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Theatre shows of the past.

I used to love Cassanoa on on a Tuesday night about 1972 i think Frank Finnely was the leading man
 
I saw Vivien Leigh and Lawrence Olivier in Macbeth at the Stratford Theatre in 1952. Memory is a bit hazy but I was most impressed and enjoyed it considering I was a young apprentice at the time. I was on a staff course at nearby rather posh Goldicote House, don't know whether it is still there. I do remember drinking rather too much of a beer called 'Double Diamond' after getting back from the theatre - probably why my memory is hazy. I've never seen a play in a theatre since, only once to see Frankie Laine at the B'ham Theatre Royal - a long time ago, and he was fantastic.
oldmohawk
 
Pat I only remember bits of that which bits of course I cannot remember. Pete remembered double diamond for what reasons I can only imagine mowhawk. :taste:taste Frankie Lane was something special. Just found the programme for little shop of horrors. That was fantastic. Have never been to the theatre with Pete not his scene always with friends the twins or mom when she was alive. We all took her to Prisoner cell block H the original cast off the tv show and they came on to the outside balcony after the show. She loved that part the most I think then we went to a do at the Old Fox afterwards. Jean.
 
Hi OldMohawk :

Is this the place you were taking the course you mentioned near Stratford.
 
Jenny Anne can I go back to school PLEASE. What a place is looks like where Birmingham city council send their staff at Avoncrof?. Jean.
 
Hi Jennyann,
Thanks for the photo of Goldicote, the house looks in very good condition. When I went there it was owned by a company call Birfield Industries. It was run by a distinguished looking gent who was addressed as Colonel Pinsent (I might be wrong with the name - old memory etc). Birfield also owned Little Aston Hall, which had a well stocked fishing lake. The name Birfield was made up of Bir from B'ham and field from Sheffield.
I also went on a course at Little Aston and I remember a large room with a decorative ceiling of painted figures and clouds - used to gaze up at it when lectures became boring.
A very large company called GKN made a successful takeover bid for Birfield in the 60's and found that they had acquired some nice country houses.
oldmohawk
 
Hi OM,

I think Birfield Extrusions is still going on Old Walsall Road/Hamstead Hill, but maybe under another name. I used to seel asbestos sheet to them, years ago...naughty.

Big Gee
 
In 1957/58, I saw Cliff Richard and The Shadows (they might still have been The Drifters then) at the Birmingham Hippodrome. This was in the days when Cliff was a rocker, and it was a great show. I wouldn't put my head over our back fence to watch him now if he was performing in the field behind our house, but that show turned me on to live music for the rest of my life. I thank him for that!

Big Gee
 
Hi, Big Gee,
I worked at Birfield Extrusions. It was one of the few firms in GKN which managed to keep Birfield in its name although GKN managed to call it GKN Birfield Extrusions. I think it's called GKN Driveline now. When we first moved there, Hamstead Colliery was shutting down and a lot of miners who had moved from Durham to Hamstead Colliery came to work in the factory. They brought their big hammers with them.
Thanks for the asbestos !
I think we've drifted off thread !

oldmohawk
 
Not quite a theatre but I can vaguely remember as a child, seeing a Pantomime at a B'ham City bus depot in Wellhead Lane. I think all the people performing in it either worked for, or were connected with the bus company. The show was very professional and excellent. I just hope my memory isn't playing tricks - but I'm sure I saw it !
 
Gone off original thread a bit with the photo of Goldicote Manor. Lovely looking place. I remember the name Birfield as well. Jean do you mean that you knew people who went to Goldicote on courses?

I remember many theatre shows I went to in Brum. Some good and some not so good. Saw John Hansen in "The Student Prince" in the early l960's.
Loved it and still do. The film with Mario Lanza has a special meaning to me.
Went to see "Bless the Bride" with my mother in the early l950's.It was great. Mom had the piano music. We went to see the ballet "Coppelia" at the Theatre Royal in the early l950's. It was great. Mom had the piano music. Saw The Boyfriend" must have been late l950's. I have seen a few times since. Loved the music. Saw local plays and school shows as well.
 
Sorry JennyAnne no. The council sent their staff to a place by the name of Avoncroft that was almost being on vacation. You worked hard and had a good time in the evening. Jean.
 
Thanks Jean...Many of those manors were used for special courses for companies, etc. I reckon most people had a good time overall at these places. Many of them have been made into Convention centres or hotels.
 
Still off thread - Someone will have to start a thread on Company courses I'm sure we all had some fun after the hard syndicate work !
I went to one at Cambridge University summer 1970 where we played at being undergraduates for 3 weeks -the real ones were on vacation.
Punting on the River Cam was fun and wet.
I have a group picture taken in front of the Pepy's library - had a look in there - didn't appreciate the good items I saw at the time.
 
The Pepys library at Magdalene college is just down the hill from my daughters house in Cambride, Mowhawk. The cabinets made for Pepys in his London house are the ones that hold his diaries in the Library. I love his diaries and read them over and over.

My friend Lorna was once in the Panto at the bus garage in Wellhead Lane. I reckon it might have been the one you saw, Big Gee it would have been about 1953. :)
 
Went to the Garrick London to see the Two of Us with Richard Briar's & Lynn Vanessa Redgrave Nov 7th 1970? :) It was my Girlfriends Birthday
 
When I was a child someone from Holte road would organise a coach either to Wolverhampton or Coventry to watch a panto. Couldn't imagine that these days. I think it was called comunity spirit. Does anyone remember the evening mail once a week where you had to look through the adds and if you found your name and address you had won a family night out to the theatre. We found ours one night and went to see the King and I at the Alex. I still have the programme amongst my other treasures. TTFN. Jean.
 
At least I hadn't imagined about the Panto at the Wellhead Lane garage. I think the one I saw was pre 1950 because I was a teenager and fell in love with the leading lady - she didn't know ! It's amazing what bus garages did in those days.
About Magdelene College, I stayed in it, and I often read the Pepy's diaries - you almost feel as if you are in London in the 1600's.
I'll sort out the large group photo taken at the college and possibly start a thread. Someone might recognise people on it.
oldmohawk
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oldMohawk said:
Hi, Big Gee,
I worked at Birfield Extrusions. It was one of the few firms in GKN which managed to keep Birfield in its name although GKN managed to call it GKN Birfield Extrusions. I think it's called GKN Driveline now. When we first moved there, Hamstead Colliery was shutting down and a lot of miners who had moved from Durham to Hamstead Colliery came to work in the factory. They brought their big hammers with them.
Thanks for the asbestos !
I think we've drifted off thread !

oldmohawk
Click to expand...
When Hamstead Colliery closed we (Stockland Coaches) used to do a work service, from the Hamstead area, to other pits for the Miners who used to work at Hamstead.
 
I went to see this show with my son as Pete is not into the theatre. Another person I'm not keen on on tv is Lorraine Chase but on stage she was brilliant. Jean.
 
Pat Albert and Joyce did and they said there were more people with clothes off than on:sweat:. IS THAT TRUE?. Jean.
 
MAX BYGRAVES "BUTTONS" at the THEATRE ROYAL NEW STREET.
The one thing stands out in my mind of our family outing to that show was Max standing on stage in a VILLA KIT to which we all clapped & cheered only to have him turn round & show his backside in the BLUES KIT (WHICH MAY I SAY WAS THE RIGHT WAY ROUND, ME BEING A VILLA FAN)
Any one see, BILL HAYLEY & His Comets at the ODEON New Street.
TOMMY STEEL & JIM DALE, the warm up Comic was DEZ OCONNOR, at THE HIPP;
JAZZ AT THE PHIL; With Ella; Dizzy on Trumpet & Gene on the Drums What GREAT NIGHT.
GARY WILMOT Me & My Girl, at THE NEW REP;
WIZARD OF OZ, at the REP; went back stage to see how the show was put on then watched it from the front stalls, wow those back stage folks work hard to give us a good show.
Had many a happy time at the Town Hall, L HAMPTOM,E DEELANY, TED HEATH,LONNY DONIGAN, (Rush down to JIMMY'S in New St for a drink then run back to catch the second half)
MIDLAND JAZZ CLUB, SECOND CITY JAZZ BAND
So many to remember but all such great times.
 
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I was taken by my mum to the Birmingham Hippodrome, we saw a revue starring Hal Monty. When i mention this to my sister (who is older than me) she says she does'nt remember him. Do any of the older Brummies, remember him.?
 
Oops the thought of Max Bygrave's rear end brings stars to my eyes. Went to see Nick Nick Davidson in panto and the special effects on stage were brilliant. Also to the Manor born star but can't think of his name Somebody Bowles but the things he came out with were so rude:redface::redface::rolleyes: I don't know how he got away with it. He was doing the Williams furniture advert at the time. Jean. Oh is it Peter?.
 
Did anyone see John Barry at the Symphony Hall in 1999 "Bond and Beyond"? It was fantastic. It is the only time I have been in the Symphony Hall and it was truly amazing. A really great show!

Judy
 
My first memory of the theatre is going with my mother to Aston Hippodrome to see Issy Bonn, I was about 8 and always remember him coming outside where we were queuing and singing to us.
Have seen every Johnny Cash show in Brum, and one of the finest shows ever was that of Billy Eckstine and Sarah Vaughan at the Odeon about 1982 or thereabouts, brilliant.
 
Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Old Rep. The Beatles at the Odeon. Manfred Mann, Yardbirds in Coventry. Henry V at Stratford. Merchant of Venice at Shugborough. One Body Missing the Old Rep. The Railway Children. Peter Pan. Move Over Mrs Markham. Hobson’s Choice at The Rep. Margaret Lockwood and Anthony Steel – I can’t remember what in – at The Alex. Renee Fleming, Cecilla Bartoli, Ann Sophie Mutter, Nigel Ogden at Symphony Hall. As You Like it at the Globe – Best place to be involved in a play. Bob Dylan, he was superb. Various Ballets: Beauty and the Beast at Hippodrome, Swan Lake – can’t remember where. The Pearl Fishers…Aida at the Arena…Nigel Havers in Rebecca at the Regent in Stoke on Trent. Carl Wayne and the Vikings in Small Heath Park. Cards on the table [Agatha Christie] with Penelope Keith…And then There Were None at the Grand in Wolverhampton. Monologues with Robert Powell in Lichfield. The Government Inspector at the Old Rep…there must be tons of others yep Harry Rabinowitz in the Odeon, New Street. My minds gone blank…
 
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