DaveN 1,118 Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 There's an article in the first edition of Nottinghamshire Past about the Empire Theatre and the "Laurel & Hardy" poster is one of the pictures in the article. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,278 Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 On 1 September 2008 at 11:26 AM, teebee said: Dicky Valentines dressing room to obtain his autograph Sat in a bar last night not sure who this bloke was, he was about 60 sat with his wife. Seemed quite interested in the Manchester United Champions league match on telly, he had a steady stream of folk not asking for his autograph, but a selfie on their phones? Best chuck your autograph books in the bin? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 5,506 Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 Probably Mourinho. Banned from the touchline again. He wanted to watch the match discretely! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AfferGorritt 868 Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 My paternal grandma was an usherette/ice cream lady at the Empire until, probably, into her 70's. She must have been the oldest ice cream girl in the country! I know she was getting on a bit when Hair! first came to the Empire. She wasn't at all fazed by the nudity and thought the cast lovely people. They used to bring flowers in for her. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,643 Posted September 23, 2018 Report Share Posted September 23, 2018 Are you sure that Hair was at the Empire? I remember seeing it at the Theatre Royal in 1970 with, what claimed to be, the original London cast. It starred Paul Nicholas - also Richard O'Brian (Crystal Maze, Rocky Horror Show) and Floella Benjamin (Blue Peter and now a baroness). The show had a great influence on my life - completely turning it around into (probably) what I am today. I went to see it several times and each time I was influenced enough to go up on stage to join in at the end of the performance (if you've seen it, you will know what I mean). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 9,671 Posted September 23, 2018 Report Share Posted September 23, 2018 I must admit, I wondered about Hair being at the Empire. I remember my sister and Su Pollard going to see it and Su was later in it down in London. I'd have thought it was the Theatre Royal but could well be wrong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AfferGorritt 868 Posted September 23, 2018 Report Share Posted September 23, 2018 Sorry! It was indeed the Theatre Royal. Grandma moved there when the Empire closed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,643 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 Talking of Hair, this has just appeared on the BBC website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45625785 'Hair: The musical that 'changed theatre for ever' It certainly changed me!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,643 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 I still have a full head of hair and a prolific beard. Wouldn't be without either. All gone a Whiter Shade of Pale now, though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 5,506 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 You’ve spoilt our illusions of you Jonab! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,643 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 What did you think I looked like? There is a picture of me on these pages https://nottstalgia.com/forums/topic/16672-a-few-random-photos-6/?page=5&tab=comments#comment-576346 It has been remarked that I now have a resemblance to Roy Wood of Wizzard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,007 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 My family tell me I have no concept of the passage of time. I read jonabs comment that Floella Benajamin is now a Baroness and looked her up on Wikipedia. It would seem my family are correct. Floella is not the bubbly young girl I used to watch with my children but a life peer and on the committee's of so many institutions it makes your head spin. Had I been asked before reading this I would have said "she must be forty by now!" Where did all that time go? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 5,506 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 Roy Wood of Wizard! God do you look that scary? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,643 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 Without his stage makeup and wig - look at his website on the biog page. https://www.roywood.co.uk/biog.html Note that he now has white hair - like me but the resemblance is there and I have been mistaken for him. Note also that the picture of me which I referred to earlier is the one near Littlewoods. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,643 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 2 hours ago, philmayfield said: Do you frighten children? Not usually. They find me quite benign - which I am. More like Santa Claus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 5,506 Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 Yes, it occurred to me that you might be a sort of Papa Noel! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bendigo1941 8 Posted September 29, 2018 Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 Remember in The Gods there was a wire mesh fence fronting the balcony - it was about 18" high . was it to stop dropping things on the audience below or was it to help prevent fans falling over the edge when they got too excited. Saw Lonnie singing Rock island Line. On the same show was Bill Maynard (comedian) We lost him earlier this year, I think it was. Always 2 halves to the show and both followed a similar format. Dancers, Jugglers ( etc) singers, comedian and lastly the star, who everyone had really come to see. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,008 Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Someone who hasn't registered on Nottstalgia - only appearing as "Guest" - has posted the following message and photo as a "Report" which means no-one else would have seen it. Hi I`m pretty sure the attached photo of Laurel and Hardy was taken at one of their Christmas shows in 1953. Can anyone identify this location I`m pretty sure the Parties were held in the Empire Theatre but I`m not 100 percent sure? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 9,671 Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Not sure where that is but I've seen photos of them plus wives at the pub which was run by Laurel' s brother or sister...was it Leicestershire? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 5,506 Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 It was his sister Olga at The Bull in Bottesford. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ron Roper 4 Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 Hi All I have a photograph of Laurel & Hardy at a party and providing autographs to some young fans. The back of the photograph has the name Adams and a faded address, however you can make out "Nottingham" on the back of the card and a re-ordering number. I know Stan and Oliver played at the Empire around Christmas 1953 and into New Year and I do know they had a Christmas Party after each show whereby fans could meet them and obtain autographs. My question is ....Do you know where these Christmas Parties were actually held and is there anyone out there who attending one of the Shows or Christmas parties? I would love to hear any of your stories.....Ron Do know where they held the Christmas Parties....in the County or the Empire, also was there a New Years Eve Party and if yes where was this held? regards Ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,206 Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 I wonder why my post after phil's has been removed, all I put was that picture had been posted before Rog 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonnaB 4,761 Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 Stan Laurel was born in Ulveston where a lot of my ancestors came from. The last one being my paternal grandfather and an aunt. Lovely town, I went there frequently as a child. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,351 Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 I've always liked L and H. I often think they were best in their silent film days, though. Their sight gags were hilarious. I still enjoy watching them once in a while. In my opinion they did not do quite so well when the talkies came along. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ron Roper 4 Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 On 10/8/2018 at 2:40 PM, Jill Sparrow said: Not sure where that is but I've seen photos of them plus wives at the pub which was run by Laurel' s brother or sister...was it Leicestershire? I'm pretty sure it is in Nottingham and either at one of their Christmas parties or a New Year Party one of the girls received an autograph which I also have.....Stan wrote Happy New Year Marlene on a Promo photo card.......my guess is that this photo was in the Empire ......but I would love a photo of the theatre.....but I guess that is going to be tall order! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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