Time hopping through Blackpool’s theatres dropping in on the Christmas shows of yesteryear

Last week’s flashback to Christmas Day, 1961, may have brought a smile to a couple of veterans of the Blackpool amateur stage.

Who wouldn’t have relished the chance to play one of John Chapman’s colourful characters in the early Whitehall farces, in this case Simple Spymen?

Keep smiling!

Today the old time machine has been cranked up and with the figure 100 on the thingamijig we’re tumbling back to Christmas Day, 1920, for afternoon and evening performances at Blackpool theatres.

It’s curtain-up at 2.30 at the Palace Theatre (demolished 1962) for Robinson Crusoe, presented by and starring Australian-born Florrie Forde, on her annual tour of top variety theatres.

Her leading comedian is Reg Bolton, who will star in his own right in several 1930s summer seasons at Feldman’s Theatre in the resort.

Hopefully, Florrie will manage to work into Robinson Crusoe her famous song about another islander, Kelly from the Isle of Man!

After a nice snack - and a “wash and brush up” at the Clifton Hotel - we’ll saunter up Clifton Street and across to the Opera House for the evening performance.

Everyone is talking about American author Edward Sheldon’s play Romance, of which the poster states “The most beautiful love story ever written.”

It’s the story of an intense affair between an opera star and a young clergyman.

Interesting to note that Doris Keane, the original star of the New York and London runs of the play, is also making a film version.

The 1920 audience, in which we are the interlopers, will soon be able to compare our own Frances Dillon, live and onstage, with a black and white silent movie.

The audience will have to wait a few years before they hear dialogue coming from the screen!

Our old time machine is programmed for hops of ten years, so on our trip back to the future we call again at the Winter Gardens, where we see that movies have taken the big leap forward.

The 1930 Christmas attraction in the Pavilion is the Hollywood musical The Vagabond King, with Jeanette McDonald singing loud and clear through the screen.

Down the hall at the Opera House the Christmas stage attraction is the musical comedy Mr Cinders, an alternative version of the Cinderella story, premiered at the Opera House in September, 1928, with Binnie Hale and Bobby Howes, prior to a long run at London’s Adelphi Theatre.

It’s return to the Opera House is with a new cast headed by Phyllis Heryet and Leslie Hatton.

There’s just time to nip down Victoria Street to the Palace, where music hall star Florrie Forde is again the Christmas attraction with her 1930 pantomime, Robin Hood.

This year Florrie’s featured comedians are her touring manager, Chesney Allen, with his comedy partner Bud Flanagan. Those two boys will go far!

It’s back to the old time machine and back to 2020. Good to be home. Not much is happening though . . .