Theatre Royal West Bromwich - RAINBOW

[elagill]

thanks for replying , and for the information. I will look at what I can online, I am researching my family tree but I now live in Australia so don't have access to any physical searches in the UK, it all has to be done online. cheers anyway, Elaine

[PaulStaffs]

About time this thread had a bump!

I also have an ancestral connection (by marriage) to Charles Udall and luckily I recalled reading this thread ages ago. While searching for other entertainers who lodged with some of my other ancestors I found an advertisement which may be of interest - it's dated  25 January 1890. The essential information is...

"Lucky Star"
Played in London and the provinces 632 nights
Miss Emma Rainbow
And powerful company of talented artists now travelling with entirely new scenery painted by Mr E Glindoni of Theatre Royal, West Bromwich.

It goes on to list the scenery painted in Mr Rainbow's patent non-inflammable colour (!) and gives J G Rainbow as the contact address.

I trust that's of interest to you Rainbow, Udall and Theatre Royal devotees

Paul

[weste]

Have you checked whether Sandwell archives at Smethwick have any info on the theatre royal etc?

[elagill]

Thanks, but a bit difficult to go to Sandwell--- I live in Australia

[weste]

It was a general comment for everyone concerned. They can be contacted by other means. Also I visit to transcribe, the archives are about 15 mins where I live in west brom.

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
1881 13 Cleveland St Wolverhampton
Joseph Rainbow 41 theatrical Birmingham
Emma Jane  wife 31 2 actor Leicester
Lille Blanche daughter 8 scholar Middlesboro.
Could Emma be his wife rather than daughter?She was an Emma Jane Sharman and they married at Leicester Sep 1871 7a 249.
Joseph's Will 15.9.1893 Theatrical proprietor and licensed victualler to widow Emma Jane widow £1633 12s 7d may help.
In 1871 Joseph Rainbow dramatic artist age 32 is unmarried in 38 Grafton St Leeds.Before that in 1861 he is at home with his family in Birmingham working as a printer,again unmarried.
1891 they are at West Bromwich 80 Walsall St
J.G Rainbow 50 Theatre Prop Birmingham
Emma 45 actress Leicester
Lillie B 18 actress London.
They have 2 actors Cecil Breton 28 London and Walter Balham 25 Exeter with them plus 3 servants.
Ciderdrinker

[rainbowfamily]

Hi,
I had some problems with my original login details but I am the OP to this thread.  Thank you all so much for the information that's been added over the years.  PaulStaffs: that's the first I've heard about J.G. and the non flammable paint but to my knowledge the family experienced at least two major theatre fires so I imagine there was plenty of motivation!
Emma did turn out to be his wife, Emma Jane Sharman as you correctly surmised ciderdrinker
I found out a lot more about this branch of the Rainbows, including the elusive Lillie Blanche Rainbow/Herries/Carlyle with the moveable birth date.  More details on my blog here http://rainbowfamily.co.uk/archives/52.  I even wrote a chapter about them in my book!  Thank you again for all your generous help.

[PaulStaffs]

Shameless plug but one of the fires gets a mention in my book too

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/books_by_paul_robinson

Paul

[spudkin]

Glindoni was one of my ancestors!