New Theatre?
From the Hastings News of 23/02/1877
There was talk of building a new theatre for Hastings, on the site of the Castle Mews, Queens Road. [To be the Gaiety.]
Opera House
From the Hastings News of 10/06/1881
A new 'opera house' was being built in Queens Road, by Mr Rodda. [It was to be the Gaiety Theatre; it opened on 2 August 1882].
Gaiety Opens
From the Hastings News of 04/08/1882
The spacious and well-appointed Gaiety Theatre in Queens Road opened on Tuesday 2 August. The first performance was of Gilbert and Sullivan's English opera HMS Pinafore, by Mr D'Oyley Carte's company. Until then Hastings had lacked a good theatre, but ...
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Oscar Wilde
From the Hastings News of 05/11/1883
The well-known Oscar Wilde lectured at the Gaiety Theatre, Queens Road. His talk was called 'The House Beautiful' and there was a very fair attendance. He "dealt with the practical side of asceticism and gave some useful advice on house ...
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A supper took place at Central Hall to celebrate the re-opening of the much improved Central Hall, in Bank Buildings. The hall, which was to be used as an auction mart, was upstairs, above the Hastings News printing offices. The ...
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The Empire Theatre of Varieties was declared open by the mayor on Thursday 30 March. The Empire was situated at the east end of Pelham Place on the seafront. [It was soon renamed as the Hippodrome, then the Cinema de ...
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Mr Peter Jenkins, the prominent and popular local businessman and works contractor, died suddenly of burst blood vessel at his home in St Leonards on Tuesday 27 June. "By dint of his own personal efforts and attention to business Mr ...
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At the 16th ordinary general meeting of the Hastings and St Leonards Theatre Company, at the Gaiety on October 27, there was “considerable complaint” that Hastings Council was “subsidising outside entertainment at the expense of fair competition”. Cllr Dr Gray ...
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Poor Show
From the Hastings Mail of 21/01/1905
On January 18, from 10am onwards, Mr and Mrs Chatterton, of Chatterton & Co, The Louvre, Royal Victoria Buildings (opposite Royal Victoria Hotel), gave out free garments to children on the stage of the Hippodrome, followed by a music show. ...
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George Talbot, an ex-bookmaker of St Leonards, attempted suicide by cutting his throat while standing in the saloon of the Gaiety Restaurant, Queens Road.
New Gaiety Manager
From the Hastings Mail of 06/05/1905
The Gaiety Theatre, Queens Road, manager resigned; Mr George Gaze was being replaced by Mr HW Rowland of the Pleasure Gardens Theatre, Folkestone. On 31 May, a farewell benefit event was held at the Theatre for Mr Gaze. He had ...
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Houdini accepted the challenge of Messrs Bruce, ironmongers of 2 York Buildings, to lock, strap and rope him in a large hamper and escape. Houdini was drawing large crowds to the Hastings Hippodrome that week. Hundreds of handbills were printed. ...
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At the magistrates court on 3 August, 20-year old Chrissell Swan was remanded for a week, charged with attempted suicide. She was found sitting on a sitting very dazed on a seat in White Rock Road, covered in yellow liquid ...
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Death of Mr Thomas Turner of the Abbey Hotel and for 27 years proprietor of the Globe Hotel, Queens Road.
The Mail, page six, published an article on “Reminiscences of Hastings Theatres - Some Early Nineteenth Century Play Houses”, plus a second piece on page five of the August 25 edition.
The Mail published an interview with Miss Ellen Terry, who stayed with her husband James Carew in a suite of rooms at the Queens Hotel.
Crowded houses at the Gaiety received Mr HB Irving and Miss Dorothea Baird with a rousing welcome when he appeared as Matthias in The Bells.
Two members of the Budget Protest League from London held nightly meetings on the beach during the week. They came to preach tariff reform. There was hot heckling, with pandemonium on Wednesday evening (11th) when the League took a stand ...
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