At the Ardwick Empire, Ardwick Green

I am back at the Ardwick Empire sometime in the early part of the 20th century.

I first fell across the place back in February and knew I would return.*

This is one of those picture postcards of Manchester issued by Tuck and Sons.

The Empire was built in 1904, changed its name to the Manchester Hippodrome in 1935 and was knocked down in 1964.

Now I could go on but there is a perfectly good description of the place with pictures, maps and memorabilia, at The Ardwick Empire, and I see no reason either to lift what was said or ty an improve on what is an excellent little history.

So I shall leave it at that.

Picture; The Ardwick Empire, from the series, Manchester, date unknown, issued by Tuck and Sons, coutesy of Tuck DB, http://tuckdb.org/

*Merrily we go with Naughton and Gold at the Manchester Hippodrome, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2020/04/merrily-we-go-with-naughton-and-gold-at.html

**The Ardwick Empire, http://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/gone/empire.html

Merrily we go with Naughton and Gold at the Manchester Hippodrome

Now I am off on fresh trails, and have decided to explore the music halls of the city in the late 19th and early 20 centuries.

It is a rich and diverse story and I rather think will take us into the appeal of the music hall, its history, some fine buildings and above all the artists that performed.

It’s been a project that has been bubbling away ever since Graham posted these two wonderful programmes from the first half of the last century.

And as ever some will be drawn away to the adverts and the stylish art work captured on Graham’s collection.

So if any of you have memories, more music hall trivia I would love to add them to the stories.

And in the meantime as a taste of things to come here are Naughton and Gold*


They were a comedy double act, consisting of Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold and started in the British Music Halls in 1908, and were still together as part of The Crazy Gang in 1962, becoming the longest period of two British comedians being in the same act. Both had Scottish accents and their act was fast but rather basic comedy.

Charlie Naughton, who was the bald one, was the butt of most of the physical comedy of the Crazy Gang.*

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ_R9h5uJsA

**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naughton_and_Gold

Pictures; from the collection of Graham Gill