Hippodrome, Bilston

Cast: Fred W Goddard (Rev Paul Wingold), John Blake (Stanley Winsford), Frank Lyndon (Sir Norman Winsford), John Bolton (Rev Matthew Freeman), Guy Desmond (Hon. Arthur Neil), Julian Charles (Sam Smithers), Jimmy Stewart (Hop Chop), Gerald Rathbone (Gen. de Lisle), Raymond St John (Gen. Fullerton), Will Shepherd (Tom Edwards), Kitty Renior (Charlotte Smithers), Margaret Saville (Doris Wingold), Miss Ward (Joy Freeman). 'all the characteristics of successful melodrama' (The Era, 6 January 1915).

‘Mr. Percy Brown presents Remember Belgium [at the Hippodrome and Picture House, Bilston]. A very interesting story is unfolded. Mr. Brown gives an effective portrayal of Antonio Rianlo, otherwise FitzSiegenbach [sic]. Mr. Walle [sic] Ives is extremely droll as Kelly Cackles. Miss Lewslie [sic] Drummond is successful as Miss Featherstone, and Miss Vida Haslewood is good as Marie’. The Stage, 6 May 1915.

Presented all week with Edward Vivan, Nell Ingram, Horace Buckley and Valerie Russell.

‘This week we have a welcome return visit from Mrs. Frank Bateman and her company. On Monday The Woman in Khaki was presented. Mrs. Bateman appeared in the name part and met with the usual enthusiastic reception. Fred W. Goddard made an excellent impression as Viscount Harry Kendrick. Also in the week’s bill are She Gave Her Life, Sapho, East Lynne, and The Way Women Love’. The Stage, 18 November 1915.

‘Emma Litchfield and her company are presenting Home Once More [at the Hippodrome and Picture House, Bilston]. Emma Litchfield proves herself an emotional actress of ability as Mary. Goodyer-Kettley gives a well-executed portrayal of Captain Forester. Tom H. Solly is entertaining as Jack Anderson. Larry Clements is also successful as Barney’. The Stage, 23 December 1915.

Noted in The Stage, 20 January 1916: ‘The chief parts are sustained by G. Carlton Wallace (Basil Stanhope), Norman A. Overton (Hermann Klost), J. Forbes Knowles (Henry Carstone), Evelyn Carleton (Elise Carstone), and Lydia Mannington (Ms. Stanhope)’.

The Era, 20 and 27 September 1916, listed The Unmarried Mother as On The Road from 25 September at the H., Bilston. Similarly The Stage, 21 and 28 September 1916.

The Era, 1 and 8 November 1916, listed The Little Grey Home in the West as On The Road from 6 November at the H., Bilston.

Performed by Messrs Jazon and Montgomery Company

Performed for one week.

The Stage, 20 December 1917, listed For Motherland as On Tour from 17 December at the Hippo, Bilston, and from 24 December at the Emp., Wath-on-Dearne.

‘As a holiday attraction [at the Hippodrome, Bilston] we have Ernest R. Abbott s company, who are presenting "The Passions" and “Neither Wife Nor Maid.” The chief parts are sustained by John Johnstone, K. Fenton Wingate, Edward Chester, W. H. Davis Brown, Ada Abbott, and Isabel Singleton’. The Stage, 24 April 1919.

Also presented during the week was 'His Mother's Rosary' by Eva Elwes. ('The Stage', 10 March 1921, p. 6)

‘This house [the Royal and Hippodrome, Bilston] re-opened on Monday. For the first week of the dramatic season Ernest R. Abbott’s company present “The Passions” and “Neither Wife nor Maid.” The chief parts are in the hands of Ada Abbott and John Johnston’. The Stage, 20 April 1922.