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Old street pics..

Thanks for posting this fascinating look at old and new Birmingham,AstonB6. It really is an amazing collection of Then and Now photos.
 
Great picture - looking down the hill from the railway bridge - in the original can you make our the registration of the 'Price's Bread' Morris van please?
 
Morning!
Just been reading Carl's column and there is a photograph of a magnificent building
The Grand Theatre, on Corporation Street.
I have no recollection of this building and have been trying all morning to remember
it.
I am sure one of you can enlighten me and put my poor brain to rest.
What a fantastic building it was. I always wonder how people could build such beautiful
things when they could not have had the best of tools to work with. The intricate work
on this particular building is extra special.
Does anyone happen to know who built it.
 
Betty
From the Arthur Lloyd website:
Teh theatreb was designed by W.H.Ward, and built for A Melville by Messrs Bradney & Co. It had a capacity of 2,200 on 4 levels, stlls, two circles and gallery, plus boxes.
 
I remember it as the "Casino" in the late 50's,used to go there on Monday evenings for "Rock 'n Roll" nights,oh and at lunchtimes too !58.jpg
 
Mickeymoo - I also used to go to the Casino lunchtime dance sessions in the late 50's! I was working at the New Street end of Corporation Street at the time, and used to dash up to the Casino and meet my friend there. I seem to remember that the layout was similar to a theatre inside, with a couple of tiers of balconies with tables on chairs, and the dance floor was to the front of these.
 
Jayell said:
Mickeymoo - I also used to go to the Casino lunchtime dance sessions in the late 50's! I was working at the New Street end of Corporation Street at the time, and used to dash up to the Casino and meet my friend there. I seem to remember that the layout was similar to a theatre inside, with a couple of tiers of balconies with tables on chairs, and the dance floor was to the front of these.
Click to expand...

I worked at Wesleyan & General in Steelhouse Lane from '58 to '61,so I only had to nip across the Old Square,used to get about 50 minutes of jiving in !! :friendly_wink:
(Oops,off topic!)
 
I worked in this gorgeous building for a few months. It was my very first job from school and I was junior for J H Martin Insurance Assessors. I didn't even know about this lovely building until years later, after it had been demolished and I started to take an interest in local history! I am so angry with myself for missing out on all of that history I could have obtained at the time. To my office we had to climb a very steep flight of steps and my window is the 4th along on the first floor. I looked right over the old square. It was demolished in 1963. Disgraceful!
 
How stupid can I get??????
How could I not recognise the Casino???? I used to go there to the Saturday morning childrens dance classes?????
We learned to do the Lambeth Walk, Underneath The Spreading Chestnut Tree etc. I must have been about 7 - 8.
Which would make it about the 1930s. Since then I competed in so many competitions there it was like a second home.
In defence of my stupidity of course the casino was such a small part of the building.
How I wish now that I had taken a good look at the building instead of just going in there and missing so much.
Thank you for the information - especially the builders, I will enjoy following it up.
Betty.
 
Jayell said:
Mickeymoo - I also used to go to the Casino lunchtime dance sessions in the late 50's! I was working at the New Street end of Corporation Street at the time, and used to dash up to the Casino and meet my friend there. I seem to remember that the layout was similar to a theatre inside, with a couple of tiers of balconies with tables on chairs, and the dance floor was to the front of these.
Click to expand...

1958. Used to bunk off school and go at lunchtime sessions...watch the dancers mainly...I was in school uniform...no chance of pulling...even if I had the courage to ask...but Fats Domino's 'Whole Lotta Lovin', that driving beat....I can still smell the pure excitement.....magical stuff of youth...
 
Ok. a quiz question for the experts...has anyone any idea what this weird stutue on a stick is meant to represent outside the Council House...looks like it might be a celebratory symbol, maybe St George and the Dragon??

Colmore Row Statues outside Council House.jpg
 
There's the Lyons tea house, my dear Nan, used to take me and my sister Marilyn, for a special treat, the lady far lower RHC of photo, it looks like she is carrying a tennis racquet.
 
Dennis

Yes it is St George & the Dragon, it seemed to have moved about a bit before it moved out of existence. Is this the photo that you emailed me about?
 

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Dennis

Going back to the St George Statue in Victoria Square, it was erected temporary to celebrate the coronation of George VI on the 12th of May 1937. As my photo by the Hall of Memory at the end of Broad Street is also dated 1937 I was wondering if there was more than one?
 
Yeah in the Victoria Sq. photo you can see bunting to celebrate and the cars seem to be about the right date for 1937.
The Old Square photo shows an early electric bus that still retains it's petrol engine radiator frontage. This photo is one of the great pictures on here...it's so un-posed and natural that you could be there just looking at it. Before most of our times, I suspect, but un-mistakingly recognisable. The Old Square always was a focal point and sadly it seems to be nothing now.
 
What beautiful pictures they knew how to do things tastefully. I am told by the Eurpeans no one beats the Brits for pomp and spectacles and pageants.
I wondered if the banners were silk and were they TU banners or flags?
 
Those pictures of the 1937 Coronation are brilliant. The way Birmingham was decorated was superb. I never had any idea that went on.
 
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