Demolition of the Theatre Royal, Blyth - built for Stan Laurel's father

BBC Breakfast Time reports on the sad and shortsighted demolition of the Theatre Royal in Blyth Northumberland in 1983. The theatre was built for Stan Laurel's father Arthur Jefferson in 1870. Many great stars appeared there including Stan himself as a young man before he went to Hollywood.

A car-park and toilet now stand on the site. Those must really bring the visitors flocking to Blyth. Unlike an old theatre with famous connections!

This report was broadcast on 18 January 1983.

More about the theatre here:

http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/BlythTheatres/BlythTheatres.htm

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• blyth
• northumberland
• laurel and hardy
• theatres
• theatre royal
• stan laurel

[PurplePassion332]

@discocreator76 Not all of us !!!! some of us protested against losing this but your very right in what you say about the councillors!! they ignored it all .its the bloody Keel Row shopping centre car park now alive with ferile cats at night !!! me and my brother used to sneak in and just go wow at the interior as my grand father and great grandfather used to go there to watch old shows like Tom Mix !!!

[MrDravenLee]

Typical..Another part of great history destroyed only to be replaced with crap modernisation and a car park of all things!!! The world and the people in it only get worse!!!! We no longer have Stan or Ollie...all we have is their movies and a few filming sites and they are becoming less and less. I think Stan would be upset and annoyed if anything. R.I.P. Stan and Ollie *Never forgotten* You guys were the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[timatneatt]

Given the cost of maintaining a building such as this it's no wonder it was knocked down - the money museums make wouldn't cover it and the residents wouldn't accept a massive rates/tax increase either. The Wallaw, as its successor before the more modern Phoenix Theatre was opened is also now derelict for the same reason. However, all is not lost - visit the bar in the Phoenix Theatre where some of the building fabric and posters advertising shows have been preserved.

[discocreator76]

Blyth is a crap hole, full of arrogant inbreds, drug users and lazy fat bastards swanning about in motability cars, knocking down a valuable assets such as this shows how thick and uneducated Blyth valley councillors are....

[nedurndun]

Please take a look at OLD THEATRES magazine for more information about Britain's halls of entertainment, together with comments from artistes and supporters. For more information see our web pages. You won't be disappointed.

[abhudson14]

Ive been to the Laurel and Hardy museum in the Lake disrict pity there not one in Blyth as well

[AUFPET1]

It's a shame they knocked it down. Why couldn't they change it to a Laurel & Hardy museum to attract tourists?

[EDHINDHAUGH]

I Remember it well, The other four cinemas gone as well. Now we must have worst market place in the country.

BLYTHIS NOW A DUMP.

[ryannichols113]

I've always wondered what the building would have looked like inside. What a waste.