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Another piece of Local History
Posted by Norman on 24/11/2024, 10:43 am
Here is my story about Frank E Franks along with info I found discussing him with old Jimmy Grey who remembered the Kane family .
My story on 'FRANK E. FRANKS' Hebburn's most famous Show Business Star in the 'old days' was 'Frank E.Franks'who was born about 1892 and died age 82 at his home in Chapel Hill Road, Peterlee,April 1974.
His real name was Francis Ernest Kane and he was one of a family of 12. Francis had the gift of being funny & making people laugh from an early age and was spotted giving concerts in aid of Miners' Relief Funds. Frank was a former pupil of St Aloysius School in Hebburn,when he appeared in a performance of Robin Hood where he played the part of Friar Tuck.
Working down Hebburn Pit, he made his coalminer colleagues laugh so much that one of the Pit Official, Bill Franks told Frankie's mother that he should be on stage & not down the pit. He did leave and ended up on the stage,changing his name to 'Frank E Franks' in gratitude for the pit official’s kindness. In 2007 when my mother was in Bedewell Care Home I was talking to another resident 88yr old Jimmy Grey.Jimmy lived down Prince Consort Rd which was formerly James Lane and remembered the Kane family there. Jimmy said if Frankie Kane hadnt left the pit for the stage he was on the point of getting sacked for bad timekeeping anyway.His timekeeping was probably because he was busy part time entertaining. This was probably why the lovely Mr Franks spoke to his mother and hinted he should leave before he was sacked.Frank did leave & began a new career entertaining audiences. When WW1 loomed Frank joined up and became director of theatre entertainments for the Second Army in France. He was great in pantomime and reigned king of the pantomime world at Stockton's Globe Theatre, inviting hundreds of poor children to free shows. Frank married the Panto’s principal boy, a blonde girl called Jean Boyne who he’d been in revue with back in 1918, and they married two years later in Newcastle's St. Mary's Cathedral.
In a career spanning 60 years, he became one of the country's top comedians, rivalling such stars as Arthur Askey, Wee Georgie Wood, Jimmy James and Jimmy Logan. Even at the age of 75, he accepted a 20 week engagement to perform at selected clubs in the north east.
He played in two Royal Command Performances, including several films and played in every major theatre in London.
This was a long way from his first professional debut at the Imperial Cinema in, a small converted cinema in Bill Quay (or was it Felling).
Hippodrome Theatre, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd, 1930, Twice Nightly.
FRANK E. FRANKS. HIMSELF. IN the biggest success he has ever produced.
The Gypsy Vagabond, SUPPORTED BY A POWERFUL CAST, INCLUDING:
RITA ASTELLE, THE ROYAL BRECONIA SINGERS, FRANK E. FRANKS' FRENCH MUSICAL CLOWNS, £22,000 in Contracts have already been secured for this wonderful attraction, with THE GENERALTHEATRES CORPORATION. MESSRS. MOSS EMPIRES LTD., THE PALACE AND WINTER GARDENS, BLACKPOOL. Etc.. Etc. Note: This is Mr Franks’ first appearance at the Hippodrome since his triumph with… CINDERELLA - 1925-4. RED RIDING HOOD - 1926-7. THE CAT LIEUTENANT - 1926. THE BOOKINGS WILL BE HEAVY. DON'T BE DISAPPOINTED. Get your seat early.
Both Bill Quay and Felling had cinemas with the name Imperial. The Imperial Cinema in Bill Quay was a converted Church, This closed just as Felling opened their New Imperia cinema c 1930, leaving off the letter "L" as there had been insufficient space for it. True! - well sort of.
Frank E Franks helped create or sponsor the Hebburn Quay Franconian Jazz Band. Shame this photo is poor quality though.If anyone has a better copy I'd like a scan of it please.
I n the early 1950 s l remember the KANE brothers Michael and John ? that lived in Parliament st or Colin's lane,Mick used to sell papers like myself for Whinnie Gallagher not a bad footballer.
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