Richard Baker aka Ritchie the Ranger came to talk to us about the history of Liverpool's Theatres and Cinemas. He was so entertaining and everyone was really interested in his talk. He had a few 'competitions' during the evening with supposed large cash prizes (we all knew they were fictitious!) and of course nobody actually won until near the end when a member won......... not a cash prize....not a Cunard cruise....... but a pen that gave her free access to libraries, parks and museums!
Ritchie told us about the start of theatre in our city when street entertainers known as Vagabonds went around the town. In 1467 they were housed in the first theatre known as the Cockpit Theatre (so called because cock fighting was held there). We heard about other theatres: one in Drury Lane, the Theatre Royal in Williamson Square, the Playhouse which started off as the Star Music Hall, the Royal Court which was rebuilt after a serious fire in 1938, the Prince of Wales which changed its name many times till it became the Empire, Hope Hall which became the Everyman........... Ritchie also told us about cinemas and their development, the first being opened by John F Wood in Walton called the Bedford.. Amazingly there were about 125 cinemas in the city at one time. Ritchie went through a list of some of them and there were many nods of recognition amongst the ladies! Many of us recall the Abbey cinema by Picton Clock, whose owner chose the name apparently because it would be at the top of any advertising list in alphabetical order. The Abbey was the first to introduce Cinerama screens, the first film being "It's a Mad Mad World" He talked about our very own Woolton Picture House which many of us are fond of. Barbara thanked Ritchie on our behalf for a very entertaining evening. Hopefully he'll be back again one Tuesday evening!
Ritchie told us about the start of theatre in our city when street entertainers known as Vagabonds went around the town. In 1467 they were housed in the first theatre known as the Cockpit Theatre (so called because cock fighting was held there). We heard about other theatres: one in Drury Lane, the Theatre Royal in Williamson Square, the Playhouse which started off as the Star Music Hall, the Royal Court which was rebuilt after a serious fire in 1938, the Prince of Wales which changed its name many times till it became the Empire, Hope Hall which became the Everyman........... Ritchie also told us about cinemas and their development, the first being opened by John F Wood in Walton called the Bedford.. Amazingly there were about 125 cinemas in the city at one time. Ritchie went through a list of some of them and there were many nods of recognition amongst the ladies! Many of us recall the Abbey cinema by Picton Clock, whose owner chose the name apparently because it would be at the top of any advertising list in alphabetical order. The Abbey was the first to introduce Cinerama screens, the first film being "It's a Mad Mad World" He talked about our very own Woolton Picture House which many of us are fond of. Barbara thanked Ritchie on our behalf for a very entertaining evening. Hopefully he'll be back again one Tuesday evening!
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