Hippodrome, Lewisham

The Sydenham, Forest Hill & Penge Gazette, and the Lewisham Borough News, both 4 December 1914, reported that Kitts and Windrum would be on the bill at the Lewisham Hippodrome next week. Performing 'The Slacker'?

6.30 & 9pm. Featuring Charlie Rich, Hickey's Circus, Freddie Malcolm, Claude Gardner, Elsie Roby, Melody Makers, Fred Keeton, Two Junes. (The Era - Wednesday 4 October 1916) At the Lewisham Hippodrome on Monday Mr. Lew Lake presented the musical extravaganza entitled "They Didn't Want To Do It" the book and lyrics by Mr. Arthur Rose. The hen-pecked husband on the stage if not in private life, always excites, the merriment of an audience, and there is two of them in Mr. Lew Lake's new production. Ebenezer is a little man whose personal appearance reminds one of the famous Charlie Chaplin, and he stands poor chance holding his own either verbal or physical encounters with his wife Maria, who is a big woman, friend Herbert is equally afraid of his better half, known as Sally; and a flirtation carried on by two pals on board the good ship "Albatross" with a couple of pretty girl passengers leads to serious results. When the party land in Spain a Spaniard who was a fellow passenger on board the vessel, threatens Ebenezer and Herbert that he will tell their wives about the flirtation unless the guilty couple consent to appear as bull-fighters at a show of this kind in which he is interested. The friends elect to face the bull rather than their wives; and this leads to some very amusing business which reaches its climax with a comic fight in the ring, the bovine terror eventually getting the worst of it. with a couple of such excellent comedians as Mr. Charlie Rich and Mr. Claude Gardner playing the parts of Herbert and Ebenezer the fun was well maintained from start to finish, and they were admirably supported by Miss Elsie Robey as Sally and Miss Ada Terry as Maria, the respective wives, both these ladies playing their parts the utmost briskness and missing no opportunities of scoring points. Mr. Freddie Malcolm proved a capital representative of Bobbie, Ebenezer's son and heir. In a scene preliminary to that of the burlesque bull-fight he made a hit with a well-rendered ditty, "Sweet Spanish Maid," and throughout his energetic assistance and genuine humour were invaluable. Mr. Forest Tell as Richard and Miss Dorothy Wheeler as Valencia contributed some charming ballads, sung in excellent style. Mr. Will E. Phillips is Signor Jose, Mr. Herbert Young as Signor Rodrigo and Mr. Stanley Roberts as the Mayor were all well suited. The chorus of good-looking girls were tastefully costumed and it was evident that they had been carefully trained, In a circus scene Mr. Albert Hickey introduced his unrideable mule, and those who attempted to mount the animal run the risk of a nasty kick. The variety part of the bill at Lewisham Hippodrome this week includes the Two Junes, vocalists and dancers, both dainty and pretty. Though both of the fair sex one adopts male attire and does an excellent step dance whilst the other received loud applause for a pas seul neatly executed. Their finale of the whirlwind order brings down the house. Fred Keeton in a parody of many songs is as funny as ever and Edward Croslands Melody Makers with some new songs and clever dances completes the Bill. (The Era Wednesday 11 October 1916)

‘The Hippodrome was filled in all parts at the first house, last Monday evening, to give a welcome to Miss Camille Clifford on her first visit to Lewisham. She is presenting an interesting play, “the Girl of the Future,” and Miss Clifford is seen and heard at her best. She is admirably supported by Mr. Edgar Stevens and Mr H. Tripp Edgar, and the dialogue by Harold Simpson, with some charming music by Arthur Klein and J. M. Capel, combine to make the production very enjoyable’. Lewisham Borough News, 6 April 1917.

The Era, 30 May 1917 carried advertisements for the show at the Lewisham Hippodrome and the Grand Palace, Clapham Junction in the week commencing 4 June, both including Harry Thurston in Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather’s ‘The Johnson ‘Ole’. The programme at the Lewisham Hippodrome concludes with ‘Captain Bruce Bairnsfather’s capital sketch “The Johnson ‘Ole,” in which Harry Thurston as Ole Bill, gives one of the best character studies he has yet attempted’. The Stage, 7 June 1917.

Performed for the week by cast including Harry Buss. The 63rd week of performance.

Advertised in The Era, 9 January 1918.

The Era, Wednesday 6 March 1918 carried advertisements for shows at the Lewisham Hippodrome and the Camberwell Palace for the week commencing 11 March, both including Harry Thurston & Co. in “The Johnson ‘Ole”.

This performance (theatre and start date) is included in a list of previous performances of “Married on Leave” in The Stage of Thursday 1 August 1918.

Advertised in The Era, 7 August 1918, and the Sydenham, Forest Hill & Penge Gazette, 9 August 1918.

Margot Delan performed in the play. Performing in the same bill were: Florence Smithson, Malcolm Scott, Johnson Clark, Tom Stuart, Zetta Mor, Chas. Whittle, Cara Magda.

The Stage, 29 May 1919 listed under ‘calls for next week’ Andrew Melville’s “For England, Home and Beauty” at the Lewisham Hippodrome.

The Stage, 26 June 1919, listed Jolly Times as On Tour from 23 June at the H., Lewisham.