paul stacey
master brummie
Most interesting read, if ever the pension runs out(LOL), then I can now open a mid 19th C safe. Paul
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Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago
- Thread starter mikejee
- Start date
19.2.1866
Apparently Scotsmen do not like marrying on a Saturday
The navy are to be more humane to boys in their service. How kind. Perhaps they had realised that incapacitation does not enable them to do their job properly
Apparently Scotsmen do not like marrying on a Saturday
The navy are to be more humane to boys in their service. How kind. Perhaps they had realised that incapacitation does not enable them to do their job properly
Attachments
A lot of information about the Prince of Wales Theatre history on the Arthur Lloyd site here including some excellent images
https://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Birmingham/PrinceOfWalesTheatreBirmingham.htm
Viv.
https://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Birmingham/PrinceOfWalesTheatreBirmingham.htm
Viv.
paul stacey
master brummie
Very interesting piece Viv, I never went myself but a real "Old Brummie", story.Paul
devonjim
master brummie
I see that Prince of Wales was managed by Rogers family in late C19. There was a Rogers family involved with cinema management in early C20, Victoria Playhouse ,Bristol and others. Any connection?
Dennis Williams
Gone but not forgotten
Interesting piece from the Faces and Places magazine from 1890 refers...for Devonjim..?
ABOUT thirty-five years ago a building which now forms the main portion of the Prince of Wales' Theatre was erected in Broad Street. It was in 1856 that a joint stock company was formed to build a hall in which concerts of a high class should be given, and the opening performances of this hall took place on the 3rd and 4th of September of the same year. Two oratorios were given, in which Madame Clara Novello, Madame Weiss, Messrs Sims Reeves, Mortem Smith and Alfred Mellor took part. The hall cost upwards of £12,000, including the organ, but in spite of all efforts of the management the music programmes were not received with sufficient favour to warrant their being long continued.
On the 13th of May, 1862, a theatrical license was applied for, and granted on condition-that the entertainments should be such as those given by Mr. and Mrs Gerran Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul and others. In October of 1862 Mr. James Scott, of the Belfast Theatre, took the theatre, but after a few weeks he was succeeded by Mr. W. H. Swanborough, who opened it as the Royal Music Hall Operetta House for the performance of vaudevilles, operettas, and light pieces generally. In the following April Mr. Charles Mathews appeared at the theatre, and later Mr. H. J. Byron made his first appearance in Birmingham in his own burlesque of " Ali Baba on the Thirty-nine Thieves."
This theatre (which, in commemoration of the Royal wedding on the 10th of March in that year, had taken the name of " The Prince of Wales' Operetta House") is also noteworthy as the one in which Mr. Sothern's impersonation of Lord Dundreary was first presented to a Birmingham audience. But fortune did not smile upon the place, and several changes were made in the management until in 1866 it passed into the hands of the late Mr. James Rodgers. All the business capabilities of that gentleman were brought to bear upon the theatre, and' soon a complete change was effected. The Prince of Wales' Theatre became known as one of the most successful places of amusement in the provinces, and Mr. Rodgers was soon justified in making other improvements, which added to its prosperity.
In 1876, the building was entirely reconstructed ; the old, low front was demolished, and handsome shops erected in its place. The interior of the theatre was remodelled and decorated, rendered more perfect in its acoustic properties and brighter in appearance, and accommodation was made for 3,800 people. Birmingham is said to be a difficult town to cater for, but the management of the Prince of Wales' Theatre have introduced to local play-goers scores of popular plays of all descriptions. In 1873, the Carl Rosa Company visited the theatre, and at that time Rose Hersee, Blanche Cole, and Mr. Aynsley Cook were the principal vocalists.
It would be impossible to mention all the celebrated actors and actresses who have appeared at the Prince of Wales' Theatre. Some of them will be readily recalled, for names like those of Miss Eastlake, George Everson, Wilson Barrett, John Coleman, cannot soon be forgotten.
In 1862 the first pantomime was produced. It was under the management of Mr. W. H. Swanborough, and was entitled " Jack the Giant Killer." One of the most successful pantomimes was that of 1889 and 1890. It was during the run of this that Mr. James Rodgers died, deeply lamented by all. Mr. Charles Appleby had been with Mr. James Rodgers since he became lessee of the theatre, and he still occupies the position of general manager now that Captain Rodgers has taken his father's place. Mr. Appleby has not been connected with the theatre for so many years without making numerous friends. A very familiar face to all who visit this place of amusement is that of Mr. T. R. Foster, the acting manager. He always has a smile for everyone and is very popular with the patrons of the prosperous theatre. He has had some busy times, and he will ever remember the production of " Cinderella " when Miss Emma Waite, Jolly Little Lewis, and Messrs. Carfield and Booker took part in it. This was, without doubt, the most successful pantomime ever seen at the Prince of Wales' Theatre. Mr. Foster was literally beseiged by people who clamoured for seats, and night after night he had to close the windows of the box office before the curtain had risen on the first scene. As the Press then put it:—"It is not 'Have you seen Cinderella ?' but 'How many times have you seen it?'" And yet the management hope to eclipse this record.
ABOUT thirty-five years ago a building which now forms the main portion of the Prince of Wales' Theatre was erected in Broad Street. It was in 1856 that a joint stock company was formed to build a hall in which concerts of a high class should be given, and the opening performances of this hall took place on the 3rd and 4th of September of the same year. Two oratorios were given, in which Madame Clara Novello, Madame Weiss, Messrs Sims Reeves, Mortem Smith and Alfred Mellor took part. The hall cost upwards of £12,000, including the organ, but in spite of all efforts of the management the music programmes were not received with sufficient favour to warrant their being long continued.
On the 13th of May, 1862, a theatrical license was applied for, and granted on condition-that the entertainments should be such as those given by Mr. and Mrs Gerran Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul and others. In October of 1862 Mr. James Scott, of the Belfast Theatre, took the theatre, but after a few weeks he was succeeded by Mr. W. H. Swanborough, who opened it as the Royal Music Hall Operetta House for the performance of vaudevilles, operettas, and light pieces generally. In the following April Mr. Charles Mathews appeared at the theatre, and later Mr. H. J. Byron made his first appearance in Birmingham in his own burlesque of " Ali Baba on the Thirty-nine Thieves."
This theatre (which, in commemoration of the Royal wedding on the 10th of March in that year, had taken the name of " The Prince of Wales' Operetta House") is also noteworthy as the one in which Mr. Sothern's impersonation of Lord Dundreary was first presented to a Birmingham audience. But fortune did not smile upon the place, and several changes were made in the management until in 1866 it passed into the hands of the late Mr. James Rodgers. All the business capabilities of that gentleman were brought to bear upon the theatre, and' soon a complete change was effected. The Prince of Wales' Theatre became known as one of the most successful places of amusement in the provinces, and Mr. Rodgers was soon justified in making other improvements, which added to its prosperity.
In 1876, the building was entirely reconstructed ; the old, low front was demolished, and handsome shops erected in its place. The interior of the theatre was remodelled and decorated, rendered more perfect in its acoustic properties and brighter in appearance, and accommodation was made for 3,800 people. Birmingham is said to be a difficult town to cater for, but the management of the Prince of Wales' Theatre have introduced to local play-goers scores of popular plays of all descriptions. In 1873, the Carl Rosa Company visited the theatre, and at that time Rose Hersee, Blanche Cole, and Mr. Aynsley Cook were the principal vocalists.
It would be impossible to mention all the celebrated actors and actresses who have appeared at the Prince of Wales' Theatre. Some of them will be readily recalled, for names like those of Miss Eastlake, George Everson, Wilson Barrett, John Coleman, cannot soon be forgotten.
In 1862 the first pantomime was produced. It was under the management of Mr. W. H. Swanborough, and was entitled " Jack the Giant Killer." One of the most successful pantomimes was that of 1889 and 1890. It was during the run of this that Mr. James Rodgers died, deeply lamented by all. Mr. Charles Appleby had been with Mr. James Rodgers since he became lessee of the theatre, and he still occupies the position of general manager now that Captain Rodgers has taken his father's place. Mr. Appleby has not been connected with the theatre for so many years without making numerous friends. A very familiar face to all who visit this place of amusement is that of Mr. T. R. Foster, the acting manager. He always has a smile for everyone and is very popular with the patrons of the prosperous theatre. He has had some busy times, and he will ever remember the production of " Cinderella " when Miss Emma Waite, Jolly Little Lewis, and Messrs. Carfield and Booker took part in it. This was, without doubt, the most successful pantomime ever seen at the Prince of Wales' Theatre. Mr. Foster was literally beseiged by people who clamoured for seats, and night after night he had to close the windows of the box office before the curtain had risen on the first scene. As the Press then put it:—"It is not 'Have you seen Cinderella ?' but 'How many times have you seen it?'" And yet the management hope to eclipse this record.
DavidGrain
master brummie
I would not know if these were the first public conveniences in Birmingham but the idea was not new as this quote from Wikipedia
Whittington's Longhouse (or Whittington's Longhouse and Almshouse) was a public toilet in Cheapside,[SUP][1][/SUP] London, constructed with money given or bequeathed by Richard Whittington, Lord Mayor of London. The toilet had 128 seats: 64 for men and 64 for women. It operated from around 1 May 1421,[SUP][2][/SUP] until the seventeenth century.[SUP][3][/SUP]
The Longhouse, though it was not London's first public toilet, was the first public toilet in the capital divided by gender.[SUP][4]
Sir Richard Whittington of course we know as the famous Dick Whittington who was four times Lord Mayor of London ( not thrice as bells said)
[/SUP]
Whittington's Longhouse (or Whittington's Longhouse and Almshouse) was a public toilet in Cheapside,[SUP][1][/SUP] London, constructed with money given or bequeathed by Richard Whittington, Lord Mayor of London. The toilet had 128 seats: 64 for men and 64 for women. It operated from around 1 May 1421,[SUP][2][/SUP] until the seventeenth century.[SUP][3][/SUP]
The Longhouse, though it was not London's first public toilet, was the first public toilet in the capital divided by gender.[SUP][4]
Sir Richard Whittington of course we know as the famous Dick Whittington who was four times Lord Mayor of London ( not thrice as bells said)
[/SUP]
28.2.1866
What a difference to today. Now people pay extra for highly coloured soaps or ones supposedly containing clay from the Dead sea, and coconut oil (then often miss-spelled as cocoanut) is a valued raw material for making soap, as opposed to the animal fat which was then usually used in this country.
What a difference to today. Now people pay extra for highly coloured soaps or ones supposedly containing clay from the Dead sea, and coconut oil (then often miss-spelled as cocoanut) is a valued raw material for making soap, as opposed to the animal fat which was then usually used in this country.
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The cocoa nut oil they removed in 1866 is now back in! Can't imagine why they took it out. It's now in lots of lotions too. Viv.
farmerdave
master brummie
Looks as if Olive Oil, Palm Oil as well as Coconut Oil are popular in some of today's soaps.
Olive oil makes a gentle soap that's kind to the skin. Coconut oil makes a soap that lathers and cleans like no other. Palm oil makes a soap that is harder, yet cleans well and feels like you want soap to feel as you use it.
A balanced formula of all three together makes the best use of each. Dave
Olive oil makes a gentle soap that's kind to the skin. Coconut oil makes a soap that lathers and cleans like no other. Palm oil makes a soap that is harder, yet cleans well and feels like you want soap to feel as you use it.
A balanced formula of all three together makes the best use of each. Dave
1.3.1866
Report on Hengler's Circus at the Curzon Hall.
A glimpse of chinese life. I like the bit about asking that customers do not take exception to the performers wearing their hats.
Looks like chuggers of a religious sort might have been doing the rounds in 1866
Report on Hengler's Circus at the Curzon Hall.
A glimpse of chinese life. I like the bit about asking that customers do not take exception to the performers wearing their hats.
Looks like chuggers of a religious sort might have been doing the rounds in 1866
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paul stacey
master brummie
I notice that certain charity's were a pain in the neck, even in those days, after evading between 5 or 6 different aggressive charity collectors on Saturday morning here in Cambridge.Paul
3.3.1866
Evidence given in application to build a manufactory on how fog signals were manufactured makes it clear to me why the imhabitants of Kings Heath were not to keen on the idea, though the application was granted.
Fire in Bow St hits poor workers
Evidence given in application to build a manufactory on how fog signals were manufactured makes it clear to me why the imhabitants of Kings Heath were not to keen on the idea, though the application was granted.
Fire in Bow St hits poor workers
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paul stacey
master brummie
Would have been a big problem for the (middle working class), of this era, fire insurance would have been expensive for this group, so not surprising that only one of them had it. It would have meant real poverty for the one's who lost their tools and work place.Paul
paul stacey
master brummie
Gross.paul
Expect the spices in the sauce would have disguised the putrid liver eg if it was a sauce like HP brown sauce you'd probably not notice it. Disgusting all the same. Interesting that a condiment wasn't considered to be food. Viv.
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15.3.1866
A meeting to discuss the provision, with the aid of Miss Ryland, of a sanatorium or convalescent hospital for those who need rest and care on the lines of the esrtablishment of Miss Ryland, which only takes ex-patients of the General hospital.
A meeting to discuss the provision, with the aid of Miss Ryland, of a sanatorium or convalescent hospital for those who need rest and care on the lines of the esrtablishment of Miss Ryland, which only takes ex-patients of the General hospital.
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paul stacey
master brummie
Interesting piece Mike, never knew there was such philanthropy for the "working poor", at this time in 19th C.Paul
19.3.1866
Birmingham Society of Artists displays water colours for the first time
I presume the Aston Watch Society was some form of neighbourhood patrol for the park
Several fires in Birmingham.
Birmingham Society of Artists displays water colours for the first time
I presume the Aston Watch Society was some form of neighbourhood patrol for the park
Several fires in Birmingham.
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paul stacey
master brummie
Interesting pieces, but little non-plussed by the 50 society, £50 at this time was a considerable sum.Paul
