HARRY McKelvie was a Glasgow character, a programme seller and bill poster at the Royal Princess’s Theatre who worked his way up through the ranks.
He became the brains and creative genius behind the venue’s panto – at the time, the longest-running in the UK and eventually inherited the place, becoming its manager.
Harry, who was also a shareholder and director of the Olympia Theatre at Bridgeton Cross, would often arrive in a horse and carriage, and throw flowers to the locals.
When he fell ill, he offered tenancy of the Royal Princess’s Theatre to James Bridie, Scotland’s best known playwright and later founder of the RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.)
The venue was renamed the Citizens Theatre and officially opened in its new, Gorbals home this week in 1945.
On September 11, the opening performance in front of invited VIPs was the company’s own production of JB Priestley’s Johnson Over Jordan.
Our sister newspaper The Glasgow Herald reported: “In presenting JB Priestley’s Johnson Over Jordan as their first production in their new home, the Princess’s Theatre Glasgow, the Citizens Theatre management have shown courage, as the play will not be everybody’s meat.
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“The opening performance at any theatre is regarded as a memorable and notable occasion and one in which the audience assesses the merits of the entertainment and this determines the success or failure of the season.”
However, the bold step paid off, agreed the newspaper.
“Before a large and distinguished audience, the reception accorded the production indicates that the courage of the directors has been fully justified and the future of the Citizens Theatre assured.”
It continued: “A 10 year lease has been taken of the Princess’s which has been redecorated and the seating accommodation and amenities improved. When the final curtain fell last night the Lord Provost of Glasgow Mr James Welsh said that the development of a movement of very great importance and consequence to the citizens of Glasgow was being witnessed.”
Seventy-seven years later, and the Citizens is coming to the end of a multi-million pound redevelopment which will modernise the building and reveal some of its hidden heritage, including the Victorian auditorium at the heart of the site, its rare collection of original 19th century stage machinery and a unique example of a working paint frame, which allows the artist to stand still and paint the scenery moving up and down through a slot in the floor.
There has been a theatre on the site since 1878, when it opened its doors as His Majesty’s Theatre and Opera House.
The majority of the substage machinery appears to date from this time, including corner traps and stage bridges.
It was one of four theatres in the area at that time – the others were what is now the Carling Academy, the Coliseum and the Palace (formerly adjacent to the Citz) – but it closed within a year due to bankruptcy.
It reopened in 1880 as the Royal Princess’s Theatre, designed by Campbell Douglas, a friend of Alexander Greek Thompson. The building shared an exterior with the Palace which featured columns taken from the Union Bank in Ingram Street and several large statues which were the work of Glasgow sculptor John Mossman.
The building was operated by Richard Waldon as director manager until he died in 1922. The theatre was then inherited by Harry McKelvie.
The Citizens Theatre Company was formed in 1943 and was led by James Bridie, at that time Scotland’s best known playwright and later founder of the RSAMD.
The company took residence in the Gorbals in 1945 and the building was renamed The Citizens Theatre.
In 1946, the theatre heating and ventilation system was modernised and a new set of decorative grilles were installed into the auditorium. The Glasgow Evening Times reported that “next winter, patrons of the Citizens Theatre will be able to leave their overcoats in the cloakroom and sit in a warm and draught-free auditorium.”
The Palace Theatre next door was knocked down in 1977 by order of the City Council, with very little notice given. Citizens Theatre staff went in overnight and saved some of the features of the building including the statues of the four muses, William Shakespeare and Robert Burns from the exterior as well as the elephants from the interior.
Share your memories and photos of the Citz - email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk.
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