The Theatre Royal in Walsall Street, started life in the early 1850s as the Royal Exchange Theatre, named after the Royal Exchange pub, next door. Both were managed by Charles Udall. The name was changed to the Theatre Royal in 1869. Ten years later, the theatre was enlarged, using a design by the architect E. Pincher and reopened on Saturday the 20th of September, 1879 with a play called 'Lady Audley's Secret' and a burlesque musical called 'Cristable'. The theatre could now accommodate an audience of around 1,200.

The theatre manager was now Mr. H. C. Hazlewood, who formerly managed the Theatre Royal and the Prince of Wales Theatre, both in Wolverhampton. In September 1895, the building was totally destroyed by fire, whilst under the management of James P. Moore. It was quickly rebuilt again, this time to the design of architects Owen and Ward. It reopened on Wednesday the 26th of August, 1896.

After reopening, the manager provided special precautionary measures against fire or accident and the theatre was placed in direct telephone communication with the Central Fire Station. In 1917 the theatre management was taken over by brothers Ben and Harry Kennedy who had been running the Hippodrome Theatre at Carters Green since 1910. Ben Kennedy had also built the Empire Theatre in Paradise Street in 1914. The Theatre Royal closed in 1947 and the building was derelict until the early 1950s when it was used as a furniture warehouse. The warehouse closed in June 1966 and remained empty, until it was destroyed by fire, on Saturday the 1st of October 1966 as the result of an arson attack. The building was soon demolished.

Cinemas

It soon became the Queens Cinema, which was extended in 1914 to increase the seating capacity to 1,400.

In 1939 it came under the control of the J. F. Emery Circuit, until 1946, when it was taken over by Miles Jervis Cinemas.

A new canopy was installed on the facade in 1949, and the interior was refurbished in 1952.

In the late 1960s the building was compulsorily purchased by the council and was demolished in August 1969 for redevelopment.

The Queens Cinema.

It was sold to Associated British Cinemas (ABC) in 1929 and fitted with a BTH sound system for “talkies”. In 1936 it was again acquired by Benjamin Kennedy and renamed the Plaza Theatre. It reopened on the 27th December, 1947 as a live theatre, showing films only after 1949, on Sundays. In the 1950s, striptease shows were introduced and visitor numbers fell.

It closed as a live theatre on the 2nd February, 1957 and was taken over by the Miles Jervis chain of cinemas. It reopened on the 11th March, 1957, as the Kings Theatre with Robert Wagner & Terry Moore in “Between Heaven and Hell”. Occasional live shows took place including performances from local operatic societies. It closed on the 28th April, 1973 and was demolished. A new twin screen Kings Cinema was built nearby.

St. George’s Picture House.

The building was originally a Wesleyan Chapel which became a public hall in 1859 before becoming a wire factory.

In about 1930 it was fitted with a BTP sound system and taken over by J. F. Emery. In 1946 it was taken over by Miles Jervis, who also ran the Plaza Cinema opposite.

Before the end of 1955 it had closed and was demolished in August 1962.

At the time he was at the Gaumont Palace, in Birmingham and went on to run The Regal Cinema at Darlaston. He became a household name in the Second World War due to his many radio appearances, performing cinema organ music on the BBC Home and Overseas Services, often broadcasting from the Regal Darlaston on the Compton organ.

From an old postcard.

From an old postcard.

 Leslie Taff was one of the last organists to play the Compton organ, on the 14th November, 1965, when he was joined by organists Mel Edwards & Trevor Bolshaw for the organ’s final playing at the cinema. It was then installed in Marston Green Hospital.

The ABC Cinema closed on the 28th December, 1968 before being converted to a bingo hall. It finally closed in the late 1970s and was derelict for many years before demolition in the mid 1990s

The Clifton Cinema at Stone Cross, opened in 1938 in Hall Green Road, near the corner of Walsall Road. It opened as the Stone Cross Cinema, to cater for the growing local population. During construction it was taken over by the Clifton Cinemas chain. The cinema was designed by the architect Ernest S. Roberts and opened on Saturday the 16th July, 1938. It could seat 1,202 people and during its later life was also used as a bingo hall. In 1968 it became a Ladbrokes Bingo Club which closed at the end of 2003. It was demolished in May 2004, and an apartment block now stands on the site.

The town in the late 1930s

By the late 1930s, living conditions had greatly improved since the end of the First World War. Employment was plentiful, the larger factories had recovered from the recessions in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and were working flat-out. Shops of all kinds could be found on the High Street which provided all of a family’s weekly needs. There were plenty of good schools, and places to go in the evening, in the form of cinemas, pubs, and work’s social clubs. Life in the town was better than ever, and people were generally happy and contented.

The onset of war

To many people war seemed inevitable. Bad news continued to come from Germany, where Hitler clearly had his own vision of the world to be, and showed no sign of wishing to compromise his plans. On the 31st March, 1937 Britain and France guaranteed to defend Poland from any attempted invasion by Germany, which had been interested in acquiring the country for some time. The Poles greatly distrusted Hitler and his motives, after a long dispute over the ownership of a strip of Polish land known as the Polish Corridor, which ran alongside the German border. In 1938 alarm bells sounded when Germany invaded Austria, and sounded again in March 1939 when Germany took over Czechoslovakia. On the 1st September, 1939 Germany invaded Poland, so war was now unavoidable. Two days later Neville Chamberlain declared war with Germany.

Most people were not surprised when war was declared. A feeling of comradeship in the face of adversity prevailed, along with the determination to do all that was necessary to support the country in winning the war. The first major impact on local life occurred in October 1939 with the introduction of conscription, under the terms of the Military Training Act. The government announced that all men between the ages of 18 and 41, who were not working in reserved occupations, could be called to join the armed forces. They would receive their call-up papers in the post, which included details of where and when they had to attend a medical, and begin military training. They were allowed to choose between the air force, the army, and the navy.

The reserved occupations were:
Dock workers, doctors, farmers, merchant seamen, miners, railway workers, school teachers, scientists, and utility workers in electricity, gas, and water. People working in occupations that were considered to be important to the war effort, such as skilled engineers, were often excused military service.

Men who were too old or unfit were expected to join suitable voluntary organisations such as the ARP (Air Raid Precautions), the fire fighters, or the Home Guard (Local Defence Volunteers), created on the 14th May, 1940 and known as ‘Dad’s Army’.

There were also conscientious objectors, men who felt unable to take part in the war. They had to apply for conscientious objector status, and appear before a tribunal to explain their reasons for wanting to opt out.

They also worked as air raid wardens, and joined the ATS (the army’s Auxiliary Territorial Service), in which they acted as drivers, worked in mess halls, or worked on anti-aircraft guns, but were not actually allowed to fire them.

Some also became welders, carpenters, and electricians. By July 1942 there were  217,000 women in the ATS.

Some women also joined the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) and worked on aircraft, radar tracking stations, and more mundane work such as cooking, and clerical work.

Some women joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and flew RAF planes from factories to military airfields.

Other women joined the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS), and carried out an essential job, doing whatever was needed from providing tea and refreshments for fire fighters, collecting scrap metal for the war effort, or knitting socks, balaclavas etc. for service men.

Employment was plentiful and people worked long hours to support the war effort.  At the outset of war, factories came under the control of the Ministry of Supply, a department set up to coordinate the supply of essential arms, ammunition, and equipment for the armed forces.

The first part of the war

These were worrying times, due to the continuing bad news from Europe. In April 1940, Germany invaded Denmark, followed by Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg in May, and Norway in June. On the 12th May the German army entered France, and on the 27th May, the evacuation of 340,000 British and French soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk began.

On the 10th May, Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as prime minister, and on the 10th June, Italy declared war on Britain and France. Eleven days later Italy invaded southern France, and on the 22nd June France surrendered to Germany.

Adults’ masks were black, and children’s masks were in bright colours of red, blue, or green, with bright eye-rims. They became known as “Mickey Mouse” masks, to make them less frightening and more appealing.

Each mask came in a strong cardboard box with a long string handle, which would be used to carry it over your shoulder. People were expected to carry them everywhere, but in practice few did.

Air raid wardens would carry out inspections and anyone who lost their mask would be required to pay for a replacement. They were also available for young babies in the form of a respirator, which totally enclosed the child. They came complete with an air filter and hand-operated air pump.

Fire watching
In September 1940, a law was passed which required factories and businesses to appoint employees to undertake fire watching. They had to keep a look out for incendiary bombs which were dropped in vast quantities at night. They were quite small, and ignited on impact to start a fire.

Everyone, including children, had to carry an identity card at all times to show who they were, and where they lived.

Initially they were buff coloured, but after 1943 Adults' cards were coloured blue.

The Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain placed Sir John Anderson in charge of Air Raid Precautions in November 1938. He asked William Patterson to design a small air raid shelter that could easily, quickly, and cheaply be erected in people’s gardens. This became known as the Anderson Shelter.

It consisted of 6 curved sheets of corrugated, galvanised steel, bolted at the top, with corrugated sheets at the back, and an entrance at the front. The shelter was half-buried, then covered in earth, and measured approximately 6ft. 6in. by 4ft. 6in. It could accommodate six people. They were given free to the poor, and could be purchased by anyone earning over £5 a week.

A typical Anderson shelter.

Due to the blackout, no light could be showing at night, and so Hessian sacks were often hung across the open doorway. Sometimes a family would prefer to stay in the house during an air raid to avoid the discomfort of the shelter. They would crawl under the stairs where possible, or even sit under the kitchen table. There were also public air raid shelters near to public buildings, school air raid shelters adjacent to schools, and factory air raid shelters for factory workers.

The German U-boats, aircraft, surface ships and mines, sunk vast numbers of allied merchant ships, which led to shortages of all kinds, and the introduction of rationing in 1940. Everyone was issued with a ration book, which contained coupons that entitled the owner to buy food and clothes, and helped to prevent people hoarding things. The coupons were cut out and signed by the shopkeeper.

Everyone had to register with local retailers, whose details were stamped in the book. Items could only be purchased from their shops. Rationed items included meat, eggs, fats, cheese, bacon, sugar, and clothes. Each person was allowed a new set of clothes each year. Food retailers had to register with the Ministry of Food, and were provided with a list of what they could sell.

Although rationing was strictly adhered to, the more wealthy members of society could supplement their food allowance by eating out.

Due to the German blockade, citrus fruits and bananas were not available. Coffee was also scarce and so alternatives were made from roasted barley seeds and acorns. People often kept chickens in their garden as a source of meat and eggs, and also rabbits. Because milk was in short supply, most people relied on powdered milk. Powdered eggs were also popular. 

The “Dig for Victory” campaign started early in the war, and helped people to cope with the shortages by growing their own fruit and vegetables. Some schools also took part by encouraging the children to cultivate a small piece of land near the school. The shortages in the shops continued for many years after the war had ended. Rationing remained until 1954.        

Germany’s ruthless expansion programme continued in 1941 with the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece in April, and the invasion of Russia in June. In December of that year the United States formally declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan. In September 1940 the three countries had signed the Tripartite Pact, agreeing to support one another in the war.

By the summer of 1940, Hitler had decided to invade Britain. In July of that year the German air force, the Luftwaffe, began making daily bombing raids on British factories, ships and military establishments, particularly airfields.

On the 7th September the London blitz began, when the Luftwaffe destroyed many houses, killing 430 people and badly injuring 1,600 people on the first day. Hitler believed that he could lower people’s moral by bombing civilian houses, and force the country to surrender.

King George VI and his Queen paid a visit to West Bromwich on the 19th April 1940, followed by a visit from the Duke of Kent in December 1940.

The Duke was introduced to some of the victims of the air raids, including an 11 year-old boy who had been given a bravery award for 'acting like a true Englishman'.

Bomb damage at the Tantany Estate, in November 1940.

Due to the large number of factories in the area, the town could have been a prime target, but German intelligence on British industry was poor. Birmingham suffered badly due to its many factories and large population. Around 2,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the city, killing 2,241 people and seriously injuring over 3,000 people. Coventry also suffered, but to a slightly lesser extent. The government tried to confuse the German bombers by enforcing a 'blackout', during which street lights were turned off, car headlights were covered, and people had to use blackout curtains to prevent house lights being seen. It became dangerous to go out at night, particularly on dark nights. Place names were removed from buildings to confuse any enemy paratroopers, and road signs were often turned round to further increase the confusion.

Hallam Hospital Laundry, after the bombing on the 19th November, 1940.

The British Restaurant

British restaurants were run by local authorities, and local committees to provide cheap meals for the community. They were essential in areas that had been badly hit by the bombing, and essential for people who had run out of rationing coupons. Workers who had no canteen also used them. The restaurants were set up by the Ministry of Food, and run on a non-profit making basis. The maximum price for a meal was 9 pence. By the end of 1944 there were 1,931 of them in the UK, some of which had been set up in schools and church halls.

The War Savings Campaign was initiated by the War Office in 1939 to support the war effort. Several saving schemes were introduced, the first being the National Savings Scheme where you purchased savings stamps and stuck them onto a card. The scheme became a great success. Large numbers of people purchased the stamps, at banks, post offices, and savings kiosks. Other options were war bonds, savings bonds, and defence bonds, advertised with the slogan “Lend to defend the right to be free.” People were also asked to contribute to various money raising schemes such as Warship Week, Wings for Victory Week, Spitfire Week, all raising much needed cash for armaments.

Wrought iron gates and fences were removed and taken to factories to be melted down. Paper was in short supply, and so newspapers were only a few pages long. People kept their newspapers and paper bags etc. to be either burnt on the fire, or recycled.

Because coal was in short supply, salt water would be sprinkled on it to make it burn more slowly, and fallen tree branches could be collected to supplement the often meagre supply.

Preserves such as jam were an important way of preserving fruit when it was plentiful. Similarly eggs were preserved by storing them in a solution of isinglass. The shortage of petrol led to the government asking all drivers to observe a 40mph. speed limit to help conserve fuel.

In June 1944, British and American troops landed on the Normandy beaches (known as the D-Day landings) at the beginning of the campaign to free France from the Germans. In August the allied troops landed in Southern France near Nice, and on the 20th of the month reached Paris. On the 11th September, American troops entered Germany.

The years of hard work and shortages now seemed worthwhile, the threat of German invasion was over, and people started to look forward to a return to normality. With this in mind, the government passed new legislation which was designed to improve the education of young people, and prepare them for their working life, and career after school. This was the 1944 Education Act which introduced the Eleven Plus examination.

For the first time, pupils were allocated to suitable secondary schools, best suited for their abilities and aptitudes. Also in 1944 it was made compulsory for local authorities to provide school dinners, which were free for children from low income families. Good news continued to arrive from Europe during the early months of 1945. In April Russia launched its final offensive on Berlin, and Adolph Hitler committed suicide.

In May, Germany surrendered, and on VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) everyone celebrated the end of the war. There were street parties, and bonfires, and families looked forward to the return of their loved ones who were still on the continent.

Fighting finally came to an end on the 14th August when Japan surrendered to the allies. This was universally celebrated as V-J Day (Victory in Japan Day). The war had lasted almost 6 years, we were in a poor financial state, and much of the country’s infrastructure was in tatters. It would take many years and a lot of hard work to recover.