Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
I am researching the following names Latimer, Saunders, Kendall Denville, Bradwell, Ebley, Eldershaw, Maitland, all to do with the theatre. My G. Great Grandparents owned Latimer's Mammoth theatre in the mid 1880's John Latimer wrote the play 'Murder in the Red Barn' or 'Maria Martyn' and I am trying to trace where John Latimer originated from, I cannot find the family anywhere on the 1851 census, any help would be greatly appreciated. Rita kindal01@telkomsa.net
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
My grandmother and her parents worked with the Denville Stock Company in the 1920's and 30's. I have a few reviews and a few pictures from different shows. Do you have anything on Denville around this time?
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
DearAnna, Yes, I do have some information on reviews and a few photographs, mainly from newspaper cuttings, Alfred Denville was my half Great Uncle, my own grandparents also worked with the Denville Stock companies, Horace Lionel and Lottie Kendal were their stage names, I don't have any photographs of them whilst they were with the stock companies though. I will have to look up what I have and let you know. Alfred was Lottie's half brother. Kind regards Rita Durban, South Africa.
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
Hi Rita, I am also very interested in John Latimer, though not for family reasons. I am a historian with English Heritage in London, working currently on the Survey of London volumes for Battersea in south London. According to Montagu Slater in his edition of Maria Marten, he had a copy of a handwritten manuscript for Maria Marten written by John latimer, who apparently described himself as 'writer in ordinary to the Queen's Theatre, Battersea'. According to Slater Latimer handed on the portable theatre to his son and stepson... do does that mean your family were related to Latimer? My interest is that I have no other references to a Queen's Theatre in Battersea in the 1840s the date Slater suggests in his introduction to Maria Marten, or of any connection iwth London for Latimer. You may be interested to know you can see John Latimer's will, which is at the University of Swanse in Wales, online at http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/large/item/GTJ62528//page/1/which also has more information on portable theatres. It's woth looking at as it has family info. Aileen Reid (c/o my colleague Harriet Richardson whose account this is) you can contact me directly at aileen.reid@english-heritage.org.uk
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
Hi, I have only just seen your reply re John Latimer and the Battersea theatre, I have never be able to find anything on that theatre. I wrote to the Britisih Library in 2003 and had a reply, which stated that in the introduction to the 1928 edition of Maria Marten where John Latimer is described as 'writer in ordinary to the Queen's Theatre, Battersea. John Latimer was my G.G. Grandfather, and yes he did leave his theatre to his wife and son William Latimer and then William Latimer's step son who was Alfred Denville, who left Denville Hall in Harrow as a home for retired Actors. One of John Latimer's grandaughter's married into the Ebley family, which took over the running of John Latimer's Mammoth theatre. John Latimer was born in West Bromwich, but I have never been able to find his birth, or much about him before he married Mary Frances Kendall. Hope that I have been of some help REgards Rita
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
Hi Rita, I read with great interest that your grandparent's had connections with the Alfred Denville Company & that you had some old clippings re. reviews & pictures. My ancestor named Amos Ashong also appeared with the company ~ he was in "Joseph & His Brethren" in 1914 & possibly other productions too. I just wondered whether you might have come across the name Amos Ashong amongst your collection? If so, I would dearly like to know please. With many thanks, Jan.
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
Dear Rita, My great aunt & uncle worked for the Stock Company. Their wedding reception was held at the Hippodrome Theatre in Wallasey. I have an article describing the dress Miss Lottie Kendall wore to the wedding.There were nearly 2000 people there to see the couple wed. My great aunt was Ruth ( Queenie) Long & great Uncle was known as Louis Gaye, a comic. I don't have a date, but think it must have been in the 1920s. Regards from Rosalie Australia
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
Hello Rosalie I would love the information on the wedding, Lottie Kendal was my grandmother, so would love a description of her dress, does the article say who attended the wedding. thank you for you reply, I think that I have a photograph of Queenie, will look it out for you. Regards Rita
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
Hi Rita, The article said that " Miss Lottie Kendall came in lemon ratine and a pale mauve hat". "The onerous duties of groomsmen were pleasantly undertaken by Mr. Horace Lionel etc. etc." There were 7 groomsmen in all. My Dad, Master Harry Clare, wore a white buster suit. Many of the guests were named & described. I can just picture it. It must have been very grand. I would be happy to post you a copy of the article. Thank you for the offer of the photo. I met Queenie & her 2nd. husband when they came to Australia in the 1970's Louis Gaye died young. She was still very pretty as an older lady and was much loved by Dad. She never had any children of her own. thanks for the help & information. All the best from Rosalie.
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Re: Theatre, Portable theatres and stock companies
Hi Rosalie Thank you for that, Horace Lionel was my grandfather, married to Lottie, real name Horace Lionel Saunders, sounds a very grand wedding. Now after promising to send you the photograph, I have been through all of my files and cannot find it at all, I have just moved house, but so annoyed as I know it should be there, I will email a couple of cousins to see if they have a copy. I attended the open day at Denville Hall last September, along with 14 direct descendents of my G.G. Grandmother, (Alfred Denville's mother)Lottie was his half sister. I would love a copy of the article, could you not send it to my email address which is robinson.rita0@gmail.comI live just outside of Durban, South Africa. if I find the photograph I will let you know Best wishes Rita
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