The Pavilion

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The Pavilion

A poster from 1931 for The New Pavilion at Aberdeen beach. The poster lists many of the acts performing as part of Harry Gordon's Entertainments and gives a start date of 29th June. The box office for the theatre is given as Paterson, Sons, & Marr Wood, 183 Union Street.

In 1908 a young Harry Gordon won a talent competition at the Pavilion and so began his association with the theatre. He entertained visitors at the Beach Pavilion throughout the 1920s and 30s with his stories about the imaginary village of Inversnecky and songs such as "The Auldest Aiberdonian", "Hilly's Man" and "The Rodin Tree".

The Pavilion was closed during the Second World War, though reopened in 1946. Harry Gordon had given up his tenancy by this point. In the 1950s it was advertised as "the city's variety house by the golden sands presenting a bright and breezy variety show with well-known Radio and TV stars".

Resident comedians included Dave Willis and George Lacey and there were occasional appearances by future stars such as Julie Andrews. Plays were performed and films shown throughout the summer months.

In 1962 the Pavilion was re-named the Gaiety and became a licensed restaurant, public bar and lounge. It functioned as a restaurant in the Queens Links leisure complex until the remnants of the original building were destroyed by fire in 2014.

Poster

HD01_15

Theatre

Aberdeen Local Studies

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