Opera House – Summer Season Programmes 1946 – 1969

7 May 2026

Tom Arnold presents in 1946 and 1947

Starry Way – Grand Opening for 1946

Signed by George Formby

George Formby, Josef Locke and May Devitt, Marilyn and Robert Hightower, Freddie and partner, Bobbie Kimber, Hal Mac and his Dancing Demons, the Chevalier Brothers, Zena Dell, Movita, Harry Scott, Billy Sutton, Tom Polley, Jack Williams and chorus and ballet of 60

Ev’ry Time You Laugh – 1947

Dave Morris, Nat Jackley, Josef Locke, Marianne Lincoln, Carol Eric, Tosca de Lac, De Marcy Sisters, Jose Moreno, Billy Smith, Dick Beamish, Arthur Vollum, Sammy Curtis, Billy and Elsie Brand, Chorus and Ballet of 50.

Summer shows from 1948 to 1969 were produced by George & Alfred Black

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Sky High – 1948

Charlie Chester, Arthur Haynes, Ken Morris, Len Marten, Fred Ferarri, Edwina Carol, Henry Lytton, James Etherington, Sylvia Welling, Ruth Harrison, Alex Fisher, The Zoris, The Six Elwardes, Daphne kiermander, Kirby’s Flying Ballet and 20 John Tiller Girls

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Midsummer Madness  – 1949

Cheerful Charlie Chester, France Clery and Ken Morris

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Out of this World – 1950

Tessie O’ Shea, Nat Jackley, Terry-Thomas

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Happy Go Lucky – 1951

Vera Lynn, George and Bert Bernard, Harry Secombe, Jack Radcliffe, Erica Yorke, Velt Bethke, Fay Hammond, the Cavendish Singers and 20 John Tiller Girls

Top of the Town – 1952

Lester Ferguson, Harry Bailey, Semprini, The Dandy Brothers, Pamela Kay, The Regency Octette and the 20 John Tiller Girls

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The Show of Shows – 1953

Harry Secombe, Harry Bailey and Eve Boswell

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The Talk of the Town – 1954

Jimmy Edwards, Tony Hancock and Joan Turner

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The Big Show of 1955

Starring Jimmy Jewel, Alma Cogan, Ben Warriss and  Janet Grey

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The Big Show of 1956

Eve Boswell, Paul Webster, Lane Brothers, Pat Dahl and Ghezzi Brothers

The Big Show of 1957

Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss, Yana, Audrey Mann, Dorothy Dampier, Latona, Graham and Chadel, Nirska, Holger and Dolores, The George Mitchell Singers and 20 Tiller Girls

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The Big Show of 1958

David Whitfield, Arthur Haynes, Grace O’Connor, Lauri Lupino Lane, George Truzzi, Rudi Horn, The Andrea Dancers, The Gimma Boys, 12 George Mitchell Singers and 20 Tiller Girls

The Big Show of 1959

Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss, Jill Day, The Najarros, The Piero Brothers, Jean-Louis Bert and Honka, Larry Griswold, The George Mitchell Singers and The Tiller Girls

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The Big Show of 1960

Tommy Steele, Alma Cogan, Freddie Frinton, May Warden, Eddie Calvert and the Wise Guys, Sid Millward, Wally Stewart’s Nitwits, The Mathurins, The Cliff Adams Singers and The Malcolm Goddard Dancers

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The Big Show of 1961

Shirley Bassey (July 1 – Aug. 26), Cliff Richard (Aug. 28 – ) Ivor Emmanuel, Richard (Mr Pastry)Hearne, Tommy Fields, The Clark Brothers, The Lucky Latinos, Harry Smith-Hampshire and Doreen Casey, Tyldesley Girls Choir, Jimmie Currie’s Waltzing Waters, George Mitchell Singers and Malcolm Goddard Dancers

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The Big Show of 1962

Ken Dodd, The Kaye Sisters, Eddie Calvert, The Three Houcs, Barbara Law

The Big Show of 1963

29th June to 3rd Aug. – Billy Cotton Band, Susan Lane, The King Brothers, Harry Bailey, Francis Brunn, The Bal Carron Trio, Derek Taverner Singers and Jimmy Edwards.

5th Aug. onwards – Max Bygraves, King Brothers, Francis Brunn, Susan Lane, Bal Caron Trio, Harry Bailey, Carlo Dini.

The Big Show of 1964

Ken Dodd, Dennis Spicer, Joe Henderson, Barry Sisters, Rosemary Squires and The Three Rebertes

The Black & White Minstrel Show – 1965

Don Cleaver, Glyn Dawson, Bob Clayton, Stan Stennett, Reg Thompson, Daisy May assisted by Saveen, Warren, Devine and Sparks, Kris Keo, Pelham’s Puppets, the Mitchell Maids and 16 TV Toppers

The Big Show of 1966

Ken Dodd, Hugh Forgie, Shirley Marie, The Merrymen, Bill Hinchy & Jean Kent, The Bluebell Girls

The Big Show of 1967

Bruce Forsyth, Colin Keyes, Millicent Martin, Marvyn Roy, The Baranton Sisters, The Sovereign Singers, The Girl friends and Men About Town and Jimmie Currie’s Fabulous Crystal Cascade

The Big Show of 1968

Ken Dodd, Tessie O’Shea, Valente Valente, Fed Roby, Sylvan, Robert Colman, Jimmie Currie’s Fountains of Romance, Felicity Hayman and Keith Spencer and the Bel Canto Singers

The Val Doonican Show – 1969

Val Doonican, Moira Anderson, Arthur Askey, Des Lane, Dev Shawn, The Trio Athenee, Ruth Evans, Russ and Val Arness and the Bel Canto Singers