Argyle Theatre Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection contains a large number of posters as well as business records including records of artist bookings, accounts, scrapbooks, contracts and correspondence.
Dates
- Creation: 1865 - 1941
Creator
- Argyle Theatre of Varieties (c1868 - 1945) (Organisation)
Conditions Governing Access
Items are available to view by appointment in the NFCA reading room
Conditions Governing Use
Copies may be supplied or produced at the discretion of National Fairground Archive, subject to copyright law and condition of the material
Biographical / Historical
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.
Extent
12 Box(es) (330 posters, 5 books of artistes bookings and payments, 2 books of wage payments, 5 books listing programmes, 4 financial ledgers, 1 book listing programming to assist local charities, 1 book of letter headed paper with carbon copies, 8 large scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Catalogued according to type
Subject
- Gitana, Gertie (1887 - 1957) (Person)
- Tilley, Vesta, 1864 - 1952 (Person)
- Roberts, Frederick Sleigh, 1st Earl Roberts, 1832 - 1914 (Person)
- Buller, Redvers Henry, General, Sir, 1839 - 1908 (Person)
- Reeves, Billie (William), 1864 - 1943 (Person)
- Karno, Fred, 1866 - 1941 (Person)
- Blackpool Tower Circus (Established 1894) (Organisation)
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (Established 1920) (Organisation)
- Hylton, Millie, 1870 - 1920 (Person)
- Boswell's Circus (1882 - 2015) (Organisation)
Cultural context
Occupation
- Clowning
- Comedians
- Contortionists
- Female impersonators
- Gymnasts
- Jugglers
- Male impersonators
- Musicians
- Performers
- Singing
- Skating
- Strong men
- Tableaux vivants
- Ventriloquists
Topical
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Created by Jane Donaldson, updated by Arantza Barrutia on Finding Aid Date field date
- Date
- 6 June 2014
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Fairground and Circus Archive Repository
The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
0114 222 7231
lib-special@sheffield.ac.uk