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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Staffordshire => Topic started by: rainbowfamily on Wednesday 28 July 04 12:52 BST (UK)
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I'm stuck and wondering if anyone can help me out.
J.G. Rainbow was the manager of the Theatre Royal in West Bromwich from 1884 until his death in 1893. I have a book: West Bromwich Theatre Royal by Fred Bennett that devotes a chapter to Joseph's time at the theatre and there are numerous mentions of his daughter, Emma who was an actress.
I'm stuck on Emma. I can't find her in any census or any BMD's. In the 1881 & 1891 census I can only find sign of one daughter, Lillie Blanch who was 8 and 18 respectively. I did consider that maybe she used Emma as a stage name but the dates don't work out. According to the book Emma Rainbow already had her own travelling theatre company in 1884 when Lillie would only have been 11.
I'm thinking that Emma might have been the child of a previous relationship as Joseph's wife was only 34 in 1884 and probably too young to have a daughter who was managing her own theatre company at that time?
Any ideas or suggestions of where to look next would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Paula ???
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If Emma is old enough to have her own Travelling company in 1884 (and presumably 1881) then isn't she old enough to also be married?
On census, I would expect her to use a married name rather than the family name of Rainbow.
Pauline
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Hi Pauline
Yes, good point! I have searched for a marriage for her but I am hampered by not knowing what area to look in and how old she is. The Emma Rainbow marriages that look likely all seem to end up, on the next census, with her being married to a boiler maker, or similar, with a couple of kids and no sign of 'actressing' :)
As far as using the family name on the census, this was also her stage name and I believe that some entertainers used their stage names on census returns. I have found an Emma Rainbow, actress, on the 1901 census but her age is given as 30, too young unless its a transcription error or she was lying about her age!
Curiouser and curiouser!!
Paula :)
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Hi.
My gt gt gt grand father was Charles Udall, who built the Theatre Royal West Bromwich. I have a picture of the Theatre that you may be interested in. contact me Via www.tribalpages.com/tribes/gaze
Cheers
Gay
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I have a friend who has done a lot of research on this Rainbow family including a lot of show biz articles and reviews, etc. If you are still interested, let me know.
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I would be very interested in any information about the Theatre Royal, apart from Fred Bennets book, and a picture of the Theatre, at lot remains family folk lore!
Gay
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Sandral
My grandfather, Michael Walsh, appeared at a number of theatres around the Black Country between 1890 and 1910 - as an Irish clog dancer and singer but I have no details.
If your friend has any information in his reviews it would be very much appreciated
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Hi, i have just come across this old forum of yous when googling theatre royal, Do you happen to have any information on Albert Franks, who was the musical director of the theatre royal and a great violinist. He came from West Bromwich and was married in 1902 so I have no idea what dates this would include. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers,Elaine
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I expect you know this already, but 19th Century British Library [Gale] Newspapers {accessible with many library cards] has lots of reviews and ads about Emma Rainbow from "The Era". It appears she was in Wolverhampton on 03 April 1881 so that may narrow your search a bit. Not immediately apparent where she was on 05 April 1991 but it might come to light if you have time to read all the cuttings.
Good luck.
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thanks for replying , and for the information. I will look at what I can online, I am researching my family tree but I now live in Australia so don't have access to any physical searches in the UK, it all has to be done online. cheers anyway, Elaine :)
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About time this thread had a bump!
I also have an ancestral connection (by marriage) to Charles Udall and luckily I recalled reading this thread ages ago. While searching for other entertainers who lodged with some of my other ancestors I found an advertisement which may be of interest - it's dated 25 January 1890. The essential information is...
"Lucky Star"
Played in London and the provinces 632 nights
Miss Emma Rainbow
And powerful company of talented artists now travelling with entirely new scenery painted by Mr E Glindoni of Theatre Royal, West Bromwich.
It goes on to list the scenery painted in Mr Rainbow's patent non-inflammable colour (!) and gives J G Rainbow as the contact address.
I trust that's of interest to you Rainbow, Udall and Theatre Royal devotees :D
Paul
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Have you checked whether Sandwell archives at Smethwick have any info on the theatre royal etc?
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Thanks, but a bit difficult to go to Sandwell--- I live in Australia :)
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It was a general comment for everyone concerned. They can be contacted by other means. Also I visit to transcribe, the archives are about 15 mins where I live in west brom.
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Hi
1881 13 Cleveland St Wolverhampton
Joseph Rainbow 41 theatrical Birmingham
Emma Jane wife 31 2 actor Leicester
Lille Blanche daughter 8 scholar Middlesboro.
Could Emma be his wife rather than daughter?She was an Emma Jane Sharman and they married at Leicester Sep 1871 7a 249.
Joseph's Will 15.9.1893 Theatrical proprietor and licensed victualler to widow Emma Jane widow £1633 12s 7d may help.
In 1871 Joseph Rainbow dramatic artist age 32 is unmarried in 38 Grafton St Leeds.Before that in 1861 he is at home with his family in Birmingham working as a printer,again unmarried.
1891 they are at West Bromwich 80 Walsall St
J.G Rainbow 50 Theatre Prop Birmingham
Emma 45 actress Leicester
Lillie B 18 actress London.
They have 2 actors Cecil Breton 28 London and Walter Balham 25 Exeter with them plus 3 servants.
Ciderdrinker
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Hi,
I had some problems with my original login details but I am the OP to this thread. Thank you all so much for the information that's been added over the years. PaulStaffs: that's the first I've heard about J.G. and the non flammable paint but to my knowledge the family experienced at least two major theatre fires so I imagine there was plenty of motivation!
Emma did turn out to be his wife, Emma Jane Sharman as you correctly surmised ciderdrinker ;D
I found out a lot more about this branch of the Rainbows, including the elusive Lillie Blanche Rainbow/Herries/Carlyle with the moveable birth date. More details on my blog here http://rainbowfamily.co.uk/archives/52. I even wrote a chapter about them in my book! Thank you again for all your generous help.
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Shameless plug but one of the fires gets a mention in my book too :D
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/books_by_paul_robinson
Paul
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Glindoni was one of my ancestors!
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If anyone has a list or any information on the actors/actresses at this or other local theatres I would be grateful. My grandmother was a dancer before her marriage in 1911. Her name was Selina Cashmore and she was from West Bromwich. I have no other information on her or her career, but I do know that there was a painting of her in her dancing outfit.
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I'm researching one of my relatives from West Bromwich, John Hubert Lyons born 1867. On his 1894 marriage to Martha Jane Smith his occupation is listed as "theatrical professional." I wonder if he might be the John Lyons in Emma Rainbow's Company who performed in Lucky Star. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can research this further, I'm all ears! I haven't been able to find him after the 1890 census (he's living with his parents and listed as a "safe packer" ???)