Britannia Panopticon, Glasgow

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Fergie
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 9:44 pm
Location: East Kilbride

Britannia Panopticon, Glasgow

Post by Fergie » Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:59 pm

Had a fascinating visit this afternoon to the Panopticon which is the oldest surviving music hall in Britain.(1857-1938) Some of you might have seen it on BBC's "Restoration programme". It is famous for the stage debut of Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy in 1906 before he went to America.

A trust has been set up to preserve and restore the Britannia and the number for enquiries is: 0141 553 0840 113-117 Trongate, Glasgow

They are showing Laurel and Hardy Movies on Wed. 6th September
Tango Nights on Sunday evenings (not sure but I think its tango dancing!)
Are open on Glasgow Doors Open day 16/17September
Special Performance of The Whitechapel Murders 23rd September (very atmospheric location)

If you get along to any of these I would wear warm clothes! The building is in it's 1938 condition and really hasn't been changed since then. It is not the place to go if you are looking for comfort (hard seats) but if you have an interest in old music halls it was great to see and they had a fair bit of memorabilia on display. I felt it was a great little intimate venue and well worth trying to preserve. Would be a great shame if it fell into total decline and had to be demolished.
Researching Currie, Glasgow, Ayr.
Clark, Sim, Fyvie
Bonnar, Trainer, McCafferty Glasgow, via Ireland.
McLaverty/Shannon/Harding Belfast & St. John,New Brunswick
Ferguson Ayrshire, Argyle, Glasgow
Honnan, Ireland, Dumfries,Glasgow

Rab
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:24 am

Post by Rab » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:04 pm

I hope the trust get the cash to preserve the building, it sound like a very worthwhile cause. Visiting old buildings with a bit of history is a good past time.
[b][i]Researching...[/i][/b]
[color=darkred]Marr, McCann, Parker, Kennedy, Sharp, Connor, Robinson, Russell, Drummond and a few others.[/color]

Davie
Posts: 607
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:36 pm
Location: Glasgow

Post by Davie » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:33 pm

Hi Fergie,
Have been at a few "Shows" in this venue before.
The one you attended the day, was mentioned by my Brither, when he was up for dinner in Mount Flo. this afternoon.
Can you let us know what the theme was about the day?
Davie
.

Fergie
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 9:44 pm
Location: East Kilbride

Post by Fergie » Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:31 pm

Hi Davie,

The show was just a small company of musical variety acts to give a flavour of the type of acts that would have performed in the music hall in Victorian times. It included two characters - Will Fyffe and Stanley Arthur Jefferson (Stan Laurel). Stan Laurel because it is the centenary of his stage debut in that very building.

It started with a lady explaining the history of the building and the work of the Trust who are trying to preserve it. There is memorabilia on display and at the end donations were accepted and a few fundraising items were on sale.

It was a sort of open day to let the public see the building and raise awareness.
Researching Currie, Glasgow, Ayr.
Clark, Sim, Fyvie
Bonnar, Trainer, McCafferty Glasgow, via Ireland.
McLaverty/Shannon/Harding Belfast & St. John,New Brunswick
Ferguson Ayrshire, Argyle, Glasgow
Honnan, Ireland, Dumfries,Glasgow

Davie
Posts: 607
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:36 pm
Location: Glasgow

Post by Davie » Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:02 am

Hi Pal
I doubt if they will ever get enough cash to refurbish the place.
Which really is a shame.
I have some old footage of Will Fyffe and a lot of Laurel and Hardy DVDS and Videos.
I know Staln Laurel's mother is buried in Cathcart graveyard, just along the road from me.
However, none of us have been able to find it.
We think she is buried in a lair of a showbiz friend.
The old graveyard is in a bad state of repair.
There are not too many theatres in Glasgow the day.
I was at the Theatre Royal tonight and it was good to see a full house.
Awrabest
Davie