PDA

View Full Version : Archived: The Doncaster Grand - Doncaster - December 2011



sammydoublewhammy
31-12-2011, 12:42 AM
Visited with CANDF and Fowle

The Grand was opened on the 27th March 1899. It started its life as a Circus Hall and then became the home of the Salvation Army, it was used for Political Speakers and eventually it was bought and turned into a theatre by a Mr J W Chapman, who at that time was the Lessee of the Old Theatre which stood in the Market Place alongside the Town Hall. It was designed by J P Briggs, who for many years had worked with Frank Matcham. It was built by a local firm of builders, namely Arnold & Sons, who incidentally, were in business up until a few years ago. It was one of the first theatres in the country to have electric lights and also a sprinkler system installed by Dawson & Taylor of Leeds. All staircases in the building are in stone as fire was a great hazard in those days.
Many famous names ‘trod the boards’ at the Grand including Charlie Chaplin, Sandy Powell, Nellie Wallace, Albert Modley, Max Miller, Henry Hall and his band with Betty Driver (who went on to play Betty Williams in Coronation Street, Tommy Handley, Frank Randle, Elsie & Doris Waters (Gert & Daisy), their Brother Jack Warner, Julie Andrews, Wilfred Pickles, Norman Evans and Morecambe & Wise to name but a few. Julie Andrews’ mother and father, Ted and Barbara Andrews appeared in Pantomime in December 1935, Julie was born in October 1935 and she was carried onto the stage as a baby and then appeared there again when she was 16 years old.
Its a case of local councils wanting to knock down a building for so called "regeneration" which we all know means either houses or some god awful shopping centre. Recently a group of people have started a campaign to return the Grand to its well, former grandeur so if you live near Doncaster or even if you don't and can just appreciate some good architecture visit their website http://friendsofthegrandtheatre.co.uk
and see if you can help in some way.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6603200437_781fb0b273_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603200437/)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6603205313_04324c124a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603205313/)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6603210767_b664ac957b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603210767/)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6603216023_89d56ee0cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603216023/)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6603223473_fa0974a38c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603223473/)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6603227803_145cbf70de_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603227803/)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6603233881_6520a0018f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603233881/)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6603238899_2fab1c6e48_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603238899/)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6603242343_f060c47154_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/consideratetrespassing/6603242343/)