Wigan Album

Ron. Did this eventually become known as the Court Hall, and Court Cinema?. If so. What is it now?.

Ron, that is fabulous and I knew you'd put it on even before I clicked on to the photo! Where do you get these wonderful things from? Would it be possible to have a photocopy to frame for my "Wigan Wall" in my old-fashioned living-room, please?

Albert yes it became th COURT cinema and then it became a Night Club. I think at one time it was called CHICAGOS? Now its empty... What a pity one of Wigan's historic buildings left to rot. Any other town would have put this to some use. Maybe Weatherspons will buy it, as they do and help and save a lot of old historic buildings.

Ron. I remember during the war, the gentleman that played the organ, in the Court Cinema. During the black out, making his way home, he got knocked down by a bus, and had to have one of his legs amputated.

Albert
That sounds just like a scene from 'Only fools and horses'.

Agreed, Poet; sounds just like Uncle Albert in "Only Fools and Horses"...."Dooring the war".... Our Wigan World Albert is a lovely gentleman; I have never met him but am proud to know him via Wigan World Album. I believe Buster Merryfield, who played Uncle Albert, was also a gentleman. Thanks, Ron, for the photocopy of the poster. It will look perfect in our house. x.

Thank you Irene. Tell a few tales of the black out. Once when my mother, and dad had gone the pictures, and I forgot to put the tarpaulin framed blind up against the back window. All Spring View was lit up like Wigan Fair. Received a right clout at the side of my earhole, on their return from the pictures. Well deserved. German's could have blown Springs Branch up, on their way to Liverpool.

According to my Fathers' diaries for 1926/27/28, Wigan did well for entertainment establishments. These are the places he often visited in the evening after work. The Pavilion Cinema, Palace cinema,Princes Cinema,County Playhouse cinema, Wigan Hipperdrome, Royal Court Theatre (still a theatre in 1928.) Others he went to in the late 1920's were Carlton Cinema & the Empress Dance Hall. In May, the fair came to Wigan on the Market Square -boxing booths amongst others and he used have a go each year(kept his hand in) By the sound of it the fair was well attended.

Albert it was known as a 'thick ear' wasn't it? Sorry I have had to laugh at your predicament! But a lot of responsibility was put on youngsters in those days. I always had to take the brunt if me and my brother did anything wrong -purely because I was older- only by 14 months!

Don't think the Court Cinema went from being a cinema to a night club. Sure it became a bingo hall. Next door to it going up King St. and on the site of the former Methodist church which, when it was demolished, became the site of the first Tesco in Wigan there was a bar/nightclub named Chicago Rock. Can't remember what it is called now.

In the 1960s it was the Court Ballroom and Crawford Room, both of which had entertainment.

Kenee, I think the Court ballroom and Crawford room was a separate building from the Court Cinema.

I recall going to the Crawford Rooms for dancing- it was the side entrance in the entry which is boarded up now I think - separate from the Court Cinema.

Boy am I glad you've put this picture on the site, Ron. John Worswick was my great-grandfather. This is the first time I've ever seen a photograph of him. Always wondered what he looked like.

My maiden name is Worswick and among my father's effects we found a newspaper dated Friday April 13th 1900 with two small ads for the New Royal Court Theatre. I can't discover a family connection to this branch of the Worswicks but wonder why this newspaper had been kept in the family for so long. Have you done any family research? Our branch mainly lived in Coppull. Any info would be gratefully received.