Dear Neal, Your mention of North East Theatres interested me and I wondered if you could have a look at your father's playbills for any mention of my husband's ancestors. His grandfather was known as Charles HILT and we have him in 1887 playing a minor part in Elliston and Arthur's 'A Mother's Sin' which toured the country but particularly the northern theatres. He was also assistant stage manager with the company. In 1890 he married Ellen Sophia Wallett known as Nellie and they acted with travelling theatres throughout the 1890s until settling in Felling, Gateshead in about 1902. They were in Houghton le Spring in Jan 1895, Earsdon in Northumberland in Feb 1897 and in Chester le Street in the 1901 census (just before the Theatre there burnt down!). Their daughter, Ada Roberts (or Hilt) travelled with Alfred Denville and the Denville players as a child actress from the early 1900s until about 1915. Many thanks Ann Hartley

Hello Carole As far as I know, portable theatres weren't confined to the North East, though I guess it's quite possible they tended to be a "northern" thing, at least around the turn of the century. The little I know about them comes from my father's notes, and this tends to be more to do with the way they worked, rather than where they toured. Am I right in thinking that it was your Great Grandmother that may have been involved with a travelling theatre (as opposed to your grandmother) ? It's a shame that you don't know her name. If you do have any more details, please let us know! Cheers -- Neal ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carole Middleton" <c.middleton42@ntlworld.com> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 9:23 AM Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the 1900s. > Hi. > I have been following this thread with some interest as my G.ma Marjorie > Annie deakin DOB 18th Jan. 1901, parents unknown, place of birth/register > possibly Manchester (although her death certificate says Northumberland but > has been found to be untrue) may have possible connections with travelling > theatres. > Can you tell me when you wrote that your G.parents travelled with a theatre > company and more so from the North East, is this because the North East > tended to be more common with travelling theatres? My G.ma's mother was most > likely either born,lived in Northumberland ,as we know when she died she was > returned from either Staffordshire/Cheshire/Manchester, to Northumberland to > be buried in the 1950's; and it is possible my G.ma's mother came down from > the North East with a travelling theatre? > Regards. > > Carole Middleton > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Neal Dench" <ndench@tinyworld.co.uk> > To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 7:37 AM > Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the > 1900s. > > > > Hi all > > > > Like Derek said, some names would be helpful. My grandparents (with my > > father as a child) toured with various travelling theatres at that time, > > though it did tend to be in the North East, rather than North West. > > Nevertheless, if you can list some names it's possible that I might > > recognise a few names from my father's old playbills etc. > > > > Cheers > > -- > > Neal Dench // ndench@tinyworld.co.uk > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "derekive" <derek@ive999.fsnet.co.uk> > > To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 5:27 PM > > Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around > the > > 1900s. > > > > > > > Hi Christine, if you could list some of the names in the book then > people > > > could check their sources. many people on the list have reference books > > etc > > > and will willingly do lookups. If there are a lot of names it might be > > worth > > > putting them up a few at a time. > > > regards > > > Derek > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: <CBoyer3229@aol.com> > > > To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 4:55 PM > > > Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the > > > 1900s. > > > > > > > > > Hi Listers > > > I've now managed to subscribe to the list so I hope there might > be > > > people out there who can add something to the very limited knowledge I > > have. > > > > > > My Great Grandmother, Ann Collier, ran a boarding house at 88 > > Pierce > > > Street, Macclesfield Cheshire for Travelling Theatrical actors in the > > 1890's > > > and maybe before that. There was a theatre a very short walk from the > > house > > > which became the Picturedrome Cinema and is now closed. > > > I have a little notebook that several of the guests signed with > > > comments about the hospitality they received and some comments about > > > Macclesfield > > > and I wondered if there were any sources of further information I could > > > consult > > > on these groups or the individuals or if anyone has information that > would > > > shed light on life at that time? > > > I wasn't listed but I did get one e-mail from Ruth. I'll be > > checking > > > through the names, Ruth, and I will get back to you. > > > Here's hoping! > > > Christine Boyer > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Hello Christine Could you possibly look in your book to see if my ancestors are in it. The Family Name is MAUS but they had a stage name of "The Dayton Family". My grandparents were married in Macclesfield c1910 because my grandfather was on the stage and appearing in many of the Theatres there, I know they lived in Union Street, for some time, but if your ancestor catered for stage performers, it is very likely they would have stayed there. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. thanks Rev Robert MAUS Maesteg, South Wales.

Hi. I have been following this thread with some interest as my G.ma Marjorie Annie deakin DOB 18th Jan. 1901, parents unknown, place of birth/register possibly Manchester (although her death certificate says Northumberland but has been found to be untrue) may have possible connections with travelling theatres. Can you tell me when you wrote that your G.parents travelled with a theatre company and more so from the North East, is this because the North East tended to be more common with travelling theatres? My G.ma's mother was most likely either born,lived in Northumberland ,as we know when she died she was returned from either Staffordshire/Cheshire/Manchester, to Northumberland to be buried in the 1950's; and it is possible my G.ma's mother came down from the North East with a travelling theatre? Regards. Carole Middleton ----- Original Message ----- From: "Neal Dench" <ndench@tinyworld.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 7:37 AM Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the 1900s. > Hi all > > Like Derek said, some names would be helpful. My grandparents (with my > father as a child) toured with various travelling theatres at that time, > though it did tend to be in the North East, rather than North West. > Nevertheless, if you can list some names it's possible that I might > recognise a few names from my father's old playbills etc. > > Cheers > -- > Neal Dench // ndench@tinyworld.co.uk > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "derekive" <derek@ive999.fsnet.co.uk> > To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 5:27 PM > Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the > 1900s. > > > > Hi Christine, if you could list some of the names in the book then people > > could check their sources. many people on the list have reference books > etc > > and will willingly do lookups. If there are a lot of names it might be > worth > > putting them up a few at a time. > > regards > > Derek > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <CBoyer3229@aol.com> > > To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 4:55 PM > > Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the > > 1900s. > > > > > > Hi Listers > > I've now managed to subscribe to the list so I hope there might be > > people out there who can add something to the very limited knowledge I > have. > > > > My Great Grandmother, Ann Collier, ran a boarding house at 88 > Pierce > > Street, Macclesfield Cheshire for Travelling Theatrical actors in the > 1890's > > and maybe before that. There was a theatre a very short walk from the > house > > which became the Picturedrome Cinema and is now closed. > > I have a little notebook that several of the guests signed with > > comments about the hospitality they received and some comments about > > Macclesfield > > and I wondered if there were any sources of further information I could > > consult > > on these groups or the individuals or if anyone has information that would > > shed light on life at that time? > > I wasn't listed but I did get one e-mail from Ruth. I'll be > checking > > through the names, Ruth, and I will get back to you. > > Here's hoping! > > Christine Boyer > > > > > > > > > >

Hi all Like Derek said, some names would be helpful. My grandparents (with my father as a child) toured with various travelling theatres at that time, though it did tend to be in the North East, rather than North West. Nevertheless, if you can list some names it's possible that I might recognise a few names from my father's old playbills etc. Cheers -- Neal Dench // ndench@tinyworld.co.uk ----- Original Message ----- From: "derekive" <derek@ive999.fsnet.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 5:27 PM Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the 1900s. > Hi Christine, if you could list some of the names in the book then people > could check their sources. many people on the list have reference books etc > and will willingly do lookups. If there are a lot of names it might be worth > putting them up a few at a time. > regards > Derek > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <CBoyer3229@aol.com> > To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 4:55 PM > Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the > 1900s. > > > Hi Listers > I've now managed to subscribe to the list so I hope there might be > people out there who can add something to the very limited knowledge I have. > > My Great Grandmother, Ann Collier, ran a boarding house at 88 Pierce > Street, Macclesfield Cheshire for Travelling Theatrical actors in the 1890's > and maybe before that. There was a theatre a very short walk from the house > which became the Picturedrome Cinema and is now closed. > I have a little notebook that several of the guests signed with > comments about the hospitality they received and some comments about > Macclesfield > and I wondered if there were any sources of further information I could > consult > on these groups or the individuals or if anyone has information that would > shed light on life at that time? > I wasn't listed but I did get one e-mail from Ruth. I'll be checking > through the names, Ruth, and I will get back to you. > Here's hoping! > Christine Boyer > > > >

Hi Christine, if you could list some of the names in the book then people could check their sources. many people on the list have reference books etc and will willingly do lookups. If there are a lot of names it might be worth putting them up a few at a time. regards Derek ----- Original Message ----- From: <CBoyer3229@aol.com> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 4:55 PM Subject: [THEATRE-UK] Travelling Theatrical groups in the UK around the 1900s. Hi Listers I've now managed to subscribe to the list so I hope there might be people out there who can add something to the very limited knowledge I have. My Great Grandmother, Ann Collier, ran a boarding house at 88 Pierce Street, Macclesfield Cheshire for Travelling Theatrical actors in the 1890's and maybe before that. There was a theatre a very short walk from the house which became the Picturedrome Cinema and is now closed. I have a little notebook that several of the guests signed with comments about the hospitality they received and some comments about Macclesfield and I wondered if there were any sources of further information I could consult on these groups or the individuals or if anyone has information that would shed light on life at that time? I wasn't listed but I did get one e-mail from Ruth. I'll be checking through the names, Ruth, and I will get back to you. Here's hoping! Christine Boyer

 Hi Listers I've now managed to subscribe to the list so I hope there might be people out there who can add something to the very limited knowledge I have. My Great Grandmother, Ann Collier, ran a boarding house at 88 Pierce Street, Macclesfield Cheshire for Travelling Theatrical actors in the 1890's and maybe before that. There was a theatre a very short walk from the house which became the Picturedrome Cinema and is now closed.    I have a little notebook that several of the guests signed with comments about the hospitality they received and some comments about Macclesfield and I wondered if there were any sources of further information I could consult on these groups or the individuals or if anyone has information that would shed light on life at that time? I wasn't listed but I did get one e-mail from Ruth. I'll be checking through the names, Ruth, and I will get back to you.     Here's hoping!   Christine Boyer

Hi Martin I knew it was a Virus thats why i posted the message just in case others get it. Mickey in Tarleton, Lancashire ----- Original Message ----- From: "NM" <n.m@britishlibrary.net> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 10:57 AM Subject: RE: [THEATRE-UK] HOAX Virus Patch > Dear Mickey, > It's NOT from Microsoft, IT'S A VIRUS, whatever you do don't > open it > > Regards, > > > Martin > Lancashire, UK > > -----Original Message----- > From: Cockney Sparrow [mailto:cockney.sparrow@btopenworld.com] > Sent: 24 August 2003 10:46 > To: THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [THEATRE-UK] HOAX Virus Patch > > Hi all > > I've just received an email from"MICROSOFT"??? > > With the following message! > > Dear friend , use this Internet Explorer patch now! > There are dangerous virus in the Internet now! > More than 500.000 already infected! > > MY ATI-VIRUS THROUGH IT OUT AS INFECTED > > Mickey > > > >

Dear Mickey, It's NOT from Microsoft, IT'S A VIRUS, whatever you do don't open it Regards, Martin Lancashire, UK -----Original Message----- From: Cockney Sparrow [mailto:cockney.sparrow@btopenworld.com] Sent: 24 August 2003 10:46 To: THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [THEATRE-UK] HOAX Virus Patch Hi all I've just received an email from"MICROSOFT"??? With the following message! Dear friend , use this Internet Explorer patch now! There are dangerous virus in the Internet now! More than 500.000 already infected! MY ATI-VIRUS THROUGH IT OUT AS INFECTED Mickey

Hi all I've just received an email from"MICROSOFT"??? With the following message! Dear friend , use this Internet Explorer patch now! There are dangerous virus in the Internet now! More than 500.000 already infected! MY ATI-VIRUS THROUGH IT OUT AS INFECTED Mickey

From: <CBoyer3229@aol.com> {not a subscriber} My Great Grandmother ran a boarding house for Travelling Theatrical actors in Macclesfield Cheshire in the 1890's and maybe before that. I have a book that the guests signed and wondered if there was any further information I could find on these groups or the individuals? Here's hoping! Christine Boyer

Hi everyone, I have just acquired 6 postcards of a play called "The Bad Girl of the Family" by Frederick Melville. I have found out the following information:- It was first put on at The Elephant and Castle 4th Oct 1909 and then at Aldwych Theatre from 27 Dec 1909. It lasted for 452 performances. The author was Frederick Melville who died 5 Apr 1938 aged 62. He left £314,228 in his will. (Info from Whos Who in the Theatre) Someone called D'Arcy Kelway played Jerry Holmes in the play from Dec 1909 until Oct 1910 (he was formerly with the D'Oyly Carte). I found the following site http://library.kent.ac.uk/library/special/html/specoll/badlist.htm but currently the links don't work. There was a Waltz used in the play which was written by E Friedman. The pictures on the sheet music show Mr George Marlow, Miss Ethel Buckley and Miss Nellie Fergusson. See the following http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an10835029 can anyone add any further information? regards Derek Ive

Hello, My name is Malcolm and I'm trying to trace the history of my great-grandparents, who were both theatre people. Ernest Reginald ALLEN described himself as 'Comedian' when married in Birmingham in 1899. In 1901 he was in Yorkshire, by now an 'Actor'. In 1903 he signed an agreement with Messrs Preston and Dordon, theatre managers, earning £3.10s per week. In 1912 he was in Whitehaven, and in 1915 he was in Leeds shortly before embarking for France to serve in the First World War. It is believed that he performed in army entertainment in France. After the war Ernest returned to a full-time acting profession, and in July 1922 he was at the Theatre Royal, South Shields. As a member of Julian Bainbridge's Company, Ernest was playing the part of Philip Christian in Sir Hall Caine's play "The Manxman". In August 1922, also at the Theatre Royal, Ernest was appearing as Lord Robert Ure in "The Christian" He then moved to the Isle of Man. In February 1925 he was appearing in "A Royal Divorce" at the Grand Theatre, Douglas, Isle of Man, and in January of 1928 in "Maria Martin", also at the Grand Theatre. He signed an agreement with William Brookfield, director of the London Premier Repertory Company in 1930 at a salary of £5 per week. In 1932, Ernest formed a theatre company in the Isle of Man. Ernest's second wife, Maud RHODES, was an actress about 1910. I assume that she travelled the country with Ernest. Family legend says that she was 'one of the original Dolly Sisters'. Obviously she was not (they were Jenny and Rosika Dolly, in the USA), but maybe it was one of her acts. This is the sum of my knowledge. If anyone has any information that could expand on this I would be very pleased to hear from you. _________________________ malcolm@gulberwick.com Shetland Islands

This may be known to many but I have just come across two CDs of 19th century playbills published by Archive Britain. May be worth investigating for some. The Archive Britain site is at http://www.archivebritain.com/ It has many, many more CDs of interest to family, naval and local historians too. I have no connection with the company concerned. Bob Sanders

Good morning Listers Has anyone know of details/history of Finsbury Park Empire? My grandfather prior to joining the army during WW1 worked as a scene shifter backstage at the Finsbury Park Empire. He must have begun with them in the very early days as I believe they opened circa 1910. I have looked at various web-site's suggested so far on this excellent Theatre rootsweb but I have been unable to find a comprehensive history. Here's hoping Regards Eve Evans Frome Somerset.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nmfa/genealogy.html Anyone seen this site? Click on "The Pocket Atlas and Guide to London 1900" and then on pages 8 - 9. It lists Theatres, Concert Halls, Music Halls & Entertainments. Great stuff! There's also a map of London Environs of London (to the distance of 32 miles from St. Paul's Cathedral) 01/10/1829 Cheers Josephine

THEATRE-UK-L-request@rootsweb.com with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line! Have a good holiday! Josephine ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joyce Yardley" <joyceyardley@shaw.ca> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 7:57 PM Subject: RE: [THEATRE-UK] LASCELLES girls > > > Could someone please give me the correct method of unsubbing from this > group? I'm going on an extended holiday and will re-subscribe when I get > back! Thanks! > > Joyce > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ruth [mailto:ruthcroft@lascelles99.freeserve.co.uk] > Sent: August 4, 2003 9:04 AM > To: theatre-uk-l@rootsweb.com > Subject: [THEATRE-UK] LASCELLES girls > > > Hello, > > This is my first message to the list. > I've been reading the archive, and you sound a lovely lot of people. > > I have been researching my family history for several years with some > success, apart from my theatrical relatives who - darn! - didn't keep > cuttings books or anything that would be useful to an inquisitive creature > like me. > My Grandfather's first family of girls all trod the boards in one way or > another, and most of their offspring followed suit. > (I'm merely a show off who followed our side into teaching!) > > I'd be very grateful if some kind soul could find any references to the > LASCELLES surname from the early 1900's onwards. > My Grandfather apparently used to sing with his daughter as 'Mr. Lascelles > and his little girl at the piano'. His oldest daughter Leonie was a child > prodigy on the piano, and even studied in Germany in the years before WWI. > > His next 2 daughters Felice and Vera, acted, sang and danced from the 1910's > until the 1940's. Felice was in ENSA during the war. > Felice was married to another actor called George NEIL. Any sightings of > him gratefully accepted! > > That's quite a list for a first message. I'll now go away, cross my > fingers, and wait hopefully... > > Regards, > Ruth in Brum. > > > >

Hi folks, A slight exaggeration there - what I've really done is updated Carole Cumber's information regarding Bessie Bellwood. Carole has been really busy with her research, but would still appreciate more information. Her entry is at ~ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jassie/theatre/index-page11.htm If anyone else either requires an update or has anything they would like included on the website, please let me know. Best wishes, Dave Jassie - dave.jassie@ntlworld.com (List Administrator) Visit Gen-Links at - http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.com/~jassie/index.html Proud to be part of the FreeCen Project http://freecen.rootsweb.com/

Dear Derek, >could only find the following in the Obituary section LASCELLES Frank, Pageant Master former Actor died 23rd May 1934 (Age 58) It says he left £12,899 in his will.< That was quick! I don't recognise him, but it's most interesting. Thanks for looking, I appreciate it. Kind regards, Ruth.

Hi Ruth, had a look in "Who who in the Theatre" (10th Ed 1947) and could only find the following in the Obituray section LASCELLES Frank, Pageant Master former Actor died 23rd May 1934 (Age 58) It says he left £12,899 in his will. no other mentions, good luck with your research regards Derek Ive Gosport England ----- Original Message ----- From: Ruth <RuthCroft@lascelles99.freeserve.co.uk> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 5:03 PM Subject: [THEATRE-UK] LASCELLES girls > Hello, > > This is my first message to the list. > I've been reading the archive, and you sound a lovely lot of people. > > I have been researching my family history for several years with some > success, apart from my theatrical relatives who - darn! - didn't keep > cuttings books or anything that would be useful to an inquisitive creature > like me. > My Grandfather's first family of girls all trod the boards in one way or > another, and most of their offspring followed suit. > (I'm merely a show off who followed our side into teaching!) > > I'd be very grateful if some kind soul could find any references to the > LASCELLES surname from the early 1900's onwards. > My Grandfather apparently used to sing with his daughter as 'Mr. Lascelles > and his little girl at the piano'. His oldest daughter Leonie was a child > prodigy on the piano, and even studied in Germany in the years before WWI. > > His next 2 daughters Felice and Vera, acted, sang and danced from the 1910's > until the 1940's. Felice was in ENSA during the war. > Felice was married to another actor called George NEIL. Any sightings of > him gratefully accepted! > > That's quite a list for a first message. I'll now go away, cross my > fingers, and wait hopefully... > > Regards, > Ruth in Brum. > > > >