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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (North Riding) => Topic started by: johngosling on Thursday 19 March 15 12:28 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I'm working on a great great grand uncle by the name of James Crombie Hunter, who looks to have been the proprietor of the Theatre Royal in Middlesbrough. A number of online sources put 1866 as the date the Theatre Royal started business, but I have found newspaper references to him in 1861 as the proprietor of the Theatre Royal in Middlesbrough. Does anyone have any definitive information as to when the theatre opened?
Regards
John
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HI John
This article says 1866
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/34437
;)
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Hi, yes, I've seen that one - several pages all seem to derive from the same core data, but I am working through a theatrical newspaper called The Era, and it looks like it opened circa 1861.
HI John
This article says 1866
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/34437
;)
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There's a reference to him being in partnership with John Imeson at the Royal Albert Theatre: Middlesbrough
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23480/page/1829/data.pdf
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Some sites have the Royal Albert & the Theatre Royal as being rivals but others (most) have them as one & the same.
Yorkshire Gazette 19 May 1866
A Theatre for Middlesbro'
On Thursday afternoon the foundation stone of the Royal Albert Theatre Middlesbro' was laid at Albert Street by the mayor (George Watson Esq.) who was surrounded by a large assembly of ladies & gentlemen
So it looks like 1866 is correct
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Hi,
Extracts from the book 'The History of Middlesbrough'
On the 11th March, 1861 the Theatre Royal, Durham St was opened by J.C. Hunter with J.W. Benson, Charles Vernon and Mrs Corfield, artists who were later to appear on the London stage.
There is a little bit more info on the Theatre Royal. If there's anything you'd like me to look for, let me know.
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That's a great find, thankyou.
There's a reference to him being in partnership with John Imeson at the Royal Albert Theatre: Middlesbrough
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23480/page/1829/data.pdf
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Hi all,
Thank you everyone for the fascinating and useful replies. It's been great to confirm to my satisfaction that I have some theatre folk in my ancestry. I'm piecing together a fascinating life story for J C Hunter.
Regards
John
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Hi, could you give me some detail on the book, I'd like to see if I can track down a copy.
Hi,
Extracts from the book 'The History of Middlesbrough'
On the 11th March, 1861 the Theatre Royal, Durham St was opened by J.C. Hunter with J.W. Benson, Charles Vernon and Mrs Corfield, artists who were later to appear on the London stage.
There is a little bit more info on the Theatre Royal. If there's anything you'd like me to look for, let me know.
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The book is called The History of Middlesbrough An Illustration of the Evolution of English Industry by William Lillie. You can buy it on ebay (not cheap though). It's quite a large book, almost 500 pages. I also have another book titled Middlesbrough's Good Old Days by Ken Marshall. This book is all about the music hall theatres. It probably has more info than the other if you're just interested in theatre. I don't know where you can buy this as I inherited both of these from my Father who was from Middlesbrough.
Another bit for you from this book.
On 16th September 1867 we find that Hunter's Theatre Royal was opening as Mr Frank Hall's Music Hall. The official reason was Mr Hunter's ill health but in fact Mr Hunter had sold it to Mr Hall. A year later however, Hunter popped up yet again as joint manager of the Royal Albert Theatre.
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As a young boy living near to the Theatre Royal in late 40s early 50s I remember they used to have circus's in the Theatre Royal, animals used to be brought from the North Rd Marshalling yards and craned in their cages into the rear of the Theatre in Albert St. My mother was a cleaner in the Theatre and was often given complimentary tickets for shows which I was given to use, viewing from the "Gods"
She did say it was often rat infested when she went in to start work.
There was also a "theatrical boarding house in High Gosford St which was used by the artistes appearing on the stage.
Happy Days
James
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Dear John Gosling
You have probably seen this:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/MiddlesbroughTheatres.htm#royal
It gives a lot of info about the theatre but no earlier than 1866. Coincidentally, while searching around for a writing block today, I found one with a pencilled copy I'd made of a letter to The Era by JCH (The Era, 9th June 1883) appealing for financial help after two theatres were burned ("one wood building and one portable theatre, including two waggons, the cost of which was £53"). He goes on to say that losses of wardrobe, scenery, etc totalled around £400. He gives his address as Pearson's Buildings, Walker Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, and the letter's dated 5th June 1883.
My great-great grandfather, Harry Horatio Deville, who had grown up in his own family theatre company, left my great-great grandmother for JCH's daughter Lilian. They had 3 or 4 children, he took the additional surname of Dawson and then after some years, he did a disappearing act and I haven't been able to track him down. To tell you the truth, I kind of lost interest in him for his erratic behaviour (he had been arrested in the later 1890s for drunkenness, threatening behaviour, and general craziness). If you ever come across him during your JCH research (he was born in 1851 as Harry Horatio Clifton - Deville was a name adopted by his grandfather) let me know.
The Era's a good place to search, but it takes determination. Good luck.