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Palace Theatre Newcastle Frank .E .Franks
Posted by Brian on 3/6/2025, 2:41 pm
I was wondering if anyone on the board attended any if the Pantos at the Palace Theatre in Newcastle, it was the largest of all the theatres in Newcastle. It wasn't grand like the Theatre Royal, a little down at heel but the pantos were a huge draw and could run as late as March which gives us some idea of the popularity of the shows at the venue. Frank headlined a number of the pantos but one of the more unusual acts was a gentleman called Tattersal a ventriloquist who worked with lifesize dummy's who's robotics allowed them to walk, blink independently etc. There's very little on film of either act so did anyone see these gentleman on stage or attended any of the pantos at the venue.
Yes Brian I did go there every year to see a pantomime, organised by the Reyrolle's progress team headed by Jackie Reay. The great Scottish comedian, Denny Willis was on most times who did the hunting song, the Roslyn babes, Owen Brannigan, the opera singer who did the Brown Ale ad and many more! We had tea at the Dickens Tea rooms which I think is now Mark Toney's then pure excitement. What memories ! They had a burst pipe one year but built it into the panto! Do you recall that ?
Stan it was before my time I as born late 1957, I knew Denny Willis was a fixture there but I was curious about Tattersall, he seemed to be ahead of his time yet is barely remembered. The Morecambe and Wise biography from the early 1980s mentioned him, they said the dolls were so realistic that one was left behind outside a theatre and the police were called as it was thought it was someone in distress. He built all his own dolls and the mechanics within. The Palace pantos were obviously a very special event and probably something we will never see the likes of again.
Hebburn’s famous entertainer & ex Pitman Frank E Franks
FRANK E. FRANKS Hebburn's most famous show business star Frank E. Franks died age 82 at his home in Chapel Hill Road, Peterlee, in April 1974.
His hometown of Hebburn had 3 Pits ‘A’ ‘B’ & ‘C’ pits and the ‘C’ Pit is where Sir Humphrey Davey collected Methane gas in bottles to test his new Safety lamp in the Lab then later tested it underground at the ‘B’ Pit.
His real name was Francis Ernest Kane, and he was one of a family of 12. He had the gift of making people laugh from an early age and was spotted at local concerts in aid of the Miners' Relief Funds. He was a former pupil of St Aloysius RC School in Hebburn, and in a school performance of Robin Hood he played Friar Tuck.
Working down one of the Hebburn Pits, he was always making his colleagues laugh. Even Pit official Bill Franks enjoyed the joking and as everyone knew each other in Hebburn those days he told Franks mother ‘Your Frank is so funny he should be on the stage’. In 2007 I (Norman Dunn) spoke about Frank to 88year old Hebburn man Jimmy Gray in Bedewell Care Home where my late mother was also a resident. Jimmy knew the Kane family and told me that Frank was often late for work because he was part time entertaining at local clubs. An official at the Pt , Mr Franks warned him if he doesn’t get himself on the Stage sometime soon he’ll be getting sacked at the Pit for bad time keeping. That spurred Frank onto leaving the Pit . Because he respected Mr Franks he gave himself the Stage name Frank E. Franks in gratitude to Mr Frank’s.
Frank joined up for the 1914-18 War and became director of theatre entertainments for the Second Army in France. He was great in pantomime and reigned as king of the pantomime world at Stockton's Globe Theatre, inviting hundreds of poor children to the free shows.
In 1920 at Newcastle's St. Mary's Cathedral he married blonde haired Jean Boyne who had been Principal Boy in a revue together two years earlier in 1918. 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, a small converted cinema in Bill Quay.
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.
He was a very popular entertainer across the UK, Stockton Globe was also a cinema but had an annual panto, and also hosted touring shows with a capacity of just under 2400 it was a slightly smaller capacity than the playhouse . The Globe recieved lottery funding and reopened after being closed for a good few years and is evidently doing good business.
Frank did make it to the big screen on two occasions, Music Hall Parade in 1939 and Cavalcade of Variety from 1940. I wonder if either are floating about online somewhere.
