The Palace Theatre

The theatre in Union Street was originally called the New Palace Theatre of Varieties and was opened on the 5th September, 1898. The opening show featured Adele and May Lilian who were billed as the Levey Sisters. They performed Persian and hunting songs and were followed by an acrobatic act called The Six Craggs. Other acts that night included Walter and Edie Cassons who performed a vaudeville act, a comedian called Harry Comlin and a roller skater called Fred Darby. Tickets ranged from one shilling to 2/6 which included three hours of entertainment.

Fire destroyed both the auditorium and stage on the 23rd December, 1898 and the theatre wasn't opened again until May 1899.

There were twice nightly vaudeville shows by 1902 and artists who appeared during the early 1900s included Neil Kenyon billed as a 'scotch' comedian, Robert Williams a sword swinger and Miss Gertie Gitana who sang songs including 'Nellie Dean.'

In 1909, Harry Houdini played at the theatre for a week during August and drew a huge crowd.

Charlie Chaplin, who was in Plymouth as a guest of Nancy Astor, appeared on stage on the 16th November, 1931.

The theatre stayed open during the blitz of 1941 to keep people's spirits up. Acts that appeared that year included Billy Cotton and his band, Tommy Handley, Arthur Lucan (Old Mother Riley), Henry Hall and his Orchestra as well as many less known acts. At Christmas of that year, the show was Robinson Crusoe which starred George Hirstie.

The theatre closed in 1949 for redecorating and reopened with the Billy Cotton Bandshow. The theatre closed again in 1954 due to the lack of touring shows. It was offered to the Plymouth City Council in 1956 but they refused to buy it and it closed for five months before reopening in October 1956. It closed suddenly on the 7th February, 1959 during the pantomime, 'Little Miss Muffet' because of lack of interest.

New management took over the theatre in 1961 and it became Palace Theatre (Bingo) Ltd.

The theatre reopened in 1962 with the pantomime, 'Sinbad the Sailor.'

In 1965, Arthur Fox, a businessman from Manchester, paid £50,000 for the theatre with the intention of hosting Star Bingo, wrestling (which was very popular at the time) and striptease.

In 1975, it was bought by EMI and opened on the 19th April, 1977 with a performance of 'The Magic Flute.' The theatre struggled and closed on the 27th May, 1980 when it ceased trading and its contents were put up for sale. It reopened on the 16th May 1981 for a review with Danny La Rue but finally closed in 1983 when it became the Academy Disco.

Its fortunes didn't improve and today it remains closed and its shabby appearance hides its varied history. It's amazing to think of the great acts that have appeared there and of how many people in Plymouth have been entertained by them.

The theatre is said to be haunted, a rumour started in the early 1960s.

Robin Hood

Robin Hood wasn't from Plymouth but the actor who played him in the tv series in the 1950s was. Richard Greene was born in Stonehouse on the 25th August, 1918. He appeared in 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' for 143 episodes between 1955 and 1960.

His aunt was Evie Greene an actress in musical theatre and his parents were both actors with the Repertory Theatre in Plymouth. He was educated in Kensington and left school when he was 18. His stage career began when he played a spear carrier in a version of Julius Caesar in 1933. In 1936, he joined the Jevan Brandon Repertory Company and appeared in Terence Rattigan's 'French Without Tears' where he came to the attention of Alexander Korda and Darryl F Zanuck. When he was 20, he joined 20th Century Fox and became a huge success after appearing in John Ford's movie, 'Four Men and a Prayer.' He received so much fan mail that he rivalled Tyrone Power and Robert Taylor. Greene continued to make movies until he enlisted in the 27th Lancers during the Second World War.

Greene appeared in propaganda films during the war and also toured entertaining the troops. However, the war ruined Greene's rising film career although he is well remembered for 'Forever Amber' which was made in 1947. Afterwards, he found himself cast in mainly swashbuckling roles. With little film work and his divorce from Patricia Medina, Greene was almost forgotten when he was approached by Yeoman Films who offered him the lead role in 'The Adventures of Robin Hood.' By taking the role it solved his financial problems and also made him a huge star.

Richard Greene died at his home in Norfolk on the 1st June, 1985.

The Beatles

The Beatles appeared at the ABC on the 13th November, 1963. While in Plymouth, the Beatles were interviewed for a tv show made by Westward Television called, 'Move Over, Dad!' The interviewer was Stuart Hutchison. So many fans blocked the street, that the Beatles had to be taken through a tunnel, from the ABC to Westward Studios, to be interviewed. The concert very nearly didn't take place as Paul had been suffering from gastric flu and their booked appearance at Portsmouth on the previous night was cancelled because of this.

Below is a transcript of the Beatles interview with Stuart Hutchison;

Hutchison: 'Well Paul, how are you after your collapse we read about?' Paul: 'I didn't really collapse. That was just the naughty newspapers, writing it. Misquote! Nah, I just had a bit of flu, you know. I'm fine today, thank you.' Hutchison: 'You're feeling alright?' Paul: (in a comical voice) 'Lovely. Real lovely.' Hutchison: 'How are the rest of you? How are you going to avoid catching...?' John: (in a pathetic voice) 'We're fine, thank you.' George: 'Oh, we're OK. Yeah, great.' Hutchison: 'Are you taking any cold prevention, now?' Paul: 'Yeah, I'm taking 'em all. Got 'em all.' John: (quietly) 'It's only 1/6 a tube.' (Paul giggles) Hutchison: 'How about these escape plans you keep beating about? You got out of one place disguised as policemen.' Beatles: 'No, no!' George: 'We didn't, actually. We put the policemen's helmets on...' Paul: 'Just for a laugh, you know.' George: 'Yeah.' Paul: 'The policemen said, 'Aww, let's have a laugh, and put these helmets...' George: 'We jumped out of the van, and you know... The press were there to take the photographs, so we jumped out with the helmets on. So the next day it was...' Paul: 'The next day you read in the papers...' George: '...here they are, disguised.' Ringo: 'Have you ever seen a policeman in a corduroy coat?' John: 'I have. I saw one back in 1832, I think.' Ringo: 'He knows, you see.' Hutchison: 'Did you put the helmets on over the haircuts?' Paul: 'Yeah.' Ringo: 'Sure.' John: 'Well, we couldn't put them underneath.' (Beatles laugh) Paul: 'And I also read in the papers today, there's a man who said we wear wigs!' Ringo: (loudly) 'We don't!' Paul: 'We don't. Honest. Feel it.' Hutchison: 'True. It's lovely, yes. Oh, on this program a few weeks ago, somebody said the Beatles haircut was going out because the fringe was so long you couldn't see the birds. What comment have you got to make on that?' John: (yells) 'It's a dirty lie!' George: (laughs) Paul: 'We can see quite well. I can see quite well, thanks, John.' George: 'Well, some of us can.' (laughter) Hutchison: 'Are you looking forward to doing it tonight?' Beatles: 'Yeah! Paul: 'Of course.' Hutchison: 'Well, they've all been looking forward to seeing you, and they're out there now. Thank you very much, boys.' Beatles: 'Thank you.' John: 'Pleasure.'

The Beatles visited the ABC again on the 29th October, 1964.

The Beatles visited a third time in September 1967 while filming the Magical Mystery Tour and pictures appear of them sitting on the Hoe overlooking the Sound.

Charles Darwin

At Devil's Point, at the end of Durnford Street, there is a plaque commemorating the sailing from Barn Pool, at Mount Edgcumbe, of HMS Beagle. Charles Darwin's journey is mentioned in the Quarterly Review of 1840: 'On the 27th November, 1831, the well-manned, well-appointed and well-provided Beagle sailed from Barn Pool, and having circumnavigated the globe, and accomplished all the objects the expedition had in view, as far was practical, she anchored at Falmouth on the 2nd October, 1836, after and absence of four years and nine months.' Darwin had lived in Plymouth for two months before his famous voyage around the world in HMS Beagle. The ship was captained by Robert Fitzroy. Darwin, who was then just 22 years old, joined the crew as a naturalist. He had a wealthy family who paid the £30 fare needed to travel on the Beagle.

When he returned to England, he married Emma Wedgwood, the daughter of the potter, Josiah Wedgwood.

He carried on his research and in 1859, his book, 'The Origin of the Species by Natural Selection' was published in 1859.

Darwin died in 1882 at his home in Orpington, Kent. He is buried at Westminster Abbey.

Kiss me, Hardy

Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy once lived at 156 Durnford Street. Although he rose through the ranks to become a Vice-Admiral, his Naval career is remembered by just three words, 'Kiss me Hardy'. When Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson was fatally wounded aboard HMS Victory in 1805, he was taken below deck where he was later visited by Hardy. Nelson's words to him were, 'Take care of poor Lady Hamilton', before he uttered the immortal words, 'Kiss me, Hardy'. It has been suggested that what Nelson actually said was, 'Kismet, Hardy' meaning that this was his fate. However, that was not the case as many officers present, including his surgeon, William Beatty, who wrote down his words, bore witness to the actual event. When Nelson uttered the words, 'Kiss me, Hardy', Hardy knelt beside him and kissed him on the cheek.Many people think that these were his last words, but, his final words were uttered just before he died three hours after he had been shot. These words were, 'God and my country'. A young sailor from Cawsand, Lieutenant John Pollard, was a midshipman on the Victory when Nelson was fatally wounded. Although not a well known name now, it was Pollard who shot and killed the enemy sailor who shot Nelson. He was known thereafter as, 'Nelson's Avenger'. However, several other men also claimed to have shot the Frenchman. In An Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson by Sir William Beatty, published in 1807, he wrote: 'There were only two Frenchmen left alive in the mizzen-top of the Redoubtale at the time of his Lordship's being wounded and by the hands of these he fell. At length one of them was killed by a musket ball; and on the others then attempting to make his escape from the top down the rigging, Mr Pollard (Midshipman) fired his musket at him and shot him in the back when he fell dead from the shrouds on the Redoutable's poop.' Beatty's account supports Pollard being the 'avenger'.

The Blitz of 1941

During the Second World War, the heaviest attacks on the city came in 1941. In the two intensive attacks on the 20 and 21 March, 336 people lost their lives. Five further attacks in April brought the toll to 590. There was hardly a building in Plymouth that wasn’t touched in some way by the Blitz. Much of the city centre was obliterated and although many buildings remained amongst the debris, most were damaged beyond repair. It’s hard now to imagine the total devastation the bombing caused. Many of the most popular streets, Bedford Street, Union Street, Old Town Street, Frankfort Street, Cornwall Street, George Street etc were either totally destroyed or severely damaged. Major buildings such as the Guildhall, the Municipal Buildings, St Andrew’s Church, Charles Church and the General Post Office were obliterated. Many schools were also hit. These included Plymouth High School for Girls, the Hoe Grammar School and the infants school at Summerland Place. Many churches were destroyed also including St James the Less, King Street Methodist, St Peter’s, George Street Baptist and many other. The bombing was indiscriminate and destroyed anything that got in its way. In the dockyard, the bombing was bad but not as damaging as would have been thought and within a few months, it was back to 90% efficiency. Outside the city, the bombing was just as devastating and areas affected included Devonport, Stonehouse, St Budeaux, Swilly and Saltash Passage. Devonport lost many buildings including the Post Office, the Alhambra Theatre, the Synagogue, the Hippodrome and the Salvation Army Headquarters. Residential houses that were either destroyed or beyond repair amounted to 3,754.Others that were seriously damaged but able to be repaired amounted to 18,398. Houses that were slightly damaged amounted to an additional 49,950. It’s hard to imagine today, unless you’ve lived through it, such devastation to a city. Many children were packed off to live with relatives, friends or obliging families in safe areas in the countryside. Thousands left on special trains and many saw it as an adventure while others were upset to leave their parents behind. Lady Astor said at the time, 'What helped the evacuation was that everyone seemed to have a cousin in the country!'. News of the devastation of Plymouth soon reached the rest of the world and gifts arrived from all over particularly the United States who sent ambulances, soft toys, food packages and surgical dressings. The Royal Sailors Rest received crates of supplies so large that they were unable to get them into the building. At the end of the war, there were a total of 4,448 casualties due to the raids and heavy bombing of the city. Throughout it all though, the people of Plymouth remained strong and there were regular dances on the Hoe almost in defiance of the enemy as they bombed the city. Plymouth was reborn after the war and the city was rebuilt almost from scratch. Few buildings remained in the heart of the city that were there before the war and even now, the city is constantly changing.

Lawrence of Arabia

T E Lawrence was stationed at Mount Batten in Plymouth and was posted to RAF Cattewater during March 1929 and stayed in Plymouth until

1935 where he worked on high-speed boats.

Previously, at the beginning of the First World War, Lawrence had been a university post-graduate researcher and had travelled extensively within the Ottoman Empire. When he volunteered his services, he was posted to Cairo. Lawrence fought with the Arab troops against the enemy forces of the Ottaman Empire. In 1918, he was involved in the capture of Damascus and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. After the War, his fame spread and he became known as Lawrence of Arabia.

When he joined the RAF in 1922, he enlisted as John Hume Ross to protect his identity. This was discovered in 1923 and he was forced out of the RAF. He changed his name to T E Shaw and enlisted in the Royal Tank Corps. He was unhappy there and petitioned the RAF to re-accept him, which they did in 1925.

He died aged 46 in a motor bike accident near his cottage in Wareham.

There is a plaque at Turnchapel which commemorates Lawrence. It reads:

'Lawrence of Arabia 1888-1935.

On his return from India in 1929 T.E. Lawrence, under the assumed name of Shaw, was posted to a flying boat squadron at RAF Mount Batten he remained in the marine craft section until his discharge 19 February 1935.'