Catalogue

The Empire situated in Longton has for many decades been just a memory, destroyed by fire whilst up for sale. One of the most interesting items to come my way was an unpublished work by the late Rev. V.G. Aston who, during his curacy at a nearby parish became the local Actor’s Church Union Chaplain.

On one such occasion visiting the theatre he decided to catch the main attraction which was when wrestling challenges were offered to anyone in the audience live on stage, with a financial reward of £5 if they wone the fight – which in those days was an established form of entertainment, similar to what frequently happened at fairgrounds. The events turned out to be an audience punch-up – a great read in early music hall  entertainment.

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.