Author Topic: Company: Universal Amusements Ltd (304,786) private company reg'd 5 Sep 1935  (Read 128 times)

Offline ValJJJ

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Here's a little puzzle.

I was searching British Newspaper Archive online for Gretchen B L Campbell and found her listed as a director for this new company Universal Amusements Ltd.  Stated in the The Stage 19 Sep 1935 edition page 2.  With the address I already had for her.  I was actually searching to find the date of her divorce from Alfred Claude Campbell.  She remarried in 1946 but I know they had divorced by 1944 from his service record.

I do have quite a lot of info on her before this, and also on Alfred, before and after, but I'm intrigued by the fate of this company.  Its registered office was Kent House, 87 Regent St, W1. I can't find any reference to it in the London Gazette and nor can I find anything else in the newspaper archive for the company or the other director, who wasn't Alfred.  Assuming there was a minimum age of 21 to be a director (no idea though), he is unlikely to be alive so should I give his name here?


Crook, Bannister, Warren

Online ShaunJ

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 25,380
    • View Profile
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline ValJJJ

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Company: Universal Amusements Ltd (304,786) private company reg'd 5 Sep 1935
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 17 August 25 19:50 BST (UK) »
Well found and thank you - I do not do well with London Gazette searches. 

If it was ended that late, I might be able to find it on Companies House, so will look. 
Crook, Bannister, Warren

Offline ValJJJ

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Company: Universal Amusements Ltd (304,786) private company reg'd 5 Sep 1935
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 17 August 25 19:59 BST (UK) »
No nothing online at Companies House, but perhaps the online info doesn't go back that far.
Crook, Bannister, Warren


Offline ValJJJ

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Company: Universal Amusements Ltd (304,786) private company reg'd 5 Sep 1935
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 17 August 25 20:09 BST (UK) »
The other director lived at 61 Hamilton Terrace, St John's Wood, NW8.  I'm looking in trade directories for Gretchen Campbell and him.
Crook, Bannister, Warren

Offline ValJJJ

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Company: Universal Amusements Ltd (304,786) private company reg'd 5 Sep 1935
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 17 August 25 20:36 BST (UK) »
Found the death in 1989 of the other director so can give his name.  Ralph C S L Williams.  I found his full name in the London Gazette: Ralph Charles Linskill Stainthorpe Williams, Chartered Accountant. 21 June 1938 in the bankruptcy court.  Of 155 Grove Hall Court, St John's Wood.
Crook, Bannister, Warren


Offline ValJJJ

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 980
    • View Profile
Re: Company: Universal Amusements Ltd (304,786) private company reg'd 5 Sep 1935
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 17 August 25 22:25 BST (UK) »
Thanks, could be?  If so, it looks like the company activities changed later along with directors.  The original announcement was that the company was 'to carry on the business of caterers for all classes of entertainment and amusement, constructors of theatres, kinemas, halls etc'.  Which I don't think the company name conveyed as it sounded like they were providing amusements, not catering.



Crook, Bannister, Warren

Offline mckha489

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 11,058
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Company: Universal Amusements Ltd (304,786) private company reg'd 5 Sep 1935
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 17 August 25 23:01 BST (UK) »
Thanks, could be?  If so, it looks like the company activities changed later along with directors.  The original announcement was that the company was 'to carry on the business of caterers for all classes of entertainment and amusement, constructors of theatres, kinemas, halls etc'.  Which I don't think the company name conveyed as it sounded like they were providing amusements, not catering.

I think the word caterers is meant in the sense of catering to, rather than catering for.  So not to do with food.