GFS Archives

The Hippodrome, Hulme

It was originally known as the Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall, and opened on 7 October 1901 on the former main road of Preston Street, Hulme, (now Clopton Walk) and with stage access is from Warwick Street The Hulme Hippodrome theatre is located in the same building and shares a party wall with its small sibling theatre, The Playhouse. The Hippodrome was a music hall and variety theatre, a repertory theatre in the 1940s, and hired on Sundays for recording BBC programmes with live audiences between 1950 and 1956. The theatre has been closed since 2018 and a campaign group exists to bring it back into use as a community resource, where the current owner is seeking permission to build apartments. Its local name in memoirs and records is 'Hulme Hipp'. Its national heritage significance includes being the venue for live recording the first three series of BBC programmes by the comedians Morecambe and Wise.

Frank Formby

Frank was born on 1 April 1913 in Hindley House, Wigan. His early stage career took a similar path as his elder brother, impersonating his father, George Formby Sr. we get a glimpse of his early act in the 1935 Pathé film, “Following In Father’s Footsteps,” where Frank can be seen singing his father’s signature song, Standing At The Corner Of The Street. Along with being a brilliant tribute act to his father, Frank was a good tap dancer and a great stand-up comic. Realising his brother’s growing popularity, Frank introduced the banjo-uke into his act and began singing popular songs, including numbers made famous by his brother George. Fank was made guest of honour at the inaugural meeting of the George Formby society in September 1961. Members took great pleasure in listening to his memories of his brother George and also hearing him play his banjo-uke, singing his famous song It’s “Another Fellas Job By Now.”
In the week the programme was issued, Frank Formby (with his sister Louie) along with Albert Modley featured on the programme. Also featuring were The Maple Leaf Four who were a very popular singing quartet in the 1950s on BBC Radio. The page opposite is from the radio Times and informs the listener that the Maple Leaf Four could be heard on the Light Programme at 20:30 in Smokey Mountain Jamboree.

George Formby in The Time of Your Life

The Queen’s Theatre, Blackpool

"The Time of Your Life" was a summer season variety show starring George Formby that ran at the Queen's Theatre in Blackpool in 1960. It was a significant performance as it was one of the last major engagements in Formby's final year of work before his death in March 1961. The show featured George Formby as the main star, supported by singer Yana, comedian Jimmy Clitheroe, Toni Dalli, and the Amin Brothers. The show was a traditional summer revue, often featuring the banjolele and popular songs that formed his famous act. The 1960 season was a tumultuous time for Formby. His health was failing, he had high blood pressure, heart problems, and was overweight. Beryl, Formby's wife and manager, was often absent from the theatre due to worsening illness (leukaemia). The performance in Blackpool was also broadcast by the BBC. While Formby was physically frail, reviewers and colleagues generally noted that in the theatre environment, his rapport with the audience remained strong. The show is often remembered by fans and historians as one of the last chances to see Formby in his natural element—the northern seaside summer season—before his passing shortly after.

Royal Variety Performance

The Opera House, Blackpool - 13 April 1955

The 1955 Royal Variety Performance held at the Blackpool Opera House on 13th April was a historic event, marking the first time the show was staged outside London. The performance took place in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who visited the theatre following a Royal Tour of Lancashire. The show featured a star-studded line-up of acts familiar to Blackpool audiences, including George Formby, Arthur Askey, Reginald Dixon, Jimmy Jewel & Ben Warriss, Charlie Cairoli, Eddie Fisher, and a young Morecambe and Wise. Other notable performers included The Crazy Gang, The John Tiller Girls, Flanagan & Allen, and the slapstick duo Lauri Lupino Lane and George Truzzi. To accommodate the royal visit, a special Royal Box was constructed specifically for the occasion, which remained in the theatre for many years before being demolished. While 1955 featured two Royal Variety Performances (the second being in London), the Blackpool event is particularly noted for its regional significance and the attendance of the future reigning monarch. The show was presented by Jack Hylton, with musical direction by Billy Ternent and Ronnie Munro. This historic performance paved the way for future Royal Varieties in Blackpool, which subsequently occurred in 2009 and 2020.

FUN AND THE FAIR

The London Palladium - October to December 1953

Fun and the Fair was a revue that ran at the London Palladium from October to December 1953, featuring George Formby in 138 performances alongside Terry-Thomas and the Billy Cotton band. Formby appeared in the penultimate act, while Terry-Thomas closed the show, a decision that reportedly left Formby suffering from stage fright and a return of his depression and stomach problems. Although Formby's act was well-received, the production was not as successful as hoped. Terry-Thomas later noted that Formby's performance put the audience in a mood that made them unresponsive to anyone following, leading him to request a schedule change so Formby could close the show, a request that was denied.
THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP MEET CHARLIE CAIROLIi
JOAN REGAN MEETS QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND PRINCE PHILIP

ROYAL ALEXANDRA THEATRE

September 1950 - Toronto, Canada

FROM LEFT: JIMMY CLITHEROE, YANA, GEORGE FORMBY TONI DALLI
THE QUEEN’S THEATRE AT THE TIME THE SHOW WAS THERE

FUN AND THE FAIR

The London Palladium - October to December 1953

ABOVE: TERRY THOMAS AND GEORGE FORMBY RIGHT: GEORGE FORMBY READS MESSAGES FROM WELL-WISHERS

Listen to Norm Pringle chatting with George Formby

on Radio CKXL in Calgary, Canada. This is believed

to be from a previous Canadian tour in 1949.

The Palace Theatre, London

October 1950 - 544 performances to February 1953

Zip Goes a Million was a highly successful West End

musical that premiered at the Palace Theatre in

London on 20 October 1951 and ran for 544 perform-

ances until February 1953.  Based on the 1902

novel Brewster's Millions, the show featured a book

and lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and music by George

Posford, serving as a vehicle for variety star George

Formby in his musical theatre debut. 

The plot follows Percy Piggott, a window cleaner who

must spend a million dollars in a year to inherit a

larger fortune, leading to comedic attempts at

investing in a failing musical, the stock market, and

horse racing. 

Formby starred as Percy but was forced to withdraw

after six months due to a heart attack; he was

replaced by comedian Reg Dixon, who carried the

show to its close

The Windmill Theatre, Great Yarmouth

The Windmill Theatre in Great Yarmouth is one of the UK's earliest cinema buildings, originally opening as The Gem Theatre on 4 July 1908 with a capacity of approximately 700 to 1,000 seats. Designed by architect Arthur S. Hewitt, it was initially intended as a menagerie but was converted into a cinema due to local opposition to wild animal shows, becoming the third 'picture palace' in Britain and the first purpose-built seaside cinema.  Originally known as the "Palace of Light" due to its façade adorned with roughly 5,000 electric bulbs, the building operated under a unique license requiring men and women to sit on separate sides of the auditorium. In 1948, it was renamed the Windmill Theatre after being taken over by Jack Jay, who added iconic sails to the front to pay homage to the Moulin Rouge in Paris and the historic windmills of the Great Yarmouth seafront.  Since the 1980s, the venue has ceased live theatrical productions and now functions as an indoor entertainment space housing indoor mini-golf, a museum, and attractions similar to Ripley's Believe It or Not.  Despite these changes, the building remains a Grade II listed structure, retaining its elaborate neo- Baroque façade, original proscenium arch, and decorative Rococo plasterwork ceilings. 
George Formby would have been very comfortable working at the Windmill Theatre, given the fact that it was so close to he and Beryl’s beloved Norfolk Broads were they would spend much of their ‘semi-retired’ years. George bought a house in Wroxam and owned boats, especially Lady Beryl I and Lady Beryl II. The photo of George and Beryl above is taken on Lady Beryl II.
Theatre Programs
THE FILES ARE ALL PDF FILES AND CAN BE VIEWED IN ANY INTERNET WEB BROWSER. THEY CAN ALSO BE DOWNLOADED TO VIEW OFFLINE. SOME OF THE FILES MAYBE LARGE AND SLOWER TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD

The Hippodrome, Hulme

It was originally known as the Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall, and opened on 7 October 1901 on the former main road of Preston Street, Hulme, (now Clopton Walk) and with stage access is from Warwick Street The Hulme Hippodrome theatre is located in the same building and shares a party wall with its small sibling theatre, The Playhouse. The Hippodrome was a music hall and variety theatre, a repertory theatre in the 1940s, and hired on Sundays for recording BBC programmes with live audiences between 1950 and 1956. The theatre has been closed since 2018 and a campaign group exists to bring it back into use as a community resource, where the current owner is seeking permission to build apartments. Its local name in memoirs and records is 'Hulme Hipp'. Its national heritage significance includes being the venue for live recording the first three series of BBC programmes by the comedians Morecambe and Wise.

Frank Formby

Frank was born on 1 April 1913 in Hindley House, Wigan. His early stage career took a similar path as his elder brother, impersonating his father, George Formby Sr. we get a glimpse of his early act in the 1935 Pathé film, “Following In Father’s Footsteps,” where Frank can be seen singing his father’s signature song, Standing At The Corner Of The Street. Along with being a brilliant tribute act to his father, Frank was a good tap dancer and a great stand-up comic. Realising his brother’s growing popularity, Frank introduced the banjo-uke into his act and began singing popular songs, including numbers made famous by his brother George. Fank was made guest of honour at the inaugural meeting of the George Formby society in September 1961. Members took great pleasure in listening to his memories of his brother George and also hearing him play his banjo-uke, singing his famous song It’s “Another Fellas Job By Now.”
In the week the programme was issued, Frank Formby (with his sister Louie) along with Albert Modley featured on the programme. Also featuring were The Maple Leaf Four who were a very popular singing quartet in the 1950s on BBC Radio. The page opposite is from the radio Times and informs the listener that the Maple Leaf Four could be heard on the Light Programme at 20:30 in Smokey Mountain Jamboree.

George Formby in The Time of Your Life

The Queen’s Theatre, Blackpool

"The Time of Your Life" was a summer season variety show starring George Formby that ran at the Queen's Theatre in Blackpool in 1960. It was a significant performance as it was one of the last major engagements in Formby's final year of work before his death in March 1961. The show featured George Formby as the main star, supported by singer Yana, comedian Jimmy Clitheroe, Toni Dalli, and the Amin Brothers. The show was a traditional summer revue, often featuring the banjolele and popular songs that formed his famous act. The 1960 season was a tumultuous time for Formby. His health was failing, he had high blood pressure, heart problems, and was overweight. Beryl, Formby's wife and manager, was often absent from the theatre due to worsening illness (leukaemia). The performance in Blackpool was also broadcast by the BBC. While Formby was physically frail, reviewers and colleagues generally noted that in the theatre environment, his rapport with the audience remained strong. The show is often remembered by fans and historians as one of the last chances to see Formby in his natural element—the northern seaside summer season—before his passing shortly after.

Royal Variety Performance

The Opera House, Blackpool - 13 April 1955

The 1955 Royal Variety Performance held at the Blackpool Opera House on 13th April was a historic event, marking the first time the show was staged outside London. The performance took place in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who visited the theatre following a Royal Tour of Lancashire. The show featured a star-studded line-up of acts familiar to Blackpool audiences, including George Formby, Arthur Askey, Reginald Dixon, Jimmy Jewel & Ben Warriss, Charlie Cairoli, Eddie Fisher, and a young Morecambe and Wise. Other notable performers included The Crazy Gang, The John Tiller Girls, Flanagan & Allen, and the slapstick duo Lauri Lupino Lane and George Truzzi. To accommodate the royal visit, a special Royal Box was constructed specifically for the occasion, which remained in the theatre for many years before being demolished. While 1955 featured two Royal Variety Performances (the second being in London), the Blackpool event is particularly noted for its regional significance and the attendance of the future reigning monarch. The show was presented by Jack Hylton, with musical direction by Billy Ternent and Ronnie Munro. This historic performance paved the way for future Royal Varieties in Blackpool, which subsequently occurred in 2009 and 2020.

FUN AND THE FAIR

The London Palladium - October to December 1953

Fun and the Fair was a revue that ran at the London Palladium from October to December 1953, featuring George Formby in 138 performances alongside Terry-Thomas and the Billy Cotton band. Formby appeared in the penultimate act, while Terry-Thomas closed the show, a decision that reportedly left Formby suffering from stage fright and a return of his depression and stomach problems. Although Formby's act was well-received, the production was not as successful as hoped. Terry-Thomas later noted that Formby's performance put the audience in a mood that made them unresponsive to anyone following, leading him to request a schedule change so Formby could close the show, a request that was denied.
THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP MEET CHARLIE CAIROLIi
JOAN REGAN MEETS QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND PRINCE PHILIP

ROYAL ALEXANDRA THEATRE

September 1950 - Toronto, Canada

FROM LEFT: JIMMY CLITHEROE, YANA, GEORGE FORMBY TONI DALLI
THE QUEEN’S THEATRE AT THE TIME THE SHOW WAS THERE

FUN AND THE FAIR

The London Palladium - October to December 1953

Top picture: TERRY THOMAS AND GEORGE FORMBY

Above: GEORGE FORMBY READS MESSAGES FROM WELL-WISHERS

Listen to Norm Pringle chatting with George Formby

on Radio CKXL in Calgary, Canada. This is believed

to be from a previous Canadian tour in 1949.

The Palace Theatre, London

October 1950 - 544 performances to February 1953

Zip Goes a Million was a highly successful West End

musical that premiered at the Palace Theatre in

London on 20 October 1951 and ran for 544 perform-

ances until February 1953.  Based on the 1902

novel Brewster's Millions, the show featured a book

and lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and music by George

Posford, serving as a vehicle for variety star George

Formby in his musical theatre debut. 

The plot follows Percy Piggott, a window cleaner who

must spend a million dollars in a year to inherit a

larger fortune, leading to comedic attempts at

investing in a failing musical, the stock market, and

horse racing. 

Formby starred as Percy but was forced to withdraw

after six months due to a heart attack; he was

replaced by comedian Reg Dixon, who carried the

show to its close

The Windmill Theatre, Great Yarmouth

The Windmill Theatre in Great Yarmouth is one of the UK's earliest cinema buildings, originally opening as The Gem Theatre on 4 July 1908 with a capacity of approximately 700 to 1,000 seats. Designed by architect Arthur S. Hewitt, it was initially intended as a menagerie but was converted into a cinema due to local opposition to wild animal shows, becoming the third 'picture palace' in Britain and the first purpose-built seaside cinema.  Originally known as the "Palace of Light" due to its façade adorned with roughly 5,000 electric bulbs, the building operated under a unique license requiring men and women to sit on separate sides of the auditorium. In 1948, it was renamed the Windmill Theatre after being taken over by Jack Jay, who added iconic sails to the front to pay homage to the Moulin Rouge in Paris and the historic windmills of the Great Yarmouth seafront.  Since the 1980s, the venue has ceased live theatrical productions and now functions as an indoor entertainment space housing indoor mini-golf, a museum, and attractions similar to Ripley's Believe It or Not.  Despite these changes, the building remains a Grade II listed structure, retaining its elaborate neo-Baroque façade, original proscenium arch, and decorative Rococo plasterwork ceilings. 
George Formby would have been very comfortable working at the Windmill Theatre, given the fact that it was so close to he and Beryl’s beloved Norfolk Broads were they would spend much of their ‘semi-retired’ years. George bought a house in Wroxam and owned boats, especially Lady Beryl I and Lady Beryl II. The photo of George and Beryl above is taken on Lady Beryl II.
Theatre Programs
gfs archives
THE FILES ARE ALL PDF FILES AND CAN BE VIEWED IN ANY INTERNET WEB BROWSER. THEY CAN ALSO BE DOWNLOADED TO VIEW OFFLINE. SOME OF THE FILES MAYBE LARGE AND SLOWER TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD