The Kent History Forum
Leisure, Sport and Entertainment => Theatres, Music and Concert Halls => Topic started by: Smiffy on October 11, 2019, 01:52:25 PM
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Is that the "ornamental sailing ship" that's now atop the National Westminster Bank (IIRC)?
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Not quite the same - I wonder what happened to it?
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Stunning photos Smiffy, thank you so much for posting them..
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I like the two clocks built into the proscenium arch. I wonder if watches were not as commonplace as now, but you still needed to know the time to be able to catch your bus or tram.
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Now you mention the clocks, there seems something odd about them, namely that they only appear to have one hand. Unless the photo was taken at about five to eleven?
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A good point smiffy. I wonder if the are showing minutes to end of the interval, and thus only showed minutes. I guess we will not find out.
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I remember seeing the Memory Man here cant remember his name now but sure he had people in the audience asking he questions cos he sure picked the ones he wanted to answer :)
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` Where are the 39 steps `.
I went more to the other Theatre, up Manor Road, then into the `gods`
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Advertisement for the Christmas 1953 Pantomime. I'm familiar with Arthur English and "Monsewer" Eddie Gray, but not with the leading lady Stella Hartley and can't seem to find any information about her.
(https://i.postimg.cc/5tnqBBCn/Empire-Prog.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
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I'm pretty certain that I was taken there, probably 1957ish to see Oklahoma. My memory is of a fairly run down place.
However it also reinforces memories of talking to my Grandfather in the 1960s. I now know that he lived above his bakers shop on the High Street, by the junction with Bingley Road at the time of the 1911 Census, and he frequently referred to the Gaiety and its similarity to "The Good Old Days" style of presentation. He also mentioned seeing many famous acts of the day at the Empire. That one became the other makes sense of those conversations.
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The Empire theatre dancers, Chatham c.1952
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Nice photo CAT. Who were they and where are they now I wonder?
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Max Miller appeared at the Empire in my day, he was one of the highest paid.
His act was mainly for women. They adored him --
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I remember seeing the Memory Man here can`t remember his name now but sure he had people in the audience asking the questions `cos he sure picked the ones he wanted to answer :)
LESLIE WELCH was the Memory Man and was one of dozens of famous music hall acts that I saw at the Empire. Probably the most memorable were Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.
Does anyone remember the pianist/conductor and composer Semprini who also appeared at the Empire?
A grossly underrated musician.
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I like the two clocks built into the proscenium arch. I wonder if watches were not as commonplace as now, but you still needed to know the time to be able to catch your bus or tram.
If I remember correctly, the `clocks`, either side of the stage, were `Lifebelts,` with illuminated numbers in the middle which corresponded with the numbered acts in the printed programme.
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Alberto Fernando Ricardo Semprini 1908 - 1990 was born in Bath Somerset he was English with Italian ancestry. radio show i do remember Semprini Serenade
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If I remember correctly, the theme music of `Semprini Serenade`, which I think was broadcast on Sunday evenings, was `Mediterranean Concerto`, played and composed by Semprini himself.
Can be found on YouTube.