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Park Street
140 View of Park Street with an Aberdeen Corporation Bus and the Eastern Star pub visible. The pub occupied the corner of Park Street and East North Street.
The Aberdeen Pub Companion (1975) states that it was built in 1890 and that James Hill was the first licensee. It was familiarly known as Jimmy Hill's and was a popular local pub. It was demolished around 1960 to make way for the large roundabout at the foot of the Beach Boulevard.
(Many thanks to local historian A. G. Duthie for getting in touch and identifying the pub.) Byron's House
1762 Print of Byron's House, Broad Street. Lord Byron lived in No.64 with his mother when he was a pupil at the Old Grammar School in Schoolhill.
This sketch is by Aberdeen born Robert Douglas Strachan (1875-1950) who went on to become an acclaimed stained-glass artist. See his Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry for details of his life and career. Victoria Lodging House
1763 Victoria Lodging House. Provost Skene's House, Broad Street. Dating from 1545, Provost Skene's House, also known as Cumberland House, after the Duke of Cumberland who stayed there in 1746. In the 19th century it was known as the Victoria Lodging House. It was in danger of demolition, but for the timely intervention of the Queen Mother in 1938. It was restored after the war.
This sketch is by Aberdeen born Robert Douglas Strachan (1875-1950) who went on to become an acclaimed stained-glass artist. See his Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry for details of his life and career. The Shiprow
1764 Shiprow showing Provost Ross' House. The building was renovated, extended, and subsequently occupied by Aberdeen Maritime Museum.
This sketch is by Aberdeen born Robert Douglas Strachan (1875-1950) who went on to become an acclaimed stained-glass artist. See his Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry for details of his life and career. A School of Dolphins: Archie Star at Central Library
2180 Everyone got a chance to make their mark on Archie star. The rainbow reflects the Archie foundation and the fantastic work they do, it also is a symbol reflecting the generous support of Woodgroup. The bright stars are the children and the amazing staff at RACH. The collaged comics were chosen by all our artists big and small. George Washington Wilson
2233 A portrait of Aberdeen photographer George Washington Wilson. Wilson (1823 - 1893) was a pioneer in nineteenth century photography and Aberdeen's leading portrait photographer. For more details about Wilson and his career see Roger Taylor's excellent 1981 study, available at Aberdeen City Libraries. Crown Street from Union Street
2287 Crown Street from Union Street, c.1950s. A postcard image that features the Post Office Headquarters and the Star and Garter pub. Stop 6: Annie Inglis MBE (1922-2010), Aberdeen Arts Centre, Catherine Hollingsworth (1904-1999) and Isabella Fyvie Mayo (1843-1914), 31 King Street
2305 Aberdeen's first lady of the theatre Annie Inglis MBE dedicated her life to drama in Aberdeen, founding Aberdeen Arts Centre and inspiring generations to take to the stage. Born Annie Nicol in 1922, Annie studied English at Glasgow University before taking up a career in teaching. She joined the Monklands Rep in the 1940s, perfecting her directing skills which she would use to great effect in Aberdeen where she founded the Attic Theatre Group, an amateur group, which enjoyed an enviable reputation for performance. Over the years Annie founded Aberdeen's Arts Carnival, Texaco Theatre School, and Giz Giz Theatre Project for Youth. When the Arts Centre was threatened by closure in 1998 Annie ran a hugely successful campaign to save it involving many famous theatre actors who had trod the boards there.
Born in 1904 in Brechin and known by local folk as the 'speakin'wifie' Catherine Hollingworth started her teaching career in 1927 and might have remained a drama teacher but for the road traffic accident in 1933 which led her to use her learning to address the injury to her own speech. This ignited a lifelong interest in speech therapy at a time when there were very few speech therapists. While another pioneer of the profession Lional Logue (as dramatised in The King's Speech) was supporting King George VI in London, Catherine was appointed as the first superintendent of Speech & Drama and Speech Therapy in Aberdeen. In 1942 she founded the Children's Theatre, which went on to develop an international reputation. She had the theory that if you allowed children to play only to children, with no adults in the audience, their creativity and imagination would be much greater.
Another woman of culture associated with 31 King Street was Isabella Fyvie Mayo a prolific poet and novelist who wrote under the pen name Edward Garret. Although she was to spend most of her life living in Aberdeen, Isabella was born in London in 1843. She was also a pioneering translator for Tolstoy and became not only his friend but was also friends with Mahatma Gandhi. She became an ethical anarchist, pacifist, anti-imperialist, anti-racist and suffragette campaigner. In 1894 she was elected a member of the Aberdeen School Board, the first woman elected to any public board in Aberdeen and it is in this building that the Aberdeen School Board convened. Stop 12: Isabella Burgess (1930-1933), Lord Provost Margaret Farquhar CBE (1996-1999) and Margaret Smith Council Leader (1996-1999)
2311 Our final stop is back at the Town House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, where in 1930 Isabella Burgess was the first woman to be elected onto Aberdeen City Council. Miss Burgess was an Independent and represented the Gilcomston Ward until 1933, when she retired owing to ill health. She had spent her working life in the teaching profession and was the first Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland for the Aberdeen branch.
After nearly 800 years Aberdeen got its first woman Lord Provost when Margaret Farquhar CBE was elected in 1996 after having served as a councillor in the Northfield ward for 25 years.
The first woman ever to become the leader of Aberdeen City Council was Margaret Smith who was elected in 1996 and served until 1999 when she then went on to become Lord Provost until 2002.
Memories:
Margaret Farquhar speaking about her career in politics
Margaret Smith discusses her career in politics Aberdeen Women's Alliance: Memories from Margaret Farquhar
2362 Aberdeen's first women Lord Provost, Margaret Farquhar speaking about her career in politics. Aberdeen Women's Alliance: Memories from Margaret Smith
2363 Lord Provost Margaret Smith discusses her career in politics. Walford and Albert E. Bodie
2656 This studio portrait shows Walford Bodie, in highland dress, and his son Albert.
Albert Edward Bodie managed his father's career for a number of years and was himself a Royal Society illusionist. He sadly died aged 25 in 1915, leaving a wife and son.
This photograph comes from a family photograph album, originally owned by Annie "Nan" Henry, held by Aberdeen City Libraries. Harry and Jessie M. Gordon
2694 The caskets of popular local entertainer Harry Gordon (11 July 1893 - 21 January 1957) and his wife Jessie M. Gordon (d. 6 March 1959) in the old crematorium at Kaimhill.
Gordon was known as 'The Laird of Inversnecky' and was particularly associated with Aberdeen's Beach Pavilion. Aberdeen Local Studies have a large collection of programmes for his shows.
For more information on his life and career see Harry Gordon: The Laird of Inversnecky by Iain Watson (1993), available at Aberdeen City Libraries.
This photograph was kindly donated to Local Studies by our colleagues in the Masterplanning, Design and Conservation Team. S.S. Intaba
2702 A postcard showing the launch of the steamship Intaba on 6th September 1910. The ship was constructed by Hall, Russell & Company at their York Street yards for John T. Rennie, Son and Company of Aberdeen and London. The launch was watched by a crowd of thousands.
The Intaba was the largest vessel built in Aberdeen at the time. It was 387 feet in length and weighted 4,832 tons. It was designed to transport passengers and cargo, initially between London and the province of Natal in the Union of South Africa. It could accommodate 70 first class passengers and 60 in second class. The ship's name means mountain in Zulu.
The Intaba and passenger liners like it were fundamental to continuing the British colonisation of southern Africa following the Second Boer War (1899-1902). In May 1910 the British Government had unified its existing and newly acquired regional colonies into the Union of South Africa.
The Intaba went on to have a long and varied career, including working trade and pilgrimage routes. It sailed for 43 years, under various names and owners, and in many different parts of the world, before its eventual demolition in Belgium in 1953.
The Aberdeen Built Ships website (link here) gives considerable detail on the ship's history and states that it was renamed twice; as the Waitomo in 1916 and the Englestan in 1927.
Correspondent Ed Fowler notes that the new ship is being maneuvered primarily by two steam paddle tugs, one on either side, and that a smaller screw steamer tug is also in attendance. He suggests one of the paddle tugs may by the Fairweather. It was built by Richard Stobbs, North Sheilds, in 1871 and was stranded in the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour in 1912. ROBERT GORDON'S REMUNERATIVE RELATIONS WITH DANZIG
2874 In 17th century Poland, business was at its peak. At the time the country had the same population as Russia. The port town of Danzig - now known as Gdansk - was a worldwide trading centre to which many people migrated in order to make their riches.
It may be a shock to you, but in 1570 the number of Scottish immigrants in Poland was estimated to be 30,000. This is an immense number of immigrants when compared to the relatively small population of Scotland in the 16th century. One of these migrants was Robert Gordon (1668-1731), later to be the founder of Gordon's Hospital; which is now known as Robert Gordon's College and the Robert Gordon University.
Robert Gordon was a merchant trader during his time in Poland and he was successful from early on in his career. With a fortune of £10,000 amassed in Poland he invested in the rebuilding of Marischal College, lent money to estate owners and funded Robert Gordon's School for Boys.
In his Founder's Day oration of 1935, former Gordonian, Sir Alexander Roger, described presenting to the Polish government a photograph of the letter Robert Gordon wrote in 1700 from Warsaw to the people of Aberdeen, describing his plans to set-up up his hospital, and the reaction from the recipients:
"My Polish audience were more than ordinarily interested to learn what the writer of that letter, with a fortune strenuously acquired from Poland two hundred years ago, had been enabled to found a college in Scotland which today offered inestimable benefit balanced and liberal education to a thousands boys." Aberdeen Press and Journal, 27th April 1935
The image to the left is a reproduction of a painted portrait of Robert Gordon taken from The History of Robert Gordon's Hospital Aberdeen 1729 - 1881 (1896) by Robert Anderson. SIR ALEXANDER CHALMER'S AUTHORATIVE CAREER IN WARSAW
2876 Alexander Chalmers (1645-1703) was born in Aberdeen and migrated to Poland in 1676. Alexander was given the Polish name of "Alexander Czamer". He served as a judge in the coronation parliament of King August II before becoming Warsaw's mayor 4 times.
He was first elected as mayor in 1691. He was subsequently elected in 1694, 1696 and 1702. His duties included levying taxes, collecting rents and sentencing local residents for crimes. It was also said he had:
"Remarkable energy and skill in the conduct of difficult business. He had been the greatest service to the city."
There is now a plaque commemorating his previous home in Warsaw, which now houses a leathercraft museum, at 10 Waski Dunaj Street.
The photograph on the left, of Warsaw's Old Town, is by Pixabay user Websi and is available to download here.
LUCRATIVE BUSINESS IN DANZIG
2878 With the substantial number of Scottish immigrants in Poland a reputation followed. "A Scots pedlar's pack" became a phrase used in Poland. The expression referred to the goods which the Scots had traded. Some of these goods were malt, flax, fruit, handkerchiefs, linen, woollen products, coal, fish and cloth.
As the Scottish minority made a visible contribution to the trade in Danzig, they earned another expression used among the Poles -"Szkot" (which means Scot in Polish). It was an epithet which referred to a business traveller.
The Scottish population in Poland increasingly grew in the 16th century due the career opportunities offered by the country. Areas of Poland consequently show the presence of these Scots. In 1576, Stefan Batory - the king of Poland at the time, designated a sector of Danzig to house Scots. "Nowe Szkoty" (New Scots) is an area in modern day Gdansk which has around 10 Polish villages with street names referencing the Scots who previously lived there.
The image on the left is of Cragievar Castle. This castle was owned by William Forbes. The funding for the property came from the riches he had made in Poland. Rev. John Duncan, D.D.
3128 A photographic portrait of Rev. John Duncan, D.D., minister of Trinity Congregational Church. See the book Rev. John Duncan, D.D.: A Memoir and a Tribute (1909) by J. B. Allan for information on Duncan's life and career.
This reproduction was included as a supplement to the Aberdeen Weekly Journal of Wednesday 28th December 1898. F. G. Main farm portrait
3354 A portrait by photographer F. G. Main of a young man and his horses at an Aberdeenshire farm. This was one of three photographs lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Mr William Finney of Banchory so that we could create and preserve a digital copy for public use. These three photographs were kept by Mr Finney's family and he hopes to find out more about the people shown in them. If you can shed any light on these images please get in touch using the comment button on the left. Mr Finney was born in Turriff and the images likely relate to that area of Aberdeenshire.
Mr Finney believes the figure in the middle of this image may have been called Stephen Lorimer. This is uncertain however, as is any detail of the location shown. The image may relate to a local ploughing competition or event of this nature.
The figure in the background on the right of the image looks a lot like one of the five workers from Pitglassie shown in another of Mr Finney's images. This strongly suggests this image too is taken at, or connected to, the area and farms of Pitglassie in the Parish of Auchterless.
F. G. Main was an Aberdeen based photographer. Searches in old newspapers do not reveal a great deal about his career, however. As indicated on this card, he had premises in the New Market in Aberdeen town centre. Post office directories suggest this was numbers 39 and 40 in the gallery of the New Market.
Main also appears to have been active as the Electric Studio at 66 St. Nicholas Street. Additionally, searches indicate he operated studios at Aberdeen Sea Beach and at 47 Wellgate in Dundee. Richard D. Torrance in his Photographers in North-Eastern Scotland to 1914 (2001) has entries for both a F. G. Main and a Frank Main. These are likely one and the same photographer.
A newspaper notice for the birth of a son in 1914 indicates that F. G. Main lived at 245 Great Western Road at one time. We can find no obituary for the photographer. A cursory search of statutory records reveals that a Frank G. Main died in Aberdeen aged 65 in 1946. This may be the photographer in question. Aberdeen Theatres: Giggles & Girls
3369 A poster for the Tivoli's summer show of 1945. The show, produced by Horace H. Collins, was called Giggles & Girls and is described as "a riot of lasses and laughter".
Performers in the revue included Jack Anthony - "Your Favourite Star Comedian", George Clarkson Jnr. - "The Essence of Personality", Joyce Hampton - "The Young Aberdeen Discovery", Hermon & Constance - "Variety's Vocal Stars", Kaye and Diana Haywood - "Youth and Beauty Personified", Royal Victory Belles, Bertha Ricardo - "The Musical Comedy Miss", Bond Rowell - "The One Man Joy Barrage", Hal Swain and the 3 Swing Sisters - "The Popular Broadcasting Musical Stars".
The orchestra was under the direction of Clifford Jordan. Aberdeen Theatres: J. Scott Skinner
3394 James Scott Skinner (1843-1927) was a violinist and composer born in Banchory-Ternan. He was a regular performer on the stages of the North-East and beyond.
During his career he toured extensively including in North America. He performer as part of Walker & Company, the local cinema pioneers, and his playing was recorded many times.
Skinner was also a prolific and influential composer of violin music, particularly slow strathspeys. He wrote over 700 tunes, some of the most famous include The Bonnie Lass o' Bon Accord, The Cradle Song and The Miller o' Hirn.
He died on 17th March 1927 at his home at 25 Victoria Street, Aberdeen, after an exhausting tour of American. He is buried in Allenvale Cemetery. He wrote about his life in a book called My Life and Adventures.
This photographic portrait of James Scott Skinner is by Morgan of Aberdeen. Skinner stands dressed in formal Highland garb and holding his violin and bow. The image is the frontispiece of an edition of The Harp and Claymore. Underneath the photo his signature is accompanied by the quote "My age is a lusty winter, frostly but kindly". Aberdeen Theatres: Harry Gordon
3395 A photographic portrait of the entertainer Harry Gordon (1893-1957) by Frank Arthur Swaine. Gordon was born in Aberdeen as Alexander Gordon and rose to prominence on the stages of the North-East.
He was known as "The Laird of Inversnecky" and was particularly associated with Aberdeen's Beach Pavilion. Aberdeen Local Studies have a large collection of programmes for his shows. He also played in other venues around Aberdeen like the His Majesty's Theatre and the Music Hall.
Gordon was a pioneer of resident shows in variety theatres in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. He performed extensively in pantomimes, particuarly in Glasgow. He also worked with the BBC in the 1920s and 1930s and produced many records.
His first performance in London was in 1929 at the Palladium and he toured in American in 1948 and 1949.
For more information on his life and career see Harry Gordon: The Laird of Inversnecky by Iain Watson (1993), available at Aberdeen City Libraries. Aberdeen Cinemas: Star Picture Palace
3409 A photograph of the Star Picture Palace at the junction of Park Street and South Constitution Street in the 1920s. The cinema was an undertaking of Bert Hedgley Gates in partnership with his wife Nellie and with financial backing from local businessmen. Bert Gates was among Aberdeen's most influential cinema proprietors. He would go on to be the founding managing director of Aberdeen Picture Palaces, a highly successful company that would play a key role in cinema exhibition in the city.
The ever useful Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson details much of the history of the Star Picture Palace, known as The Star or Starrie, and the activities of Bert Gates. The cinema was converted from the former premises of the Aberdeen East End Mission. Its name was thought to come from a red-stained glass window in the shape of a star that was a legacy of its previous use. The Star's auditorium stood on the south side of South Constitution Street and its entrance, as shown here, was at 23 Park Street, underneath a block of tenements.
The cinema opened in March 1911 and showed a mixture of films and music. Bert and Nellie would stand behind the screen and add dialogue, sound effects and commentary to the silent films being shown. They also added topical references and allusions to well-known local figures. Both had backgrounds as stage artistes and their performances became a popular feature of the Star.
In 1913 the successful cinema was expanded, doubling its capacity, as Aberdeen Picture Palaces acquired the building and some houses to its rear. Thomson states that the remodelled Star was advertised as "Absolutely the Finest and Most Handsome Interior Out of Glasgow".
The Star had direct competition when the Casino cinema opened just around the corner on the north side of Wales Street on 7th February 1916. Thomson suggests that Gates responded to the Casino's popular and innovative cine-variety performances by programming his own varieties and mini revues. These included Miss Madge Belmont, "America's Handcuff Queen" and Birteno's Golden Grotto, "the most gorgeous electrical dance spectacle ever seen in Aberdeen - a display of serpentine and fire dancing by Belle Lumière, with marvellous kaleidoscopic colour effects".
The Star Picture Palace showed its first talkie, King of the Khyber Rifles, on 13th October 1930. In November 1932 the cinema suffered a fire caused by a dropped cigarette. The damage was relatively minor however and only put the Star out of action for a fortnight.
By the beginning of the second world war, the area around the Star was becoming depopulated as housing on Hanover Street and Albion Street was demolished to make way for the new Beach Boulevard. Bert Gates acquired control of the Casino in November 1939 with the idea of combining it with the Star to create one super-cinema that fronted onto the new thoroughfare.
Thomson explains that business was concentrated on the Casino and later that month the Star closed as a cinema for good. In 1939/40 it served as an indoor fun-fair and as the Boulevard Ballroom for the remainder of the war. The Star building was demolished, at the same time as the Casino, in 1971 to make way for a housing development.
Michael Thomson addresses the use of jam-jars for cinema admission in the first appendix to Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988). This includes an account of the Star Picture Palace from Ethel Kilgour who remembered going there as a child. Her description concludes as follows: "It was a great little cinema, jam-jar entry fee and all, and it was a form of escapism for so many children in a world so depressed between the wars".
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson] |