Laurel & Hardy and their Christmas Party / Cinderella - Programme, 1953
Title
Laurel & Hardy and their Christmas Party / Cinderella - Programme, 1953
Date
21 December 1953
Description
Full programme for four-week run of Laurel and Hardy and their Christmas Party at the Empire Nottingham, with the programme cover for Cinderella, the Theatre Royal Pantomime for 1953.
What's the story?
Stan Laurel (1890 – 1965) and Oliver Hardy (1892 – 1955) were a comedy double act during the early Hollywood era of American cinema. They were renowned for their slapstick comedy and their work has continued to entertain people for generations.
In the early 1950s they toured the UK, recreating many of their famous film routines.
This programme is for their four-week run at the Empire Nottingham from 21 December 1953 for a Bernard Delfont produced show entitled Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy and Their Christmas Party.
Laurel and Hardy featured twice in this variety show, in a comedy show called Birds of a Feather at the end of the first half and then presenting gifts to children at the end of the show.
Also, on the bill were Jill, Jill and Jill, Bemand’s Performing Pigeons, Ursula and Gus, Roy and Ray, Betty Kaye and her Pekinese Pets and Derrick Rosaire and his Wonder Horse – Tony.
Also, on the bill was comedian Harry Worth, who was to achieve later fame on BBC TV and headlined future Pantos at the Theatre Royal.
Inexplicably, the programme cover for this Empire show is for Cinderella, the Pantomime taking place next door at the Theatre Royal, starring Tony Hancock as Buttons. Was this a printing error?
At this time Gillian Haywood-Widdowson was a young dancer at the Theatre Royal and so with the building’s inter-connected corridors was easily able to go backstage to the Empire to meet her heroes.
A full account of her meeting with Laurel and Hardy can be heard elsewhere on this site, through the related link below.
In the early 1950s they toured the UK, recreating many of their famous film routines.
This programme is for their four-week run at the Empire Nottingham from 21 December 1953 for a Bernard Delfont produced show entitled Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy and Their Christmas Party.
Laurel and Hardy featured twice in this variety show, in a comedy show called Birds of a Feather at the end of the first half and then presenting gifts to children at the end of the show.
Also, on the bill were Jill, Jill and Jill, Bemand’s Performing Pigeons, Ursula and Gus, Roy and Ray, Betty Kaye and her Pekinese Pets and Derrick Rosaire and his Wonder Horse – Tony.
Also, on the bill was comedian Harry Worth, who was to achieve later fame on BBC TV and headlined future Pantos at the Theatre Royal.
Inexplicably, the programme cover for this Empire show is for Cinderella, the Pantomime taking place next door at the Theatre Royal, starring Tony Hancock as Buttons. Was this a printing error?
At this time Gillian Haywood-Widdowson was a young dancer at the Theatre Royal and so with the building’s inter-connected corridors was easily able to go backstage to the Empire to meet her heroes.
A full account of her meeting with Laurel and Hardy can be heard elsewhere on this site, through the related link below.
Type
Programme
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Contributor
Researcher: David Longford
