SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Got my younger brother staying with us for a couple of weeks, he still lives in Leeds, I am in Oz, having a beer the other nite and the subject of pantomimes came up . . .Remember going to the christmas pantomimes as kids, all meet at the Adrian Social club, and get given an apple, orange, and a bag of nuts !!!An Orange ????? what was all that about ???And remember those binoculars that you could get once you were in the panto ( seem to think it was City Viarieties ) by putting sixpence in the dispenser, the flap would flip open, and you could get at the binoculars? the flap wouldn't close 'til you put the binoculars back in, making a great launcher for the peanuts . . . sigh, where have the years gone     

They're behind you!!!

When I was in Leeds I couldn't wait for Xmas to come round so I could take the kids to the Chris Fox panto at The Cvic Theatre. They were hillarious, just a tad blue for the adults. No top stars, maybe someone from Calendar or Look North as the Headline. You were close up to the stage there too.

Lilysmum wrote: They're behind you!!! Oh no they're not!

raveydavey wrote: Lilysmum wrote: They're behind you!!! Oh no they're not! Oh yes they are!!

I never went to the City Varieties one, when I was a kid it was the Alhambra Bradford one with my mam's works social club. However, I seem to remember that in those days (late fifties early sixties) the City Varieties one ran from roughly Christmas until Easter. Have I imagined this?

The Laidler pantomimes at the Theatre Royal were just breathtaking, and were a great success for years. As a little kid (no quips about me being an old goat now please LOL) I was totally mystified by the wonder of the "Flying Ballet" in which those beautiful brave lasses flew out over the audience smiling and dropping flowers for the lucky few to catch. I don't seem to remember knowing or understanding anything about cables and harnesses - it was just quite simply an annual miracle !!

BLAKEY wrote: The Laidler pantomimes at the Theatre Royal were just breathtaking, and were a great success for years. As a little kid (no quips about me being an old goat now please LOL) I was totally mystified by the wonder of the "Flying Ballet" in which those beautiful brave lasses flew out over the audience smiling and dropping flowers for the lucky few to catch. I don't seem to remember knowing or understanding anything about cables and harnesses - it was just quite simply an annual miracle !! I can just remember the Theatre Royal - wasn't it knocked down for a new Schofields? I remember the Empire being in Briggate and think I once went there - but can't be sure.

Trojan wrote: BLAKEY wrote: The Laidler pantomimes at the Theatre Royal were just breathtaking, and were a great success for years. As a little kid (no quips about me being an old goat now please LOL) I was totally mystified by the wonder of the "Flying Ballet" in which those beautiful brave lasses flew out over the audience smiling and dropping flowers for the lucky few to catch. I don't seem to remember knowing or understanding anything about cables and harnesses - it was just quite simply an annual miracle !! I can just remember the Theatre Royal - wasn't it knocked down for a new Schofields? I remember the Empire being in Briggate and think I once went there - but can't be sure. It was indeed knocked down Trojan to build a new extension to Schofields, but due to the continuing existence as a road (at that time) of King Chares Croft the new shop had to be linked to the old Headrow Schofields by an enclosed (glazed) overhead walkway.The Empire (wonderful theatre) was where Harvey Nichols stands now. If you go in the Victoria Quarter and saunter along the little short cross arcade you can still see, above the back entrance to HN, those immortal words in the red brickwork above - "EMPIRE PALACE."

BLAKEY wrote: Trojan wrote: BLAKEY wrote: The Laidler pantomimes at the Theatre Royal were just breathtaking, and were a great success for years. As a little kid (no quips about me being an old goat now please LOL) I was totally mystified by the wonder of the "Flying Ballet" in which those beautiful brave lasses flew out over the audience smiling and dropping flowers for the lucky few to catch. I don't seem to remember knowing or understanding anything about cables and harnesses - it was just quite simply an annual miracle !! I can just remember the Theatre Royal - wasn't it knocked down for a new Schofields? I remember the Empire being in Briggate and think I once went there - but can't be sure. It was indeed knocked down Trojan to build a new extension to Schofields, but due to the continuing existence as a road (at that time) of King Chares Croft the new shop had to be linked to the old Headrow Schofields by an enclosed (glazed) overhead walkway.The Empire (wonderful theatre) was where Harvey Nichols stands now. If you go in the Victoria Quarter and saunter along the little short cross arcade you can still see, above the back entrance to HN, those immortal words in the red brickwork above - "EMPIRE PALACE." I can still see in my mind those girls, dressed as fairies if memory serves, also Arthur Lucan (Old Mother Riley) playing I believe Widow Twankey running up a staircase that suddenly turned into a ramp down which he/she slid, hilarious for a toddler.