Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Wakefield Theatre Club

Earlier this year, we were thrilled to receive a fantastic collection of Wakefield Theatre Club memorabilia from a generous donor. The material was mainly collected in 1970s by Isabel Cheston, who worked at the club’s cigarette kiosk.

 

 
Wakefield Theatre Club was part of the vibrant local variety scene along with the likes of Batley Variety Club. The memorabilia, including flyers, posters and programmes, reveals the long and eclectic list of stars who performed at the club.

 


Club members were treated to a wide range of different performances: from singers, dancers and orchestras to comedians, ventriloquists and strong women like Joan Rhodes. Known as the Mighty Mannequin, she was famed for bending steel bars and tearing telephone directories in half whilst wearing fishnet tights and high heels.

 

Working at the club, Isabel was lucky enough to meet many of the performers. She amassed a vast collection of stars’ autographs. The examples below are just a flavour of the whole collection.

 

 

 

Sometimes, Isabel must have grabbed whatever she had to hand for the artists and celebrity patrons to sign- Leeds United footballer, Billy Bremner autographed a page from a waitress’s notepad, whilst Les Dawson signed the back of a fragment of a London Underground map!

 
The collection also includes a selection of menus from the club’s restaurant. Audiences could treat themselves to a meal before a performance. In 1970 patrons could start with either grapefruit or prawn cocktail followed by a choice of scampi, steak, gammon, chicken, or plaice all served with chipped potatoes. Pie and peas was a cheaper alternative or there were salads as a healthier option. A bottle of Moet & Chandon to wash it all down with would’ve set you back 49/- or, if you preferred, it cost 2/10 for a pint of bitter or 1/6 for a Coca-Cola or lime and lemon.














Were you a member at the Theatre Club? Who do you remember seeing and were you lucky enough to meet any stars?

14 comments:

  1. I was in the club on its last night. The band was Jimmy James and the vagabonds, it was a few weeks after they caught the ripper

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    1. The final performance was actually the Hollies. Jimmy James did appear but not in the last night.

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  2. I Had some brilliant times at the club. I was only 17 /18 years old when i would spend most of my time off work useually a monday night with my mate. we saw and met some great stars. Cilla, Three degrees, New seekers, Freddie starr To mention a few. I remember the pie and chips meal and how close you were to the artists in those days Some great memories.

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Steve - great to hear your memories. It sounds fantastic!

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  3. I remember going to to the Theatre club in the 70's when Princess Margaret was attending a charity event, Dick Emery, Roger de Courcy and Peters and Lee were performing not sure who else, hoping someone can remember any other performers not sure if Bob Monkhouse was one.

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  4. Remember travelling from Manchester Uni over the Penines in my old van to see Muddy Waters play the club. It was a weird sensation because it wasn't like a 'normal' theatre venue. Just found a list of Muddy dates in Blues Unlimted and it was 20 October 1968. The great Otis Spann on piano.

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  5. Two weeks after the club first opened it's doors, the owner of the club Mr----------- took the bold decision to book a full six night Jazz Extravaganza which was touring Britain at the time. This event ran from the 20th to 26th October 1968. As a keen follower of "bebop" at the time, I could not believe my luck when I saw that the Dizzy Gillespie big band was to play the club on the Monday night! During that week, Dave Brubeck, Count Basie, Earl Hines and many more top American musicians played and it was a wonderful week. I have kept some items from the event which when the museum is up and running again I will offer. I also made some recordings at the club.

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    1. Hi Unknown - did you record Muddy by any chance?!

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    2. Sorry I was in the modern camp. I did record Dizzy, Duke and Woody Herman plus two tracks by Dave Brubeck with Gerry Mulligan

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  6. Hi remember seeing the New Seekers , Danny La Rue , Freddie Star and having scamp and chips in a basket , my main memories were the Pussycat and spending every Saturday evening there !
    However my mum and dad loved the WTC and saw Shirley Bassey and many more amazing artists at what was a wonderful theatre 🎭

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  7. Remember seeing Dusty Springfield in the early days,does anyone remember Ian Clay,one of the managers, would love to catch up with him.

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    1. I remember Ian, Catering Manager. He had a small Honda S800 sports car, God knows how he managed to get in and out of it!

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  8. Did Larry Grayson appear here in 1973/74? Seem to think I went to Wakefield theatre club to see him.

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    1. January 28th 1973. For one week.

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