Wigan Album

Illustrates the ORIGINAL usage and meaning of the phrase 'Early Doors'! Only recently has it acquired usage whereby it simply means early. Take note all ye who try to pass off stuff written recently as originating in Victorian or earlier times. From its original use with respect to avoiding queues at theatre doors it next got attached to those awaiting at door for pub to open, and only after being used in sports commentary does it become an alternative for the word 'Early'.

It was a great loss to the people of Wigan, when it was destroyed by fire. It was a splendid venue of entertainment. The seating capacity was quite large, it had two balconies.

An interesting spot of information, Priscus.
Author Edgar Wallace has the following to say in "Heroes All" (a factual account of events in WWI) . . . 'A party of the King's Own went into one battle shouting out, "Early doors this way. Early doors, ninepence ! "
An early use of the term in other than its theatrical sense.

It was considered a treat at our house to go there as it was not often, but because it was a treat, the memory of those few times at Pantomime time lie deep in the memory....

Yes Mick, that is interesting, since it is during WW1 that the meaning transitioned. UK government brought in legislation requiring pubs to close during the afternoon as a Wartime measure. Publicans started to describe the customers who were at the closed doors awaiting their evening opening as their early doors. A phrase which had been a description of a process now becoming a description of the person.

My Dad took me there to see the production of Jane Eyre when I was very young...when I became a teenager,I and my mates would wait outside the stage door with my little autograph book..if I had that book now I'm sure it would be worth quite a bit..you name them...I got them.

The closet I've come to getting the autograph of a star of stage and screen had been the funny shaped balloon given to me by Charlie Cairoli at Blackpool in the 1950s. He'd left the stage by the left-hand steps, and I'd been sat to the left of centre on the front, or second, row. Another entertainer, at another 'theatre', during our stay at Blackpool, had sent giant fluorescent snakes, or worms, whizzing pell mell along each wall - scared the living daylights out of me they did. 'The Charge at Feather River' in 3D at a St Helens cinema offered little respite - I'd squirmed beneath the row ahead once the arrows started flying. Great pic Ron. Thanks.