News
I remember being taken to the pantomime at the Ritz
Monday, March 17, 2008
I remember being taken to the pantomime at the Ritz as it then was.
This would have been in 1952/3.I was only 4 or 5 at the time and I
think I may have gone on two successive years. The one I particularly
remember was in 1953 which would have been the last one before the
fire. I don't remember the name of the panto but I do remember the
potted palms and the red carpet in the foyer. The auditorium seemed
huge and I can remember looking up at the ceiling and seeing the
inside of the dome. There was also a man in an animal suit, possibly
monkey, who ran around the aisles encouraging audience participation.
The next memory is of standing at the top of Everest Road with my
mother and sister watching the Ritz on fire and seeing the dome
collapsing.
My father was an officer with Dorset Fire Brigade and was the
mobilising officer on the day of the fire. He always said that the
fire brigade were concerned when the building was later demolished as
they had worked valiantly to save as much as possible and there was
little damage to the foyer and ballroom and the auditorium could have
been rebuilt. The rapid spread of the fire was caused through its
wooden construction.
Geoff Pritchard
posted by Joe @ 5:27 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home