Hippodrome, Salford

‘“The Love Child,” an extremely interesting story by Ada G. Abbott, is well told by a strong company at the Salford Hippodrome. It would be difficult to speak too highly of the admirable efforts of Ernest R. Abbott’s clever company, who earn unstinted applause’ (Manchester Evening News, 13 July 1915). ‘Mr. Ernest R. Abbott’s company present The Love Child here [the Royal Hippodrome, Salford]. Miss Ada Abbott’s Meg Huxter is a fine study, and Mr. Abbott is seen to advantage as Ben Huxter, the dissolute father of Meg. The rest of the parts are well played’ (The Stage, 15 July 1915).

Twice nightly. Will H. Glaze presents his Great Problem Play ('Manchester Evening News', 16 August 1915, p. 1)

The Stage, 11 November 1915, listed The Unmarried Mother in Calls for Monday 15 November at the Salford Royal Hippodrome. Noted in the Manchester Evening News, 13 November 1915. The Stage, 18 November 1915, listed The Unmarried Mother as On Tour from 15 November at the Royal Hippo., Salford.

An advertisement in The Stage on 2 December 1915 notes that play with its original title of 'In the Hands of the Hun'.

The Era, 26 January 1916, listed The Little Grey Home In The West (North) as On The Road from 24 January at the H., Salford. Also The Stage, 20 and 27 January 1916, but identifying the company as ‘South’. Reported in The Stage, 27 January 1916. Named cast members were Vera Grafton as Mary Bryant, Edward E. Ashby, Beatrice Shirley as Mrs. Standing, Georgie Hall as Mrs. Bryant, Paul Courtney as the boy Duddie, John Stewart as the impecunious schemer, George Fry as Dick, P. J. Deerhirst [sic – Dewhirst?] as Jack and Nana Davey as Peggy.

"an interesting story, which appeared to give much pleasure to a large and enthusiastic audience", The Era. Performers: Dot Stephens (Rose Hardy), Muriel Marsden (Jack Dunstone), Dora Wynne (Beatrice Dunstone), H Cooper (Rear Admiral Sir J Hardy), V Gamon (Lieut Hampton), George Hazlehurst (Montague Beaumont), James Macintosh (Graham Starkey), Charles Buxton (Bob Crumpet), John Errol (Ben Diggle), G Vickers (Polly Cooksey)

Performed by Will Casey and company.

‘“The Wife With Two Husbands” is being played at the Salford Hippodrome this week by a good company headed by Jerrold Heather and Daisy Cook’. Manchester Evening News, 3 October 1916.

‘A war drama, The Enemy in Our Midst, at the Salford Hippodrome, includes a sensational fight between a British aeroplane and a Zeppelin’. Manchester Evening News, 10 October 1916.

Advertised in the Manchester Evening News, 23 October 1916, as ‘Arthur Hinton’s, Ltd., new and up to date drama’. Also, ‘At the Salford Hippodrome “The Black Sheep of the Family” provides a most interesting story’ (Manchester Evening News, 24 October 1916).

Performed for one week. Described as having 'Strong patriotic appeal and shows many war incidents' (Manchester Evening News, 26 June 1917).

‘The “Special Edition” of Stop Press Revue, which is appearing at the Salford Hippodrome, provides one of the best entertainments seen here for some time. Miss Kitty Major and “The Soldiers’ Wives” company are really excellent’. Manchester Evening News, 23 October 1917.

Twice nightly

Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'

‘At the Salford Hippodrome the naval play “For Sweethearts and Wives” is proving immensely popular’. Manchester Evening News, 2 April 1918.

Performers: "Harry Foxwell's Company"

The Manchester Evening News, 24 July 1918, advertised ‘Mrs. Kimberley and Frank Liston Present Mrs. Kimberley’s Topical Skit Revue How Do You Like It? Special Company headed by Ruby Kimberley & Tom H. Solly’.

This appears to be the first time the play was performed under the new title 'Coming Home'. It was performed from 25-30 November.

‘“Love, Honour, and the Woman” is an interesting story of the war. Miss Florence Churchill makes an excellent Bess, and V. W. Carlyle as an officer, and G. Gaisford as a Tommy, are well suited’. Manchester Evening News, 21 January 1919. Also: when Joseph Millane’s Companies advertised in The Stage, 30 January 1919, for theatres for Love, Honour and the Woman (‘cast includes Florence Churchill’), the contact was Vincent W. Carlyle at the Hippodrome, Salford.

The Stage of Thursday 6 March listed “Married on Leave” as on tour at the Hippodrome, Salford from 10 March' and it included in ‘calls for next week’ ‘Lew Lake’s Married on Leave’ at the Salford Hippodrome. The Stage of Thursday 13 March 1919 reported that at the Royal Hippodrome, Salford ‘Lew Lake’s company present Married on Leave, with a cast including David J. Ealston [sic - Erlston], Laurie Potter, Daisey Willis, Herbert Pearson, Fred J. Carrol, and Rosa Beryle’.

The Stage, 27 March and 3 April 1919, listed The Girl Who Changed Her Mind as On Tour from 31 March at the H., Salford.

‘“On Leave For His Wedding” is now located at the Salford Hippodrome where it is proving a good attraction’ (Manchester Evening News, 19 August 1919). ‘[At the Royal Hippodrome, Salford] Edward F. Furneau’s company presented “On Leave for His Wedding.” J. Ferguson Rawlins played strongly as Capt. Derrick Tresillian. Carrie Godfrey was very good as Mavis Hope. Walter Humphries as Capt. G. Delpre was smart. Stella Cedron as Angela Hope gave good assistance. J. P. Lallen as the Rev. Noel Wheeler was acceptable. Fred Hulme was capital as Sergeant B. Croft. Daisy Spalding was commendable as Peggy Dimple. J. H. Knowles supplied much comic relief as Reuben Egg’ (The Stage, 21 August 1919).

Walter Melville's company present "The Female Hun" Wingold Laurence plays well as Capt. Maxwell, and Kitty Hyde is capital as Constance Vivian. Phillip Darien is well-placed as General Grant, and Harold Dayne is acceptable as Julian D'Arcy. Lydia Manningham in the title-role plays very artistically as the General's wife. Norman Clark is commendable as Sir Archibald, while Poppy Hasquin is a smart Betty, others are Wallace Court, Archie Watts, and Fred Marle. (The Stage - Thursday 18 September 1919)

Performed by the Broadhead Players with H. J. Clifford, Harry Benson, Douglas Ives, Edward Valentine, Gladys F. Howitt, Annie Saker, Madge Trevelyan and Charles Brandon.