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Argyle Theatre of Varieties (c1868 - 1945)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: c1868 - 1945

Biography

The Argyle Music Hall in Birkenhead was opened in 1868 and staged many variety acts of the day.

The name was changed to The Prince Of Wales Theatre from 1876 to 1890, and was used mainly to stage plays. In 1890, the focus returned to music hall and variety and the theatre was renamed the Argyle Theatre.

Manager Denis J. Clarke ran the Argyle Theatre for 45 years from 1890 to 1935 developing the theatre to make it became one of the most well known theatres in the country playing host to many variety acts of the day.

As well as music hall and variety, the Argyle Theatre often had early film and also was the first theatre to have radio broadcasts.

During the Second World War, the theatre was bombed, taking a direct hit. It was never rebuilt.

Found in 358 Collections and/or Records:

Business Records, 1865 - 1940

 Series
Reference code: 178H18
Scope and Contents

Various items of business records including lists of artists, financial information, contracts and charitable events.

Dates: 1865 - 1940
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection

Contracts, 1909 - 1941

 File
Reference code: 178H18.6
Scope and Contents

Contracts of employment dating from 1909 to 1940 but mainly 1941.

Dates: 1909 - 1941
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Business Records

Correspondence, 1911 - 1912

 Series
Reference code: 178F25
Scope and Contents

Book of letter headed paper.

Dates: 1911 - 1912
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Financial Ledgers, 1866 - 1893

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178H18.2
Scope and Contents

Books containing financial information on expenditure, payments and takings.

Dates: 1866 - 1893
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Business Records

Posters, c1880 - 1940

 Series
Reference code: 178R12
Scope and Contents

Large collection of Argyle Theatre posters.

Dates: c1880 - 1940
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection

Posters, c1887 - 2010

 Series
Reference code: 178R27
Scope and Contents

Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.

Dates: c1887 - 2010
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 25 - 30 May c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.90
Scope and Contents Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Miss Bessie Bonehill burlesque artist and nautical Vocalist, Miss Birdie Brightling Vocalist and Banjoist, Mr. George Medley comic, Miss Bertie Stokes burlesque actress and vocalist Stebb and Trepp, Harry Lester character comedian, vocalist and dancer, Stanley and Lillian duettists and dancers, Miss Nellie Gannon character vocalist, Patrick Cashan Irish comedian, vocalist and dancer, Mr Harry Wright motto, topical and satirical vocalist, Carlin and Price...
Dates: 25 - 30 May c1880 - 1899
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 24 - 29 May c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.91
Scope and Contents Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Sweeney and Rylands America’s greatest Comedians, vocalists and dancers, Sisters Dagmar burlesque actresses, vocalists and dancers, Mr Herbert Nicholls comic vocalist, Ray and Dwight and Ray knockabout Negro Comedians, Smythe Cronin vocal comedian, Miss Kate Paradise and her Bijou troupe of Parisian Dancers, Nellie Newcombe Serio Comic vocalist and dancer, Harry Leander Dutch Character Impersonator, Miss Cora Eugene. Printed by S. Griffith and Co,...
Dates: 24 - 29 May c1880 - 1899
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 27 June 1887

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.92
Scope and Contents Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Professor Peterson and his wonderful troupe of Jolly Dog Comedians, Mad’mle Adele Blanche continental character vocalist, Lewis West and Harry Lancaster comedians, vocalists and dancers, Miss Marie Fawn Serio comic and champion song and dance artists, The Brothers Matthews, Miss Laura Laurent American Character comedian, Mr Tom Melbourne comic vocalist, Fiske and Muldoon knockabout artists. Printed by S. Griffith and Co, typeers, Liverpool. Black and red...
Dates: 27 June 1887
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 28 November 1887

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.93
Scope and Contents

Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Mr D.J. McCarthy Comic Vocalist, Miss Rosie Blond characteristic Vocalist and Dancer, Mr Gus Connolley with Mr Ben Fielding in new entertainment 'Brown v Brown', Mr Arthur Alexander, Albert Freear Eccentric Negro Comedian, vocalist and dancer, Mike and Kate Sullivan Irish Duettists and Dancers, W.H. Vane comedian and banjo player. Printed by S. Griffith and Co, typeers, Liverpool. Brown and blue type.

Dates: 28 November 1887
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 11 June 1888

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.98
Scope and Contents

Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Charles Diamond Harpist, Lottie Pedley vocalist, drummer and dancer, George Fairley variety comedian and dancer, Maude Haydn Serio and Burlesque actress, Bella Collins soprano and descriptive vocalist, Florrie Cuthbert Serio and Ballad Vocalist, Minnie Clarke song and dance artiste, Buffalo Bill Elliot and Buffalo, Tony Benson comedy duo. Printed by S. Griffith and Co, typeers, Liverpool. Green and red type.

Dates: 11 June 1888
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 23 January 1888

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.99
Scope and Contents Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Professors Williams and Stewart, Scotland’s greatest boxers, Carrie Lee song and dance, Madge Daly and Lizzie Hart burlesque Artistes, duettists and dancers, Gus Gauntlett humorous Baritone Vocalist, Lena Price child descriptive vocalist, Sisters Carlton topical satire, Albert Mellor satirical comic and Lancashire vocalist, James English’s Comic Sketch Company entitled 'The Irish Doctor'. Printed by S. Griffith and Co, typeers, Liverpool. Black and red...
Dates: 23 January 1888
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 28 December 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.1
Scope and Contents

Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Oscar Dubourg and Little Jim The Man Fish and The Boy Frog with illustration of water tank, The Langans, Miss Kate Dalton Ballad and Serio Comic Vocalist, Mr Fred Bennet Eccentric Irish Comedian, Vocalist and Expert Dancer, Bros. Lang, Craven and Donway The Sable Stars. ‘England’s Premier Chair, Turn Artistes, Mr George Ellison The Celebrated Negro Entertainer and Dancer. Printed by S. Griffith and Co, typeers, Liverpool. Purple and blue type.

Dates: 28 December 1885
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 15 October 1888

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.2
Scope and Contents Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Professor Buer and his wonderful troupe of animals, Miss Edie Merten serio-comic and ballad vocalist, The Original female Feeney, Miss Lilly Marney Irish patriotic character vocalist, male impersonator and dancer, Miss Ada Caryl vocalist, J.P. Dance dialect character comedian and dancer, Mr James Shields Irish character comedian, Mr Albert Rivers Comic and vocalist, Tom Bradley Character comedian, vocalist grotesque and refined Song and Dance Artiste, Jew...
Dates: 15 October 1888
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 29 October 1888

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.3
Scope and Contents Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Sig. Verdi Deavant and his 12 Educated Cats, 12 Wonderful Rats, 12 Marvellous Mice and 12 Splendid Canaries, Miss Mal de Vane serio-comic vocalist, Miss Laura Gordon vocalist and Irish Balladist, George Knowles comic and topical vocalist, Three sisters Carlton, Professor Devono conjuror, Lena Price vocalist, Mr. J. Walsh Comic vocalist and Top-Boot dancer, Miss Madge Daly Irish comedienne, The Great Fixers in ‘The Wrong Man. Laughable Negro Sketch’....
Dates: 29 October 1888
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Prince of Wales Theatre Poster, 10 December 1888

 Item
Reference code: 178R12.4
Scope and Contents Prince of Wales Theatre, Birkenhead. Zampi one-legged gymnast, Miss Daisy Victor serio-comic and Ballad vocalist, Mr Walter Mappin Artiste and Guitarist, Miss Maud Haydn Serio and Burlesque actress, The Sisters Mayfield, Maude and Minnie Tyrolean, Vocalists and dancers, Mr C.A. Watson comic man of colour, late of the Troubadour Quartette, Two infant Bicycle Phenomena, Messrs. Gilbert and M’Cann Black Bosses of the, Burnt Bung, Brigade, Villier’s Comedy Sketch company in Screaming Absurdity,...
Dates: 10 December 1888
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection / Posters

Scrapbooks, 1916 - 1940

 Series
Reference code: 178G33
Scope and Contents

Scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings referring to the Argyle Theatre.

Dates: 1916 - 1940
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Argyle Theatre Collection

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 353
Collection 2
Digital Record 3
 
Subject
Acrobats 63
Aerialists 4
Animal trainers 7
Animals 41
Boxer Rebellion (1900-1901) 3
∨ more
Boxing 16
Business 13
Circus 12
Clowning 14
Comedians 322
Contortionists 5
Dance 245
Dwarfs (Persons) 5
Equestrians 1
Fakirs 1
Family 1
Female impersonators 8
Fire eating 2
Freak shows 1
Gymnasts 13
Jugglers 36
Magic 35
Male impersonators 18
Menageries 1
Mimes 1
Minstrel shows 10
Motion pictures 185
Music 1
Music-halls 347
Musical performances 114
Musicians 68
Optical illusions 1
Pantomime 42
Performers 351
Pierrot 2
Puppets 7
Shooting 4
Showman 1
Showwoman 1
Sideshows 4
Singing 272
Skating 7
South African War, 1899-1902 9
Strong men 5
Stunt performers 1
Tableaux vivants 3
Thin people 3
Travel 1
Ventriloquists 20
War 35
Wild west 2
World War, 1914-1918 22
World War, 1939-1945 1
Wrestling 8
Zoos 1
+ ∧ less
 

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