PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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This must have been successful because in April the following year, the Council granted him permission to rent a piece of ground for the purpose of holding open-air concerts. The site was to the rear of the National Armada Memorial and to the west of the Meteorological Station and the rent for the period from May 15th to September 30th was to be £100. When the first show opened at what was known as "Arcadia" on Monday May 22nd 1922 there was 'a canvas covering in case of inclement weather'. Performances were at 3pm and 7.30pm and prices were 3d, 8d and 1s 3d, with reserved seats at 2 shillings each. Arcadia seems to have lasted only the one season as there were no references to it in 1923. The Plymouth Blitz in 1941 destroyed the Theatre Royal and the Grand Theatre in Plymouth and all but the Forum Cinema in Devonport. The Palace Theatre had kept going. During the same period there had been public dances on the Hoe Promenade so perhaps that influenced the decision to erect a stage there for the summer months. Whatever the reason, in June 1950 a marqee was hired from Messrs R B Tope & Company Ltd at a cost of £70 per week, inclusive of erection, maintenance, dismantling and insurance. It was 180 feet in length and 60 feet wide, especially made for this purpose, and was offered to the Corporation for purchase at £1,500 but they orignally declined. The cost of erecting a platform, installing electrical equipment and providing wood/canvas seats was £250. On Sunday June 18th 1950 it opened with a military band concert. During that first season the bands of His Majesty's Grenadier Guards, Welsh Guards and Royal Marines (Plymouth) were booked to appear as well as the Black Dyke Mills Band and the Foden Motor Works Band. It was also used for concert parties, orchestral concerts and plays. Admission during that first season cost sixpence for afternoon concerts, which old age pensioners could enjoy for just threepence. In the evenings there was a choice of the shilling seats at the front or the sixpenny ones at towards the back. As can be seen from the picture below, all the seats were at the same level. At the end of the season the Corporation took up the option to purchase the marquee for £1,200. From then on all the army, Royal Marine and Royal Air Force Bands that existed after the Second World War played concerts in the big tent. For example, from Sunday August 1st 1954 until the following Saturday the pipes and dancers of the 1st Batalion, the Gordon Highlanders provided the entertainment. Performances were, as usual, at 3 and 7.15pm. August 2nd was the Bank Holiday Monday so naturally in rained. The following day the sun shone so the Band moved outside and played on the Hoe. The sun went in.
An audience at the Hoe
Marquee. Note the seating On the Thursday evening there was a Grand Scottish Night, which included piping in the haggis. During the programme the City Entertainments' Manager, Mr Percy Cole, tried to make off with some whisky but was captured by Pipers R Pearce and J Smith, who tied him to the pole that held the marquee up over the centre stage. The Band of the Welsh Guards appeared the following week. By the early 1960s it had been decided to provide a more substantial structure that would stand up to the strong winds and rain and could be used during the winter months as well. As a result a 600-seater prefabricated building was erected. The first production was staged on June 8th 1962.
The prefabricated Hoe Summer Theatre on Plymouth Hoe. With the chequered life of the Palace Theatre, which over this period opend and closed a couple of times, the Hoe Theatre became the venue for the local amatuer players as well as the professional summer shows. But it could not accommodate an orchestra so in November 1973 the decision was taken to add such a feature at a cost of £1,700. It was in place by the time the pantomime opend at the end of December and had reduced the seats to 545. However, as the 1970s passed the lure of television kept people in their homes, espcially during the winter evenings, and attendances fell. In September 1979 Councillor Tom Jones even wanted the theatre to be turned into a cafe and in May 1981 the first five rows of seats were taken out, reducing the capacity to about 400. Many people who attended the children's talent contests during the 1950s and 60s will remember "Uncle Fred", who used to greet them at the entrance. After leaving the Royal Artillery at the end of the Second World War, he joined the Council's Entertainment's Department and was responsible for the Hoe Marquee. He was a familiar sight trying to entice visitors in to the various shows in the Marquee and later the Hoe Summer Theatre. In 1963 he was made the deck chair inspector on the Hoe. His name was Mr Frederick Douglas L Treleaven and in May 1974 he retired after 25 years service with the Council. He died in January 1993 at the age of 74. At a Council meeting on January 11th 1982 the decision was taken to close the Hoe Theatre for good. Mr Peter Millington was the manager at that time. A special show called "The Last Night" was presented on Saturday February 13th 1982. Demolition started on May 18th 1982 and took about six weeks.
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