Glasgow Empire Theatre Options

[Purplefan]

Did anyone see the excellent BBC2 show on Glasgow Theaters and the famous acts that played there? I had no idea Glasgow has such a rich verity of Theaters.
Of course i knew about the Metropole and the pavilion and the citizens theater
But i had no idea where the empire was and the acts that used to play there.

I loved the story about escape artist Harry Houdini who got stuck in the toilet.
It could be true. And also Roy Rodgers and trigger.
I would love to hear of your experience of going to see shows in the Empire and other places.

[gardenqueen]

I have no experience of going there but I enjoyed the programme, not least because it made me think of Iain MacKintosh when I heard the song "I wish I was in Glasgow" so I looked him up on Spotify and downloaded a couple of his albums. Been listening on the Sonos all day yesterday. Sometimes it just takes a song to rekindle memories.

[Melody]

Do you know when you're not sure whether a memory from childhood is a memory or a dream? Well, I seem to have always remembered being taken to The Empire by Gran and Grandad, I must been have been very young about three or four and seeing many famous acts there. It was a great show on TV and confirmed that I must have been there right enough. My, but ah'm getting auld.

[Betsy2009]

I remember getting Sean Connery's autograph in the Pavilion. He'd been in to watch the show.
Chester Harriot (father of Ainsley the 'chef') was a great pianist and was on the bill along with Frankie and Josie (Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy). Not exactly 'big names' outside Scotland but fun.
The Pavilion was pure variety and panto.
I think I saw something at the Kings but don't remember going to the Empire or being aware of the big name that appeared there.

[bilbo.s]

I used to walk past the Empire twice daily on my way to school in the 50s and I well remember all the great American singing stars who appeared there, although , for some reason I never went to see any. There were some great value shows, such as Bobby Darin, Duane Eddy & Clyde McPhatter all on the same bill. How I now regret not seeing them. Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell etc etc-

I only went once to the Empire- to the panto- but it was a pretty shoddy affair compared to the Alhambra.

[ashfield]

Did anyone see the excellent BBC2 show on Glasgow Theaters

But i had no idea where the empire was and the acts that used to play there.

Purplefan, it was in Sauchiehall St. The entrance was around where Dino's pizza place is now, between Renfield St and West Nile St. I went there to see Andy Stewart (see Bill, your lot has some skeletons in the closet ) about 50 years ago. My excuse is that my eldest brother, who was in the army, sent his girlfriend up from Leicester to stay with us. She wanted to go and see the show and I was the mug person volunteered to accompany her. Althpough I was still at school and she was a working adult, she still allowed me to pay for the tickets

The show was ok, my brother married somebody else and we never saw the wummin again

[Purplefan]

I know where dinos is. The building that replaced the old theater is a monstrosity, There was some great acts.
Danny kay I can just picture 2,000 glaswegians outside the central hotel doing that dance
I never knew you can get the telly and internet in brigadoon?
That 200 year old Bill when you guys wake up must be a killer?

[Purplefan]

I used to walk past the Empire twice daily on my way to school in the 50s and I well remember all the great American singing stars who appeared there, although , for some reason I never went to see any. There were some great value shows, such as Bobby Darin, Duane Eddy & Clyde McPhatter all on the same bill. How I now regret not seeing them. Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell etc etc-

I only went once to the Empire- to the panto- but it was a pretty shoddy affair compared to the Alhambra.

The alhambra got a mention what was that like?

[Purplefan]

I have no experience of going there but I enjoyed the programme, not least because it made me think of Iain MacKintosh when I heard the song "I wish I was in Glasgow" so I looked him up on Spotify and downloaded a couple of his albums. Been listening on the Sonos all day yesterday. Sometimes it just takes a song to rekindle memories.

I think that Iain's version is better than Billy Connolly's.

[gardenqueen]

Me too, Purplefan. I do like Billy Connolly's version though. Didn't he write it?

[ashfield]

I never knew you can get the telly and internet in brigadoon?
That 200 year old Bill when you guys wake up must be a killer?

Naw, naw, we only pay for 1 day every hundred years

[bilbo.s]

The show was ok, my brother married somebody else and we never saw the wummin again

Aye, Ash. My distant relation could scare the bejaysus oot a person o´ fine sensibilities and musical taste !

[Betsy2009]

Perhaps the Empire was too expensive?

[Dylan]

Seen Lonnie Donegan there.

[bilbo.s]

Perhaps the Empire was too expensive?

I don't think so, especially not in the "gods".