Theatres in Ulverston, Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria
The Theatre Royal - The Roxy Cinema - The Coro / Coronation Hall - The Palladium Cinema - The Victoria Concert Hall / Victoria Picture Palace / Old Vic Cinema
See Also - Theatres in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria - Theatres in Carlisle, Cumbria
The Coro, County Square, Ulverston
Formerly - The Coronation Hall
Above - The Coronation Hall, Ulverston in a photograph taken in October 2021 - Courtesy Philip Paine.
The Coro as it is known today, is situated in County Square, Ulverston, and officially opened as the Coronation Hall on the 3rd of June 1920. Construction of the building was funded by Public Subscription, the Foundation Stone being laid on June the 3rd 1914, some six years before its official opening.
Right - The laying of the Foundation Stone for the Coronation Hall, Ulverston in 1914 - From Soulby's Ulverston Advertiser and General Intelligencer, Thursday the 11th of June 1914.
The delays were caused by the outbreak of War in 1914 and although there was a shortage of funds and materials, and indeed workmen to construct the building, it was finally finished in 1916. However, because of the war it was not actually put into use until 1918 and then only sporadically. It wasn't until June 1920 that the building was said to be fully equipped and debt free and could open officially.
The Lancashire Evening Post reported on the opening of the Coronation Hall in their 4th of June 1920 edition saying:- 'In bright sunshine, yesterday afternoon, Mr. Myles Kennedy, J.P., of Stone Cross, opened the Coronation Hall at Ulverston and handed the building over to the town. The hall was erected to commemorate the Coronation. There was a large attendance of members of the Urban Council and the public.
Left - An Engraving showing the proposed Coronation Hall, Ulverston when completed - From the Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser, Saturday the 13th of June 1914.
Mr. Kennedy, after opening the hall with a presentation gold key bearing Ulverston's coat of arms, spoke from the hall platform, on which he was accompanied by Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. C. J. Chapman (chairman of the Urban Council) and Mrs. Chapman, Capt. Hugh and, Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. R. Dilworth and Mrs. Dilworth, and others.
Mr. Kennedy said that he laid the foundation stone six years ago. As time went on the original estimate of cost was exceeded. The original idea was that the cost would be roundly about £6,000, of which the Ulverston Urban Council would find £3 000. The cost, however, had reached about £8,500.
Mr. Chapman said that in 30 years' time the money advanced by the Urban Council would be cleared off and the hall would be free and belong to the town. Mr. R. Dilworth, who declared open the balcony of the hall, which had been provided by Mr. Harold Brocklebenk, J.P., said that the latter, instead of meeting a first estimate of £3,000 had subscribed £5,800. Afterwards tea followed, and in the evening there was a ball.'
The above text in quotes was first published in the Lancashire Evening Post, 4th of June 1920.
T he Coronation Hall's main auditorium has a large stage at one end and a large raked balcony at the other end, with seating overall for 590 people, or 820 with standing in the stalls. From its opening it has been used for a variety of functions including live theatre performances, and film showings but in the early years it was most often used as a Dance Venue. However, when war broke out again in 1945 the building was requisitioned by the War Office for accommodating troops, even so the dancing continued from time to time.
Right - The Statue of Laurel and Hardy by Graham Ibbeson M.A (R.C.A) which is situated in front the Coronation Hall, Ulverston - Courtesy Philip Pain, October 2021.
After the war in 1947 the Coro, as it was often affectionately referred to, and is so named today, had a visit from Ulverston's famous celebrity, none other than Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame. Arthur Stanley Jefferson, which was his real name, was born in Ulverston on the 16th June 1890. His father was Arthur Jefferson, a well known actor and Theatre Manager at the time. So when Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy visited the town in May 1947 they were very warmly welcomed as they waved to a huge crowd of locals from the Coro's Balcony. Today there is a Statue of 'Laurel and Hardy' situated in front of the Coronation Hall which was unveiled by Ken Dodd and the Mayor of Ulverston on the 19th of April 2009, you can see the Statue and its inscription in the photos shown here. There is also a Museum dedicated to 'The Boys' now at the nearby Roxy Cinema, see details below.
In later years the Coronation Hall was used for a variety of functions including some Live Theatre, mostly by local drama groups, Pantomimes at Christmas, coffee mornings, meetings, and fund raising events. By the mid 1970s however, the Hall began to be used as a major performance space for touring shows and also celebrity lectures, and even opera productions. Later still it was host to several TV and Radio shows. Today the Coro continues with all manner of entertainment despite having been dogged by funding issues for some time.
You may like to visit the Coro's own website here.
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The Roxy Cinema, Brogden Street, Ulverston
Incorporating the Laurel & Hardy Museum
Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the Roxy Cinema and Laurel & Hardy Museum, Ulverston in August 2018 - Click to Interact.
The Roxy Cinema is situated on Brogden Street, Ulverston and is a rare survivor of the Cine Variety boom of the 1930s. The Theatre was designed in the Art Deco Style by the architect Joseph G. Gomersall and constructed by Belshaw & Gomersall, opening on the 21st of June 1937. The Roxy was equipped with a large fully equipped stage for live variety productions with a 30 foot proscenium opening, and had five dressing rooms for its artists.
The Roxy was built for its operators James Brennan Theatres Ltd., and could seat 1,250 people when it opened, with 850 in the Stalls and 400 in the Circle. The opening was attended by local dignitaries and even received a telegram of good wishes from Ulverston born Stan Laurel, see press cutting shown right.
Right - A Report on the Opening of the Roxy Cinema, Ulverston - From the Kinematograph Weekly, Thursday the 24th of June 1937.
Having opened in 1937 the Roxy went on to have a long career in its original form staging variety shows on its stage and showing big screen entertainment on its Cinema Screen, but in 1975 it was finally split, like so many other large Cinemas around the Country, this one into two so that it could house Bingo in the former Stalls, and Cinema in the former Circle. However, unlike many other conversions the Theatre retained its wonderful Art Deco decorations, and does so even today.
Today the former Circle of the Roxy has a large 45 foot Screen and is still in use as a full time Cinema. However, the Stalls area was converted into a Carpet Showroom when Bingo ended there in 2007.
In 2009 the Laurel & Hardy Museum, which had previously been situated on King Street, Ulverston moved to a new home on what had formerly been the Roxy Cinema's Stage, and this was now equipped with a small fifteen seat cinema screen for the showing of vintage Laurel & Hardy Films.
In 2014 the Carpet Warehouse moved out of the building and this allowed the Laurel & Hardy Museum to expand into the space left behind which was the former Stalls area of the Theatre. Today the Museum also shows large screen presentations of Laurel & Hardy Films along with the occasional live presentation, whilst upstairs in the former Circle of the Roxy, Popular Commercial and occasional Non Commercial Films are still shown.
You may like to visit the Roxy Cinema's own Website here and the Laurel & Hardy Museum's Website here.
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The Theatre Royal, Ulverston
Formerly - The Theatre
Above - A Google StreetView Image of the site of the former Theatre Royal, Ulverston in April 2022 - Click to Interact.
The Theatre Royal was situated on what is today known as Theatre Street in Ulverston and was one of the earliest Theatres to be constructed in the town. An exact opening date for the Theatre is not known at present but it was certainly open in the early years of the 19th Century. One of the first Managers at the Theatre was the Actor W. R. Copeland who not only put on the productions but performed in many of them too, the posters shown on this page detail some of the productions Copeland was associated with at the Ulverston Theatre in the 1830s.
Right - A Poster for a 'Grand Night For Unprecedented Novelties' including W. R. Copeland and Richard Usher, the well known clown, at the Ulverston Theatre on September the 5th 1835 - Courtesy Simon Moss, stagememories.
W. R. Copeland seems to have been associated with the Theatre since at least December 1828 where he is said to have had a great deal of success with performance often over subscribed and people having to be turned away. However, it is thought that the Theatre was quite small so this is not surprising given that it was the only Theatre in the town at that time. Apart from the Theatrical Seasons the Theatre was often used for Lectures in the intervening periods.
Left - A Poster for the Benefit of W. R. Copeland at the Ulverston Theatre on the 18th of December 1834 - Courtesy Simon Moss, stagememories.
Copeland was associated with the Theatre until the late 1830s but in November 1839 a Mr. Martin took over the management with a reported 'Full and Efficient Company'. Then in May 1845 it was taken over by a Mr. Daily of the Theatre Royal, Carlisle. The well known Tragedian George Owen performed many of Shakespeare's characters over the following few years, always with plenty of praise from contemporary newspapers and the public alike. George Owen would later take over the Management of the Theatre Royal, Wrexham.
In 1848 Mr. Daily, who had first taken the Theatre in 1845 became Lessee, but in 1849 the Lease of the Theatre was taken over for the Summer and Winter seasons by Mr. R, Clarke, and Mr. W. Brown and it was at this time it started to become known as the Theatre Royal, previously it was known more simply as just The Theatre, Ulverston.
By 1851 the Ulverston Theatre was being run by a Mr. Macarthy who brought with him 'an excellent dramatic corps.' The following year it was taken over by a Mr. Burroughs, with 'a very excellent company of performers.'
By June 1854 Management of the Theatre had been taken over by E. Whyte who also ran theatres in Penrith and Keswick at the time, however, shortly after this, notices for the Ulverston Theatre become more sparse although it does seem to have been open sporadically until at least 1861, often putting on Amateur productions by the Ulverston Amateur Dramatic Society, interspersed with Concerts and Scientific Lectures.
Left - A Poster for the Ulverston Theatre with W. R. Copeland on the 8th of December 1834 - Courtesy Simon Moss, stagememories.
Today on the site of the former Theatre Royal is an Auctioneer's Offices and Car Park. A Blue Plaque, shown right, is situated on the wall of the present building and celebrates the existence of the Theatre Royal saying:-
'Theatre Royal - Early 19th century Ulverston saw the influx of a cultured middle class who were in love with the idea of music and drama. Three theatres were established in the town, this building gives its name to the street in which one of them stands. Shakespeare, light comedy, and scientific lectures could all be enjoyed here for a reasonable price: Boxes 3/- Pit 2/ - Gallery 1/ - . The other two establishments were the White Hart Barn and the New Theatre, Stockbridge Lane.'
Right - A Blue Plaque situated on the site of the former Ulverston Theatre Royal - Shown here with a Creative Commons Attribution - Share Alike 4.0 International Licence from Wikimedia Commons.
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The Palladium Cinema, Victoria Road, Ulverston
Above - A Google StreetView Image of the site of the former Palladium Cinema, Ulverston in April 2022- Click to Interact.
The Palladium Cinema was situated on Victoria Road in Ulverston and opened on the 16th of May 1921. Built primarily as a Cinema it did also have a Stage with a 30 foot wide Proscenium and a resident orchestra to accompany the acts and films.
The Kinematograph Weekly reported on the opening of the Palladium Cinema in their 26th of May 1921 edition saying:- 'The new Palladium, at Ulverston, near Barrow, was opened on Whit Monday, and is Kinema-de-luxe, situated in a commanding position, and is up-to-date in every respect. The foundation stone was laid as far back as October, 1918, but labour difficulties and other uncontrollable causes caused considerable delay. The building has seating accommodation for 1,000 persons. The seating, carpets, curtains, and the magnificent stage fittings and orchestra curtains are by Beck and Windibank, of Birmingham. At all points and in all rooms there is a double installation of light - gas and electricity. The pictures will be projected by two of the very latest pattern Gaumont Chrono-de-Luxe machines, and the entire kinematograph installation is by Gaumont. Gerald Hunt has been appointed general manager.' - The Kinematograph Weekly, 26th of May 1921.
The Palladium Cinema had opened in May 1921 and ironically despite having a stage itself one of the most popular early film presentations there were those showcasing popular Music Hall Acts which most people were used to seeing live on stage at other Theatres, you can see an advertisement for these 'Ideal Films Ltd.' presentations shown right.
Right - An Advertisement for films of 'Music Hall Acts' showing at the Ulverston Palladium Cinema - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 6th of October 1921.
In 1923 the Manager of the Palladium, Gerald Hunt, resigned due to ill health, he had managed the Theatre since it opened in 1921 and had been Manager of the Victoria Picture Palace in the town previous to that. The Victoria Picture Palace was closed on the 3rd of February 1923 and then converted into a billiard hall leaving the Palladium the only Cinema in the town, now managed by A. Cheminais, for many years until the Old Vic Cinema opened in 1935 and the Roxy Cinema opened in 1937.
In 1929 the Palladium Cinema was wired for sound by fitting a British Talking Pictures sound system, despite this the resident orchestra was retained at the Theatre, led by Fred Burns by 1930 who had previously been Musical Conductor at the Gaiety and Coliseum in Barrow in Furness.
The Palladium's sound system was changed in 1945 to a British Acoustic sound system.
The Palladium Cinema was closed in October 1957 and stood derelict for years until it was finally demolished n 1965 for road improvements, today the site of the Palladium Cinema is occupied by the Rose Gardens, a small park on Victoria Road shown in the Google StreetView Image above.
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The Victoria Concert Hall, Mill Street, Ulverston
Later - The Victoria Picture Palace / The Old Vic Cinema
Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the former Queen's Hotel and behind it the former Victoria Hall, Ulverston in April 2022 - Click to Interact.
The Victoria Concert Hall was situated next to and adjoining the Queen's Arms Hotel on Mill Street, Ulverston, it was constructed in 1850 for the purpose of being used for 'dramatic performances and public entertainments'. It is said to have been able to accommodate 800 people when it first opened on Thursday the 1st of May 1851.
Right - An early engraving showing the Queen's Hotel and Victoria Concert Hall, Ulverston.
The Victoria Concert Hall was built for the caterer James Barnett on land originally belonging to, and at the rear of, the Queen's Arms Hotel. It had entrances at either end reached by a short nine foot wide flight of stairs and inside the Hall, which was 90 feet long by 30 wide, there was a movable platform which could be used for singers and performers with boxes either side and a pit in the middle for the audience. There was also a permanent public gallery at one end which could accommodate many people, and another gallery at the other end for an orchestra. The Hall was lit in the daytime by ten large windows, five on either side. The interior decorations were said to be 'neat, chaste, and harmonious'. There were also three anti rooms at one end, one for artistes with its own private entrance, and two more at the other end for smaller functions and the like.
From its opening in May 1851 the Victoria Concert Hall was used for many different purposes including public meetings, lectures, auctions, balls, dancing, county court sessions and even horticultural shows, and it was also often used for staging plays, concerts, and operas on occasions.
In the 1870s the Free Church of England started using it for their Sunday sermons and in 1882 it became a citadel for the Salvation Army for a year. After this it was in use for religious purposes by many different organisations but at the same time it was still in use for the kinds of events mentioned above.
In 1909 the Victoria Hall began to be used for the showing of early moving pictures and is said to have been Ulverston's first Cinema because of this. In 1920 the Victoria Hall and the Queen's Hotel were bought by Henry Samuel Parfitt Walker for £5,700 and he converted the Hall into a full time Cinema called the Victoria Picture Palace but he quickly ran into losses and let go of the building a year later, and would be charged later for converting trust money to his own use and was imprisoned for three years.
On the 3rd of February 1923 the Victoria Picture Palace was closed, leaving the Palladium Cinema the only one in the town still running, and it was subsequently converted into a billiard hall. However, it would later be reopened as the Old Vic Cinema in 1935 which ran until the start of the Second World War when it was forced to close, and this proved to be the end for the old Victoria Hall in this kind of use as it would never reopen for Cinema use again.
After this the former Victoria Concert Hall went unused for many years and became quite derelict but it was eventually put to Church use again and today is home to the Emmanuel Christian Centre. Both the former Victoria Hall and the adjoining former Queen's Hotel are today Listed buildings although they are not in their original uses.
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