A slide show of photographs will start in a few seconds on the above frame
Date Opened: 26th December 1882.
Owners: Fred Walker, James William Carter, Mr. Charlton.
James William Carter formed the Royalty as a limited company in March 1896.
Architect: B.E. Entwistle.
Building Contractors: Bleakley & Son.
Original Seating Capacity: 966.
First General Manager: Owen Danoy.
Refurbished: 1904.
Major Alterations To The Balconies: 2nd February 1957. Re-opened ~ 8th July 1957.
Date Closed As A Theatre: Last stage performance ~ The Sooty Show, Saturday 19th March 1966.
The building was then used for numerous short lived ventures including The Royalty Theatre Club.
Demolished. Premier Inn Hotel built on the site.
The first projected film shown to an audience in Chester was at the Temperance Hall, George Street, followed by the Royalty.
The much lamented ROYALTY THEATRE, City Road. Having hosted early cinematograph films, it earns a rightful place in the line up of Chester cinemas. The exterior was plain, painted brick, two storeys with windows of domestic scale on first floor. There was originally a long canopy along the entrance frontage. The theatre was entered at the side, through an ante-building containing foyer, stairs, bars, refreshment areas. The theatre lay length ways behind this, with a fly tower, and good access to scene dock from City Road. Stage dimensions: Depth: 10.36m (34ft), Width: 16.45m (54ft), Proscenium width: 1912: 7.62m (25ft), Height to grid: 1912: 13.1m (43ft).
During 1904 plans were drawn up by architects T. M. Lockwood and Sous, to enlarge and renovate the theatre with a budget of £2000. Building contractors, J. Williams and Sons and W. Freemau, carried out the alterations. The newly refreshed Royalty opened its doors on Monday 1st August 1904.
The original owners were James William Carter, Fred Walker and Mr. Charlton. By March 1896 a limited company was set up by James Carter, who was the MD. However, by 1905 ownership had been transferred to Milton Bode, Edward Compton, and Lawrence Booth. Milton Bode had become the sole owner of the Royalty by 1922. Milton Bode sold the theatre to Edmund Keyes during 1932. His long ownership continued until his death in 1961 when his daughter, Ursula Keyes took over.
It had until the mid 1950s a well designed interior, with two curving balconies, both supported on six columns, with matching deep con vexed fronted boxes at circle level on each side of the proscenium. After the 1957 alterations it had a plain interior with two ribbed flat-fronted balconies.
Fortunately, the original proscenium front of house was left intact. The ornate boxes were now removed and covered over. Two niches either side of the proscenium were formed to accommodate the two famous statues that were now the focal point, helping to divert the audience’s attention away from the vulgar flock wallpaper that adorned the walls. Apart from removing the supporting balcony pillars, thanks to the installation of cantilever support girders, you are left wondering what other advantage was there, and whatever the owner was thinking of to pursue these foolish alterations, particularly as theatre design favors curved balconies which allows audiences to embrace and absorb the action on the stage below.
At this time, it is true that the majority of Chester locals didn’t notice the change! However, Chester’s discerning audience would have been more than delighted to have had a theatre of this quality today. The support that the Lyceum in Crewe receives is but an indicator as to what would have been likely if the ROYALTY had been treated with more respect, being left intact which might have been it’s salvation.
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Peter Davies recalls~ Nothing could be better than going to the Royalty! Even the three Chester “super” cinemas took second place. Having a father who was a well known local singer and who loved the theatre, it was my weekly treat to go with him to the Royalty. In the early 50s, variety was still pulling the crowds, with many famous names treading the boards. Intermingled in the Royalty’s weekly schedules were plays, opera and ballet, etc.
It was of a time that theatre was available to everyone, no matter how much they earned. If money was scarce, then it was the steep upper circle (known as the gods). If you had money to spare you had the choice of several price ranges in the dress circle or stalls. In the rear stalls you would avoid the seats near the pillars that supported the circle as they really got in the way. To show off as a birthday treat, etc, then you could even have a private box overlooking the stage. Only once can I remember watching a show in such a privileged position, and I was not impressed as you could not see all of the stage because of the restricted sight lines. The majority of the scenery was brought in by the various touring companies, with additional cloths hired. The Royalty employed Ron Lancaster, a talented scenery painter. He produced the most stunning paintings on flats, backcloths, and gauze. Many of his paintings could be seen in other local businesses, including Chester scenes wall hangings at the ABC’s Gingham/Concourse cafe
Entering this cosy auditorium, bathed in a warm glow of houselights together with the excited buzz of anticipation of a good show by a packed audience can still be remembered. The proscenium was high, with a stage width of only twenty seven foot. The stage sloped down towards the audience, so that patrons seated in the front stalls had a perfect view. The walls with hung paintings of the Chester bridges and gates, together with a safety curtain decorated with adverts for local businesses gave you plenty to look at before the slow drawing up of the safety curtain to reveal the rich velvet house drapes. The orchestra, always smartly dressed in dinner jackets and bow ties began to tune up signalled that the start of the performance was imminent. Once the orchestra burst into tune, the curtains parted usually revealing a vibrantly lit stage. I recall that some of these musicians seemed to have bright red noses, perhaps seeing them in the theatre’s Oyster bar during the intervals had something to do with it. No matter, as these guys were proper theatre musicians, and professionally accompanied the performers and singers.
The demise of the Royalty as a theatre was in the mid 1960s. The drop in audiences started the floundering management to try bingo and other side lines, but these drove even more theatre goers away! Even the pop groups source dried up thanks to the massive 2000 seater ABC becoming a pop concert venue. The final time I visited the Royalty was on a Sunday rummage sale. It was my opportunity to take a last look at this iconic theatre. I remember standing on the stage with my wife, Pat, who had worked there in final years. The auditorium now clearly smashed by the different ideas that were tried to keep the business operating, was ghostly to say the least. It had clearly gone past the point of no return, and looked tired and broken.
The statues. Thanks to Roger Shone-still in existence!
The two statues, one depicting drama, the other music were still gazing down forlornly. Who could count the numerous star acts they had witnessed, together with the thousands of appreciative locals who had flock there in the past? I thought back to the pantomime dames who would always make a point of including the statues in their act by throwing either their hats, bags or bloomers up to them, bring roars of laughter as the items usually landed on the statues heads.
Roger Shone moved quickly to save these figures, together with the full theatre facing proscenium aperture and other items of interests before the very slow process of demolition began.
ROYALTY DANCERS
Joe Wilson on the left with his colleagues responsible for striking the sets behind the curtains at the Royalty
This local gem of a theatre had, until 1957, a well designed auditorium, with two curving balconies supported on six columns and with round-fronted boxes at circle level on each side of the proscenium. After the 1958 alterations the ornateness was replaced by a quite plain interior with two almost flat-fronted balconies and a bland proscenium/ stage.
These awful alterations denied any hope of a listing protection, eventually sealing the fate of this traditional provincial theatre. Together with an unconcerned council who sat back and watched this theatre decay whilst grant money was lavished elsewhere. Customers requirements had changed with the times too. The Royalty, once patronized by locals who arrived on local transport, or walked a considerable way to this venue. It is unlikely that the logistics of the Royalty would have kept it in business today, as the most important ingredient to success of a theatre or cinema is good parking facilities.
The old Royalty Theatre, pictured as the Alchemy night club.
Peter Davies
chestercinemas.co.uk
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I started work at the age of 16 at Williams & Williams, Window Manufacturers on Liverpool Road, Chester in 1949, working from 8.30am until 5.30pm five days a week.
When my boyfriend, Ron Hopley was called up to do his National Service in 1952, I decided to get a part-time job as an usherette at the Royalty Theatre on City Road in Chester in order to save up for our wedding. The job at the Royalty was for six nights a week, working from 6pm until 10.30pm.
So after finishing work at 5.30pm at Williams & Williams, I would cycle home to collect sandwiches and then continue onto the theatre. It was certainly a rush to get from Liverpool Road to City Road in time, but I made it.
For six nights work I earned £2.9d (in old money), plus a small commission from ice cream sales. There were two performances each evening at 6.20pm and then 8.30pm.
We worked hard and there was always someone who wanted an ice cream after the lights had gone down and the interval was over, but commission was commission!
When the performances had finished we had to stay and empty the ashtrays that were attached onto the seats and make certain that everywhere was left clean and tidy. It was a very tiring day!
I spent two marvellous years working at the Royalty seeing many famous artists that included~ Shirley Bassey, Norman Evans, Russ Conway, Joan Regan, Arthur Lucan & Kitty McShane, Beryl Reid, Alma Cogan, Lee Lawrence, Mike & Bernie Winters, Danny La Rue just to name but a few. They even staged a full circus with live animals.
These were very happy days for me working at this splendid old theatre that was steeped in theatrical history. It was such a shame when it was eventually closed and then demolished.
June Hopleychestercinemas.co.uk
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If you enjoyed going to the ROYALTY, or worked there at anytime, then we will be pleased to hear from you to share your thoughts.