I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)

Subject: RE: I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 03:44 AM

Barry Cryer used to run a MH somewhere in London some years ago. Does anyone know if he still has any connections? (And I can imagine what he'd say if he was aked that!)

Steve

Subject: RE: I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 06:51 AM

Can anyone remember "Mr Gladstone's Bag" ? - They were both members of Albion Morris and used to be a wonderful act around the folk clubs. I heard the recently that Mick (the one who used to strip to "The Lost Chord") had died some years ago.


I say, I say, I say,
Why was the man with no legs thrown out of the ballroom ?
- Because they didn't want a lowdown bum arsing around !

Subject: RE: I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)
From: IanC
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 11:55 AM

Bill, Rowana

I went up to Newcastle last year for the first time in about 25 years. Used to like Balmbra's ... it was always low-budget ... the girl on the door was one of the two dancers in fishnets and also served behind the bar in the interval.

Unfortunately it just seems to be a plastic pub now.

:-(
Ian

Subject: RE: I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 12:24 PM

Yes! I remember Gladstone's Bag!! Had 'em at the Fitters in Walsall a couple of times, and Barrie Roberts & I played Brmingham Rep with them, along with Cosmotheka and whatever Taffy & Sheila Thomas' outfit was at that time (post Magic Lantern); that was about '76, give or take a year. I had no idea they were morrismen--they seemed so respectable.

Steve

Subject: RE: I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 05:24 PM

Here's three from Lonnie Donegan's " My Old Man's a Dustman"
.I Say x3 -You know, the other day I found a Police Dog in my bin, ...
.... How do you know it was a police dog ?
.... Cos. it had a policeman with it.

.. I say x3 .. My bin's full of Lillies
.. Throw them out then
., I can't she's wearing 'em

.... I Say x3 .. My bin's full of toadstools ....
How do you know they're toadstools ?
Cos. there's no mushroom inside

There is a CD of Roy Hudd "Those Music Hall Days" in the £4.99 range.
A copy of Clinton Ford ( City of Varieties fame) "Clinton The Clown" tape converted to CD is available via PM
Kenny B

Subject: RE: I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)
From: GUEST,Frederick Denny
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 04:08 AM

Just found the site, just found the thread.
1. Barry Cryer was the Chairman at Players Theatre many years ago...
How Long? Well his hair was black then!! See 6. below.
2. I performed at the Players some years back in the 'Old Pals' show...members of the theatre group.
3. There is a real music hall in Hackney still running but doesn't tend to put on Music Hall shows.
4. There is a Music Hall company in 'Brick Lane', east London.
5. Players theatre group is still running but not at the 'Arches' theatre.
6. History: There was a real Husic Hall under Charing Cross Station and another owned by the same person in the Strand. Names escape me for the moment. Years later the Players opened up at the 'Under the arches' theatre but it was taken over by builders and is now a Financial Company's offices. As a 'favour' a new thratre was built further up the arches for the Players to use. It was however owned by the council there.

Feel free to ask for more information, I should be a member soon.

Frederick

Subject: RE: I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)
From: GUEST,Henry Piper
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 04:25 AM

Hi,
Last time I saw the old Players theatre at Charing cross Station it was a rather Tacky music hall themed Pub/Bar, admittedly that was a few years ago,
I think in its heyday it was Known as "The Players Theatre ,Late "Joys" Joys being the original name of the theatre in The Strand owned by the same Entrepreneur.

Subject: RE: I say, I say, I say (Music Hall Closing)
From: GUEST,SPB Cooperator (on a different pc)
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 12:42 PM

The Player's original home, I think 1934 - 1939 was in King Street, Covent Garden. Before that the venue was the home to Evan's song and supper rooms - which were later acquired by Joy, thus the name Evans', late Joy, which stuck as the name of the company throughout the life of the Players. During the war, the club relocated to a basement room in Albermarle? Street, and after the war secured the lease of what was the original site of Gatti's under the arches - beneath Charing Cross.
When Charing Cross was redeveloped, a new custom made theatre was built a couple of arches up from the old venue.

Over the last few years, the club was struggling financially, and as a result, a hostile takeover took place approaching the landlord's agents with a 'better offer'. Two or three days after the last time I visited the club, the theatre was padlocked - with a note form Jonathan Quelch who works for James Lang Laselle who were (and are?) the agents.

I range Quelch - asking why he took this action, in spite of communication by the club - at which time he said to me that he would be open to considering any personal offer that would be worth his while - you can read what you like into that!!!!