Calling all CSI sleuths

[Timbottawa]

PS The very fact that a photo was taken suggests a big event, and the board being held in the centre of the front row suggests that it describes the big event.  Something like the 100th performance of O.K., or some really big star appearing in a modest provincial theatre!

Tim

[Boongie Pam]

Some other leads that may help if we can find old photos...


Some "lost" Coliseums are in Blackpool on Lytham Road and in Brighton, 78 West Street open 1918-1919it became the Grand Picture Palace. 

The history of Aberystwyth Coliseum is here..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/aberystwyth/pages/coliseum.shtml

Sadly the picture is of the upper part of the building.
There is a postcard here so I don't think it's Aberystwyth..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/aberystwyth/pages/coliseum_photos.shtml?3

I've got a gut feel for Blackpool - based on nothing!  If I can find a picture I'll post...

Leeds also have an old coliseum

This walk finishes in Millennium Square at a red brick building which is now Creation Nightclub. This was the Coliseum Theatre before it became a cinema. Millennium Square was Leeds' flagship project to mark the year 2000, funded by Leeds City Council and the Millennium Commission.

Pam
 

[Boongie Pam]

Hmmm I'm liking a Leeds connection given all the "xxxxxxGATE" in the area.


http://www.leeds.gov.uk/discover/discovery.asp?page=2003218_251720608&topic=2003219_253704250&subsection=2003625_326427639

Some pictures above.

P

[Boongie Pam]

No real idea of the date.  The relative, who is a cousin once removed, and her husband actually managed the City Varieties in Leeds from about the 1930s to late 1950s.  Previously they lived in Scarborough, siblings performed in the Moss Empire, based at the Alhambra in Bradford, and their father apparently once owned (or more likely managed) the Tyne THeatre in Newcastle.  Hence the four locations I mentioned.

Others more knolwledgeable on clotihng styles might be able to date the photo, but I would say 1920s or 30s, wouldn't you?

OK dates from the late 19thC, doesn't it?

Tim

Just saw this - I'm far too eager sometimes I take the lesson to read the thread first!!!

Scarborough also had a coliseum.
There is a picture of the Leeds theatre when it was a Gaumont - I like the proportions at the front.

[yn9man]

Tim -

My eyes would have me believe the following: 

--TUGHIE COLISEUM in the stain glass lettering

Time period: I would say the 1920s - 1930s. Definitely pre WWII.

The small sign may read     

COLISEUM
__________ (may be name of actor ??)
                     
__________ (may be name of actor ??)

OK

A roaring
musical comedy
_________
________

Will try and look again later and "see" if I "see" anything different.

yn9man

[PrueM]

At first glance I thought the mystery word on the awning ended in NIGHT but then realised there was an 'E' on the end...still, someone might recognise the name...

Prue

[PrueM]

Here's a bit of an enhancement of the billboard - not sure if it helps anyone?
P

[PrueM]

I am having trouble finding a play with OK in the title - I always thought that that was quite a recent term in the English language - any idea of the date of the photo?

According to Dictionary.com and The Straight Dope (my source for all things important!!) the term "OK" is recorded first in 1839, and used commonly thereafter.  A revelation to me, I thought it was a WW2 thing   

P 

[SheilaM]

Best guess.

Stained glass lettering **MGATE

Coliseum

***---------Kenneth
***---------Horne

OK

A  *********
Musical Comedy

Sheila