
(To Eli) Get on the phone! Nine-nine-nine - I'll keep him here. Somebody must be looking for him.
Hutton C:
Are you telling him about the giraffe?
Jimmy J:
Yes - he's got a giraffe in that box.
Bretton W:
Is it black or white?
Jimmy J:
Our Eli wants to know what colour the giraffe is.
Bretton W:
No, the coffee I mean.
Jimmy J:
Your mother would have been better off with a set of spoons.
Hutton C:
I've been to India as well.
Jimmy J:
Oh hell, he's been all over! I bet they gave you a good present.
Hutton C:
Yes.
Jimmy J:
What did they give you?
Hutton C:
An elephant.
Jimmy J:
Male or Female?
Hutton C:
No, an elephant.
Jimmy J:
I don't suppose it makes any difference to you whether it's male or female.
Bretton W:
It wouldn't make any d-d-difference to anyone, only another elephant.
Jimmy J:
I'll stop you going to those youth clubs.
Bretton W:
Ask him where he keeps the elephant. Go on.
Jimmy J:
Our Eli wants to know where you keep the elephant. In the box?
Hutton C:
Oh, don't be silly. You couldn't get an elephant in there.
Jimmy J:
(To Eli) Why don't you mind your own damn business? You couldn't get an elephant in there, there's no room!
Bretton W:
You could ask the g-g-giraffe to move over a bit.
Hutton C:
He's crackers.
Jimmy J:
It'd be a photo finish between the two of you.
Hutton C:
I keep the elephant in a cage.
Jimmy J:
In a cage, of course. Where do you keep the cage?
Omnes:
IN THE BOX!

And here’s one for the REAL theatre-goers. Before and during the second world war Sheffield could only boast three top-line artistes but only two were Sheffielders; the other seemingly ‘adopted’. Two of those artistes topped the bill at the Empire while the other topped the bill continuously at a seaside resort. Who were they? To give you a clue, one was always said to had lived at Parson Cross but actually lived in London and is all but forgotten among the ‘greats‘, one did live at Nether Edge and the other was a College Lecturer. All three did Radio.

I love this thread!

The only three I can think of would be Jewel & Warris and Stainless Stephen. Jimmy Jewel lived in Crookes. (Cobden View Rd?) Stainless Stephen taught my father at Crookes Endowed School. Shot off to London every friday night to do his radio show apparently.

Sorry sent this twice.

I'll go along with tsavo and say Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warris, and Stainless Stephen. Albert Modley perhaps?
You've reminded me now peterw, Roy Castle's 'stooge' name was Hutton Conyers and Eli Woods was Bretton Woods. Thing is, both names are of actual places, there's a Hutton Conyers in Yorkshire somewhere, and I think Bretton Woods is somewhere in Massachusetts, in the good old U.S.of A.
Thanks for the reminder of the 'matchbox routine', that's a classic.

You’ve found one of the three — Stainless Stephen. Only two to go. Jewel and Warris came later.

P.S. The one all but forgotten was actually born in Grenada but for some reason Sheffielders spread it around that he was a Sheffielder born and bred. One of the greatest cabaret artistes ever, and coloured. Does that ring any bells?

Had a job remembering the name, but how about Leslie Hutchinson, he was from Grenada.

Well done that man! One more to go.

Don't want to Google, but I don't thing I'm going to get the third!

Just had a thought with my morning cuppa. Reginald Dixon was born just above Walkley library. Was thinking of comics too much.

NO itwas'nt Mabel give him the money It was ,give himthe money Barney
Barney Colehan was the producer of the show

Just had a thought with my morning cuppa. Reginald Dixon was born just above Walkley library. Was thinking of comics too much.

Well done again that man! That’s the third. During the war Reg Dixon lived on a very hilly road — can’t remember its name — just off Brincliffe Edge Road in Nether Edge. Third or fourth house on the left going down. Early in the war I was delivering his morning paper — until his dog started wandering down for it. There was a newsagents at the bottom of the hill and if he didn’t fancy the walk down and back up he’d send his dog, and believe me — there was never any chance of getting any newspaper off him!

I went to the Empire to see Wilfred Pickles on that show where they " Gave em the money, Barnie " with Ena Sharples ( Can't remember her real name ).

Buck, you may not remember this but Wilfred Pickles was the first Yorkshireman to read the news on radio. If my memory serves me, practically the whole of Yorkshire was listening to the Midnight news when the great day arrived, and as usual when the news had been completed he said “Good Night, everyone” — but then added “And to them in Yorkshire, Good Neet! The BBC took a dim view of it — they didn’t like accents at that time — and shortly afterwards it was “Good Neet” Wilfred!

Believe this was during the war when they were afraid that German imitators of news readers might be used to confuse the populace during an invasion.

Well who'd a thought it? Never credited either Reg Dixon or 'Hutch' to have any links with Sheffield. You're never to old to learn.
Do you remember Norman Evans playing the Empire? His 'over the garden wall' sketch had a big influence on Les Dawson later on methinks. Anybody remember him playing tenor sax' in his act. Awful it was.
Remember Frank Randle? Just like my Jack Russell.
Ted Ray, very funny man, never gets his due.
I remember seeing Max Miller at the Empire but he didn't do the North much.

Buck, you may not remember this but Wilfred Pickles was the first Yorkshireman to read the news on radio. If my memory serves me, practically the whole of Yorkshire was listening to the Midnight news when the great day arrived, and as usual when the news had been completed he said “Good Night, everyone” — but then added “And to them in Yorkshire, Good Neet! The BBC took a dim view of it — they didn’t like accents at that time — and shortly afterwards it was “Good Neet” Wilfred!I also remember him as Tom Courtney's father in that fabulous comedy " Billy Liar ".
I believe he was somewhat like that as a person, not too easy to get along with. Somebody once wrote a poem about him and his way of putting old people down on his show for a laugh. " May winter bring a bounteous wage of dotage, suffering and old age "

Well who'd a thought it? Never credited either Reg Dixon or 'Hutch' to have any links with Sheffield. You're never to old to learn.
Do you remember Norman Evans playing the Empire? His 'over the garden wall' sketch had a big influence on Les Dawson later on methinks. Anybody remember him playing tenor sax' in his act. Awful it was.
Remember Frank Randle? Just like my Jack Russell.
Ted Ray, very funny man, never gets his due.
I remember seeing Max Miller at the Empire but he didn't do the North much.My father loved Frank Randle, I swear he would nearly have a heart attack through laughing so much. He would take his false teeth out and imitate Frank saying " Any more for a sail?"

I’ve done Frank Randle on another thread, but can’t remember which. First saw him in panto at the Lyceum theatre and covered his death (1957 I think) at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Knew him before that, when he made his film series which was started in London but ended at Film Studios (Manchester) Ltd. He was paid £1,000 a week for his film making, toogether with 24 bottles of Guinness a day; which is how come he died of drink!

But Frank made a big mistake in taking that £1,000 a week. He had been offered a smaller salary plus a percentage of box-office takings — an offer that would have made him very rich! John Blakely, the studios’ owner and the director of all his films, was a shrewd man. He brought into the company a clutch of directors, all of whom owned circuits of cinemas. Men like JF Emery (who owned among others the Star, on Ecclesall Road, and solicitor H.D Moorehouse (HDM Circuit) whose hobby was turning old theatres into cinemas.

All these directors were from the north of England where Frank was best appreciated, and having become directors of Film Studios (Manchester) Ltd. they were honour-bound to show the Frank Randle films which, although badly made with poor lighting, put bums on seats.

Sorry if I’m a bit of a bore, but Frank Randle I could talk about for days without repeating myself. What your dad laughed about, Buck, was probably one of these fondly remembered — not Googled — jokes.

Frank: I went to a funeral t’other day and t’victor feller says to me ‘how old are tha?’
I said I’m eighty-two.
He said ‘not much point in thee gooin’ ooam then, is there!’

I went into a pub the other day and t’publican pulled me pint. I looked at it, and told him ‘it looks a bit thin, dun’t it?’ He said, ‘Aye, and so would tha be if tha’d come through t’same pipes as this has!’

I went into a haunted house t’other day and a voice said ‘there’s only me and thee.’ I said give us half a minute an’ there’ll only be thee!’

Today when there are so many unfunny sitcoms, and canned laughter, people like Frank Randle, George Formby, Morecomb and Wise, Mike and Bernie Winters, and yes from over here George Burns and Gracie Allen showed what real humour was all about, and seldom if ever raunchy.

Keep 'em coming peterw, the old ones are the best ones. Fascinating stuff about Frank Randle though.
Regarding the last gag, about the haunted house, are you certain it's a Frank Randle creation? I heard that one when I was about 5 years old, in 1938, was Frank Randle working then?
Just to digress a little and think about those films he made, I seem to remember one was called 'Demobbed', which also featured the aformentioned Norman Evans (and his bloody saxaphone), and Nat Jackley. There was also a little guy with a moustache, who's name I cant recall. Funny film though.
I remember seeing another one at the Sunbeam down Firvale. I'm not sure if Frank Randle was in it, but the rest of the crowd were, plus, believe it or not, Max Bygraves. Also present was Billie Whitlaw, supposedly for glamour interest. Who were they trying to kid?
I read a story on Billie Whitlaw a while ago, about her carreer and such. As you know she's a very serious actress nowadays. She sure as hell didn't mention working with a load of people like Norman Evans etc,etc.

Frank Randle was on stages long before 1938 and the joke was his. He started as one of a trio of tumblers. He was very athletic at that time. When he became a comedian he was known for his show Randle’s Scandals, when his side-kick was Gus Aubrey. During he 1970s I looked him up, found him living at Haslingden, between Bury and Blackburn (or Accrington) and called to see him.

When I rang his bell he answered the door, looked in both directions as the old pro’s did, and positively yanked me into the house!

“You didn’t ask anybody where I lived, did you?” he asked, with alarm.

I assured him I hadn’t, and during our long conversation he more or less admitted that he was ashamed of having worked with Frank. He was under the impression that because he had, he would be regarded as ‘notorious’. His real name was Gus Aubrey but he was living under an assumed name.

When I left he escorted me to the front door, and just as I was about to get into my car an old-ish woman stopped between the pair of us, looked at Gus, then looked at me. She said: “D’you know, every time I see this fellow I see the man who used to be in Randle’s Scandals with Frank Randle, but he keeps on telling me he isn’t. He looks like him though, don’t you think?”

At that stage Gus went indoors and slammed the front door. I told the woman that he did indeed have Aubrey’s likeness, but he was an old friend of mine and certainly not the great man himself.

Gus waved good-bye to me through his by then half-closed curtains!

It’s incidental, but Gus lived quite close to another pro who appeared several times on the BBC’s music-hall show at the City of Varieties (I think) in Leeds. It’s a long story, but he appeared on stage dressed as a budgie, in a cage, or dressed as a baby in a playpen. I wrote him a couple of scripts — and ended up in court as a witness, along with him as defendant and the employment people as prosecutors.

Apparently he’d been performing on a regular basis but drawing unemployment benefit! And they’d seen him on TV!

That's a great story peterw, I like the bit about looking quickly in both directions, I could just see him doing it.
The guy who dressed as a budgie seems familiar, I seem to remember seeing an act like that once. Of course there was Freddie Davis, but he was probably much later, and it was parrots with him wasn't it?

The Budgie in the Cage guy — can’t remember his name — lived in a house in Haslingen, on a very steep hill. His front door opened to the bedrooms. When he took me downstairs we found his living room, then to get me into a script-writing mood he took me into the depths of his cellar where he’d already set up his cage and playpen.

All I can remember is that he went through both his routines, in costume, and I thought about a catch-line for his baby act. He was to hold up the biggest spoon he could find, look at it curiously, then face the audience and say “It a poon!”

That, and the rest of the script went like a bomb! I was quite pleased with myself.

Did a script for Freddie, too. But he and I scrapped it because he could do his own scripts much better than I could. You can’t win ’em all. Same thing with the Barron Knights! It’s not all milk and honey! And like a fool I also turned down script-writing for a comedy double act — they’re still working — because I didn’t like the comedy on their headed notepaper! What a complete idiot I was in the 1960s!

That description of you entering the house of a guy who wears a budgie suit, has bedrooms on the ground floor and a celler two floors down, with a cage, is scary to say the least. Dont you ever imagine you could've finished up in there, in the cage, writing scripts for scraps(of food)? Definately in 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' territory I would say, or even better, that movie with Terence Stamp, 'The Collector'.
I dont suppose he tried to get you into the cage anytime, so he could force you to watch his act, did he?
Well as they say 'That's showbusiness'.

There’s no business like show business!

Hey Buck. Coincidentely you mentioned George Burns and Gracie Allen back on the 22nd. I say coincidently because I read a story about GB yesterday which I hadn't heard before, and I thought about your post.
It's a bit dark in a way, but it seems that Gracie had been very ill for a long time and George had been nursing her. She had been on a lot of medication, which George had been administering. It seems eventually she had to go into hospital, and there she sadly died.
George went to visit her as normal and the authorities told him the bad news. He was stunned, then he recovered somewhat and said 'She cant be dead, she still got all these pills to take yet'.
Makes you think, doesn't it?

The Blackpool wrestler ,whos name you cant remember was Jack Pye .His two sons were Dominic,& Casey, but Casey was not his real son, in reality ,he was Harry Bennet from Worsborough ,Barnsley. (an awful wrestler in the true sense of the word) . Jack was actually born in Stainforth ,Doncaster,Dominic ,was accidentally killed in the 1960s, whilst out shooting rabbits,apparently the gun was reputed to have caught on some bushes,and went off. but as Dom was suffering from severe depression at the time ,rumours were flying thick and fast?.The little man with the mustache, who worked with Frank Randle, was Dan Young The dude.By the way have you seen the web site for Mancunian films,its very good,lots of material re-Frank ,Norman Evans,Josef Locke and all who made films there.I have very much enjoyed your write up s,as i am agreat fan of Frank Randle.I used to put flowers on his grave at Carlton cemetery, at the start of every season at Blackpool,when i was working over there.Good Luck.

I think i know who you mean, He died just a few years back,and he was part of a double act in the late50s, whos partner has done very well in recent years in a weekly northern series made in Yorkshire.

Someone in Blackpool told me(in the mid80s, that Gus Aubrey, had been working in Lewiss Manchester prior to his death.

You can get A.3 size theatre posters re.Frank Randle and others, from the official Macunian films website and other memorabelia.Also,click on to,-"itsahottun"web site.official Frank Randle page.

could the other wrestler have been "man mountain"Bill Benny,who used to run wrestling shows around Manchester about that time, if i saw the film i would know. i forget the name of the film for the minute,but you will find it listed in the Mancunian Film website.

just spent 1 hour writing a private letter to you,re -turning yours in regards to Frank Randle& Wrestlers etc,,But it wont send .cant understand all the technical jargon. Hope to talk later .

Where in Sheffield is Charles Street? (Sorry, no A to Z at the moment.):rolleyes:

Well who'd a thought it? Never credited either Reg Dixon or 'Hutch' to have any links with Sheffield. You're never to old to learn.
Do you remember Norman Evans playing the Empire? His 'over the garden wall' sketch had a big influence on Les Dawson later on methinks. Anybody remember him playing tenor sax' in his act. Awful it was.
Remember Frank Randle? Just like my Jack Russell.
Ted Ray, very funny man, never gets his due.
I remember seeing Max Miller at the Empire but he didn't do the North much.

Ted Ray!!!! He once partnered Arthur Askey (two Liverpudlians together) on Juke Box Jury when presenter David Jacobs played the first Beatles single. They both voted it a MISS! Only David Jacobs knew better!

Keep 'em coming peterw, the old ones are the best ones. Fascinating stuff about Frank Randle though.
Regarding the last gag, about the haunted house, are you certain it's a Frank Randle creation? I heard that one when I was about 5 years old, in 1938, was Frank Randle working then?
Just to digress a little and think about those films he made, I seem to remember one was called 'Demobbed', which also featured the aformentioned Norman Evans (and his bloody saxaphone), and Nat Jackley. There was also a little guy with a moustache, who's name I cant recall. Funny film though.
I remember seeing another one at the Sunbeam down Firvale. I'm not sure if Frank Randle was in it, but the rest of the crowd were, plus, believe it or not, Max Bygraves. Also present was Billie Whitlaw, supposedly for glamour interest. Who were they trying to kid?
I read a story on Billie Whitlaw a while ago, about her carreer and such. As you know she's a very serious actress nowadays. She sure as hell didn't mention working with a load of people like Norman Evans etc,etc.

Little guy with moustache? Dan Young.

I am almost certain it was the Empire that my father used to go to in the early fifties to see nude shows.
He took me along once and I remember the Ladies were draped with see through material and they did not move an inch they just stood untill the curtain closed.
Does anyone else remember if it was the Empire. Mags
It was Empire. A friend and I (teenagers) intended going but he chickened out and we didn't. I recall waiting under the awning.

Peterw, have you got any reminiscences of Billy Dainty, remember him?
What a performer he was, I saw him once, a great eccentric dancer. I swear that it was he who did what was subsequently known as 'moon walking'.

Sorry, no. The only thing I cay say about him was that he was great on tv. Always watched everything with Billy Dainty in it, but never saw him on the stage. Don’t know why. He certainly entertained in Manchester and played Panto at the Palace a time or two!

No recent submissions on this thread, I know the 'Empire' has been mentioned on other threads though. I'm thinking this might have been the last time I was in the theatre, it must have been around June 1952, an old pal and I, both of us in the Army and home on leave prior to going overseas. Anyway headlining the show were 'Laurel & Hardy,' I'm asumming it must have been their last British tour, cannot remember any of the other performers who were sharing the bill.

they did do nude shows, as a teenager my pal and I remember seeing a lady called, I believe, Patty Paige, who was in a state of undress !! We were reminiscing about it the other day and each blaming the other for leading him astray! I remember taking him into The Barleycorn which was a pub of ill-repute and his face when one of the ladies started to chat him up ! remember Tommy Steele at the Empire and they had some great acts there.

:hihi:[QUOTE=billhaley;3386458]they did do nude shows, as a teenager my pal and I remember seeing a lady called, I believe, Patty Paige, who was in a state of undress !! We were reminiscing about it the other day and each blaming the other for leading him astray! I remember taking him into The Barleycorn which was a pub of ill-repute and his face when one of the ladies started to chat him up ! remember Tommy Steele at the Empire and they had some great acts there

Does anybody remember when a tiger escaped and was on the loose in the theatre, or if they have heard any stories about it. Not sure when this would have been, maybe in the 40's, but could have been a lot earlier. Would love to hear from you or anybody who can help.

There was a joke about that, it went something like this.

A bloke walking up Pinstone street was nearly trampled to death by dozens of panick stricken people running away from the Empire.

He grabbed this guy and asked him what was going on?
"A bloody Tiger's on the loose" came his reply.

"Which way is it going? asked the bloke.

"Tha dunt think that we're bloody chasing it does tha?" was his reply. :hihi:

Tommy Steel, Cliff Richard, Marty Wild, Adam Faith, Terry Dean etc etc plus many good supporting acts, my favourite "Wilson, Kepple & Betty" (sand dancers). Al Reid and many other great commedians. Every Saturday night in the gods, seemed to be the same audience every week. Variety was indeed the spice of life. :)

There was a joke about that, it went something like this.

A bloke walking up Pinstone street was nearly trampled to death by dozens of panick stricken people running away from the Empire.

He grabbed this guy and asked him what was going on?
"A bloody Tiger's on the loose" came his reply.

"Which way is it going? asked the bloke.

"Tha dunt think that we're bloody chasing it does tha?" was his reply. :hihi:
Sounds like Albert Modley.

Here's a similar joke TEXAS. A mans running in the rain, a bloke stops him and says "wot tha runnin' for mate? cos it's bloody rainin' tha bloody fool, replied the man, weh it's rainin' further on tha knows" said the bloke". I hope I got that one right TEXAS

Frank Randle would sway onto the stage holding a bottle and say "I'll be glad when I've had enough"! A great comedian.