WHEN the impressario Francis Laidler decided to build the Alhambra Theatre on a plot of land in Morley Street in 1912 (it was opened in 1914), he was simply adding to an already flourishing Bradford theatre scene. The cinema had not yet arrived and a night out at a live entertainment show was still the favourite form of relaxation for Bradfordians. Among the existing theatres were..... The EMPIRE MUSIC HALL in Great Horton Road, which was almost opposite the present stage door of the Alhambra. It was opened in 1889 and in 1912 still featured many famous entertainers - including a young man who had made his Bradford debut in 1910. His name: Charles Chaplin. Another favourite with audiences was the Lancashire comic Stan Laurel (and we all know where both these luminaries ended up). Oh, yes, and another artist to appear at the Empire was a fellow called W C Fields. In 1917 a fire destroyed the Empire's stage and it became a cinema. The PALACE THEATRE in Manchester Road, opened in 1875 and shut in 1938, used to present rather naughty revues, but still featured some well known artists, some on their way up and others on their way down. The THEATRE ROYAL in Manningham Lane opened in 1864 and was regarded as Bradford's "legitimate theatre", featuring tours by West End thespian stars. It was at the Theatre Royal (as I recounted in a previous message) that the legendary actor-manager Sir Henry Irving made his farewell performance in Becket before being taken ill and collapsing and dying in the foyer of the Midland Hotel. This on the fateful night of Friday, October 13th 1905. The Theatre Royal became a cinema in 1921 and finally closed in the 1970s. The PRINCE'S THEATRE in Little Horton Lane opened in 1876 and closed in 1961. Laidler already controlled this theatre. Interestingly, the stage of this theatre was immediately above and back to back with that of the Palace, the two theatres facing in opposite directions, and there were many stories of performers getting lost and stumbling into the wrong show! There had once been another Bradford theatre also called the ALHAMBRA. This opened in 1873 as a wooden circus building in Canal Road. Then a local businessmen converted into the ALHAMBRA MUSIC HALL, but its live was short-lived and it closed in 1875. There were others less celebrated including..... PULLAN'S MUSIC HALL in Brunswick Place, where the great comedian Dan Leno and world-famous tightrope walker Blondin appeared. The STAR MUSIC HALL in Manchester Road. Bradford's very first proper theatre opened early in the 19th century in Sackville Street, off Sunbridge Road. It was no more than a converted barn, but playbills advertised it as the BRADFORD THEATRE. It was also commonly known as THOMPSON'S THEATRE, the proprietor being one L. S. Thompson. The city's first major theatre was the THEATRE ROYAL which opened in Duke Street, off Darley Street, in 1841. It ran regularly for 20 years but declined when the ROYAL ALEXANDRA THEATRE, opened in Manningham Lane in 1864. The Theatre Royal was pulled down in 1867 and the name taken by the Royal Alexandra (which became the Theatre Royal where Sir Henry Irving gave his last performance). Hope this helps, Valerie! * Data from DOMES OF DELIGHT, a history of the Alhambra Theatre, by Peter Holdsworth, former theatre critic of the Bradford Telegraph & Argus. Roy Stockdill (Editor, Journal of One-Name Studies) Guild of One-Name Studies:- www.one-name.org Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History:- www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html Never ask a man if he comes from Yorkshire. If he does he will tell you, if he does not why humiliate him? - Canon Sydney Smith

Mention of the Empire Music Hall brought back many memories. The first film I was ever taken to see was "Lassie' at the Empire. This was when the Empire was no longer a theatre but a cinema. Later it was to become the Alexandra Hotel. I think it then burnt down. There was a LEEDS ROAD PLAYHOUSE. I used to go to Saturday morning children's theatre there where we were supposed to learn acting. I do not know when it was built/opened but was probably too 'young' a theatre for comparison to the likes of the Alhambra. Regards Judith Kettlewell ----- Original Message ----- From: Roy Stockdill <roy@stockdillfhs.org.uk> To: <ENG-YKS-BRADFORD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 9:53 PM Subject: [ BRAD] Some early Bradford theatres > WHEN the impressario Francis Laidler decided to build the Alhambra > Theatre on a plot of land in Morley Street in 1912 (it was opened in > 1914), he was simply adding to an already flourishing Bradford > theatre scene. The cinema had not yet arrived and a night out at a > live entertainment show was still the favourite form of relaxation > for Bradfordians. Among the existing theatres were..... > > The EMPIRE MUSIC HALL in Great Horton Road, which was almost > opposite the present stage door of the Alhambra. It was opened in > 1889 and in 1912 still featured many famous entertainers - including > a young man who had made his Bradford debut in 1910. His name: > Charles Chaplin. Another favourite with audiences was the Lancashire > comic Stan Laurel (and we all know where both these luminaries ended > up). Oh, yes, and another artist to appear at the Empire was a fellow > called W C Fields. In 1917 a fire destroyed the Empire's stage and it > became a cinema. > > The PALACE THEATRE in Manchester Road, opened in 1875 and shut in > 1938, used to present rather naughty revues, but still featured some > well known artists, some on their way up and others on their way > down. > > The THEATRE ROYAL in Manningham Lane opened in 1864 and was regarded > as Bradford's "legitimate theatre", featuring tours by West End > thespian stars. It was at the Theatre Royal (as I recounted in a > previous message) that the legendary actor-manager Sir Henry Irving > made his farewell performance in Becket before being taken ill and > collapsing and dying in the foyer of the Midland Hotel. This on the > fateful night of Friday, October 13th 1905. The Theatre Royal became > a cinema in 1921 and finally closed in the 1970s. > > The PRINCE'S THEATRE in Little Horton Lane opened in 1876 and closed > in 1961. Laidler already controlled this theatre. Interestingly, the > stage of this theatre was immediately above and back to back with > that of the Palace, the two theatres facing in opposite directions, > and there were many stories of performers getting lost and stumbling > into the wrong show! > > There had once been another Bradford theatre also called the > ALHAMBRA. This opened in 1873 as a wooden circus building in Canal > Road. Then a local businessmen converted into the ALHAMBRA MUSIC > HALL, but its live was short-lived and it closed in 1875. > > There were others less celebrated including..... > > PULLAN'S MUSIC HALL in Brunswick Place, where the great comedian Dan > Leno and world-famous tightrope walker Blondin appeared. > > The STAR MUSIC HALL in Manchester Road. > > Bradford's very first proper theatre opened early in the 19th century > in Sackville Street, off Sunbridge Road. It was no more than a > converted barn, but playbills advertised it as the BRADFORD THEATRE. > It was also commonly known as THOMPSON'S THEATRE, the proprietor > being one L. S. Thompson. > > The city's first major theatre was the THEATRE ROYAL which opened in > Duke Street, off Darley Street, in 1841. It ran regularly for 20 > years but declined when the ROYAL ALEXANDRA THEATRE, opened in > Manningham Lane in 1864. The Theatre Royal was pulled down in 1867 > and the name taken by the Royal Alexandra (which became the Theatre > Royal where Sir Henry Irving gave his last performance). > > Hope this helps, Valerie! > > * Data from DOMES OF DELIGHT, a history of the Alhambra Theatre, by > Peter Holdsworth, former theatre critic of the Bradford Telegraph & > Argus. > > Roy Stockdill (Editor, Journal of One-Name Studies) > Guild of One-Name Studies:- www.one-name.org > Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History:- www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html > > Never ask a man if he comes from Yorkshire. If he does he will tell you, if he does not why humiliate him? - Canon Sydney Smith > > > ==== ENG-YKS-BRADFORD Mailing List ==== > Its expected that all subscribers to the list have a virus detection program installed. If you dont have one then please install one immediately. ***** You Know It Makes Sense ***** > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >