Palace Theatre, Manchester

Charity performance in aid of Manchester Relief Fund.

Advertised in the Manchester Courier, 23 August 1915. ‘Kitts and Windrum, comedy sketch artists, gave an amusing farce well played’ (Manchester Courier, 24 August 1915).

Performing alongside was the magician Chung Lee Soo: 'For once in a way revue does not find a place in the Palace programme next week. But there is nevertheless a very good bill. The star attraction is a sketch by Mr. Herbert De Hamel, entitled " War Mates," which will be found as topical as anything yet presented on the music-hall stage.....Chung Ling Soo. the famous Chinese conjurer, is also in the bill' (Manchester Courier, 4 December 1915)

(Manchester) Anna Dorothy popular American comedian leading lady in 5064 Gerrard. (The Stage – Thursday 23 December 1915)

7th visit to Manchester.

The Manchester Evening News, 10 July 1916, advertised at the Palace Theatre for the week a variety bill that included Gertrude Blomfield & Co. in A Cabinet Secret. Also: ‘Miss Gertrude Blomfield sings with distinction in an amusing musical farce’ at the Palace Theatre (Manchester Evening News, 11 July 1916). ‘Miss Gertrude Blomfield, of the operatic stage, is making her début on the halls this week at the Palace, Manchester, in “A Cabinet Secret,” a musical farce, written by Harold Simpson, the music being from the pen of Vincent Thomas, whom I know chiefly as a graceful song writer. Miss Gertrude Blomfield is really a Mancunian, and her father is the Clerk to the Chorlton Board of Guardians. She has appeared in grand opera in Covent Garden. With her will be Mr. Sebastian Smith, who is said to be as funny the late Teddy Payne. When shall we all see “A Cabinet Secret” in London? There is plenty of room for musical farces. British composers, please note’ (The Era, 12 July 1916). ‘Gertrude Blomfield and company successfully present the musical farce “A Cabinet Secret”’ in a bill at the New Palace Theatre (The Stage, 13 July 1916).

Performed for the week.

‘The Palace should score heavily [next week] with a programme in which Miss Camille Clifford, the original “Gibson Girl,” appears in a musical phantasy called “The Girl of the Future”’ (Manchester Evening News, 24 February 1917). Also noted in The Stage,1 March 1917: Camille Clifford ‘is accorded a warm reception’.

‘The Palace reverts to variety with a very choice bill … there will be a notable Bairnsfather sketch called “The Johnson ‘Ole.”’ Manchester Evening News, Saturday 1 September 1917. Manchester Evening News, Monday 3 September 1917, advertised that day at the Palace Theatre a bill that included Harry Thurston in ‘The Johnson ‘Ole’. ‘Plenty of broad humour is provided [at the Palace Theatre] by Harry Thurston and company in a Bairnsfather sketch, “The Johnson ‘Ole”. Manchester Evening News, 4 September 1917.

Performers: Fred Kitchen, Nora Delany

The 'Manchester Evening News' commented that the revue contained "some really ingenious skits on present-day affairs" (9 April 1918)

'"The Passing Show of 1918" is an entertainment of rare qualities, which secure for it emphatic appreciation." Manchester Evening News, 23 July 1918.

‘In a mixed programme [at the Palace] “Rations” easily holds first place. The fun is a little broad, but it gets “right home.” Robb Wilton is a great success in the chief part. His drowsy, unctuous style would carry a less cleverly constructed revue to a profitable ending. Nixon Grey is another hit, and materially assisted in a capital evening’s entertainment’. Manchester Evening News, 20 August 1918.

Starring Gilbert Heron (actor), Allan Jeayes (actor), Florence Helm (actress)

‘Godfrey Tearle and company are seen to advantage in an after-war sketch, “When the Boy Comes Home.” Manchester Evening News, 4 March 1919.

‘Charles Austin finds plenty of scope for his quaint humour in a sketch “Parker’s Appeal”’. Manchester Evening News, 11 March 1919.