Entertainment – Theatres and Cinemas

With the closure of Hanley’s Theatre Royal in 1961, both Stoke, and the North Staffs Amateur Operatic Societies found them-selves without a venue. The North Staffs went to the Queens Theatre, Burslem and Stoke Society to a much larger venue, the Gaumont in Piccadilly Hanley, just across the road from the Royal. The Gaumont opened in 1929, at the height of the silent moves had a large stage, fly-tower, dressing rooms and orchestra pit with an electric organ, creating it as a dual-purpose venue so small acts and other entertainment including The Regent Girls could perform live by flying the screen into the tower. This enabled the Gaumont to stage the odd one-night stand just a few times a year which included some of the best entertainers around the circuit to packed houses of over two thousand.

This accounts give a details story of how the Stoke Amateurs presented many musicals with full orchestra and set with 17 lines. With their record of high attendance at each show convinced the Rank organisation to present pantomimes and other one and two night stands once the Theatre Royal closed proving that it could become a full working theatre with its Grade II* status meaning its future was secure. A great read for theatre lovers.

By the early 19th century, this annual event had become a festive period in so much as the “Wakes” fairgrounds, amusements, side-shows etc’ to which came thousands over the week August holiday. Many press reports exist which all describe in great detail as workers, for those occasion appeared clean and smart wearing their Sunday best, and for the women – well they turned out frequently in new dresses, many home made for the occasion.

So, if you want to learn and without doubt settle down to read this fascinating true story of potteries folk having a ‘good old-fashioned knees-up, this is an article not to miss. A good study of the social history of Stoke-on-Trent.

Buffalo Bills Wils West visited twice to Stoke on Trent. Potteries folk came in their thousnds to see one of the worlds most amazing events of the time, ever to be witnessed in a poor, hardworking towns like Stoke untill Buffalo Bills Wild West Extravaganza  arrived at the County Cricket Ground, Shelton in August 1891 for six days. It travelled the city in its pre-show exhibition with all the razzermataz expected and probably attracted tens of thousands over its six day run. For those who have seen the film Annie Get Your Gun the title roll of Annie Oakley was to to be seen in action at the old County Cricket Ground. And yet it’s from this background and just the name of Col. Bill Cody that brought thousands from the far-flung corners of North Staffordshire to the first event in the Potteries. When the Deadwood coach was finally brought into the arena, first there was uproar from the crowd as the story of this part of the performance had been circulated previously. The coach was drawn by four mules, and a feature in the afternoon’s entertainment was an attack upon it by Indians, and in the rescue by no less than Buffalo Bill.

In addition, which enriching the potteries folk there was a buffalo hunt, a representation of the attack on a settled cabin by Indians, and Indian settlement and illustration of the old post express being attacked. The last suing and riding of the bucking horses by the Cowboys was an exciting scene which the applause of which could have shaken the very foundations of the cricket ground. Here Buffalo Bill took part and showed himself as an expert in shooting. The skill and pluck of the Cowboys was truly surprising. Altogether the entertainment was most satisfactory. In the evening there was another big gathering, of Indians around a campfire bringing the day to a triumphant end enriching people of the Potteries and raising their inner-being as never before.

At the height of cinema growth in 1914, and with luck the area in Campbell Place had been cleared from the old pottery pot-bank and vacant for commercial development. And so, the thought of a brand-new purpose luxury cinema in the middle of Stoke town became a reality and opened on Monday 13^th April 1914.

The new Majestic in the town of Stoke was one of the most popular of the four cinemas in the town. Designed with the best architecture and facilities of the time, even had its own orchestra not just a solo piano as most picture houses to accompany silent movies. It also boosted ‘upturn seats’ and the best ventilation system available (remember people smoked a lot in those days)

As such it was a success from the day of opening, the staff all in uniforms and a welcoming steward at the door. In fact, they all formed a kind of a second family if you were to attend twice a week as films changed on a Monday and Thursday. This article of two pages will no doubt bring back many memories of early cinema days. Contains four pahes of information on the advancement of cinema history with first talkies then in the mid-1950s the re-opening of the Majestic by the Lady Mayoress and many civic dignatories of CinemaScope in June 1955 which was sadly closed only a few years later as a result of many former patrons turing to television.