Maybe the famous Stan Laurel backed his father Arthur Jefferson financially. I knew Arthur ran it at one point but didnt know he owned it.

I lived just along the street from the Theatre and watched it on fire that Friday night 7th October 1950.
Alexander Craig who is mentioned in that article had his business on the corner of Hedgeley Rd- Station rd. That corner was known as 'Craigs' Corner' for many years.