MILTON BODE


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ASSOCIATES/BUSINESS PARTNERS/EMPLOYEES




SIR GEORGE ALEXANDER

Milton transacted his provincial business for him

MR LAWRENCE BOOTH

Chester

MR. E.H. BULL

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

FREDERICK BALSIR CHATTERTON

Actor/manager 1834-1886
Early employer in theatre.

EDWARD COMPTON

Huddersfield, Kennington, Chester

ROBERT COURTNEIDGE

Theatre Royal, Bristol

WENTWORTH CROKE

With Edward Compton and Croke, Milton leased the Garrick Theatre for a short season.
Croke ventured into partnership with Wilfrid Cotton and Clyde Meynell (of Australian firm Clarke Meynell & Gunn) and introduced them to Milton & Edward Compton. They were partners in the Australian operation from 1907. “Through Bode the Australian firm had additional access to the Robert Arthur suburban circuit”
. Milton to visit Australia Feb 1910 ??

COLET DARE

1897 Appeared in Milton Bode’s Company at Theatre Royal Sheffield in “The French Maid”
1901 Managed Theatre Royal at Eastbourne.

CHARLES ST JOHN DENTON

On passenger list with Milton for RMS Tartar sailing from Southampton to Madeira 29/8/1896
March 1907 Firm of Denton Milton Bode & Mackenzie formed “to acquire Australian & Australasian acting rights in certain musical plays”

JOHN HART

1908 Managing director & licensee of the Theatre and Opera House, Leeds.
“Milton Bode & John Hart’s Opera Company”
1911 Joint managing director of Prince of Wales Theatre, Birmingham

WILLIAM RITCHIE KING

Made manager at Dalston when Milton moved his headquarters from there to Reading.
Ran Leicester theatre for Milton then took over as manager from Douglas Millar at Theatre Royal, Bristol.

MRS VICTORIA LANCASTER (formerly Mrs Victoria Dorling)

Milton left her property in his will – 34 Abercorn Place, St Johns Wood, NW8

DAN LENO


VIRGINIA MACKENZIE

Widow of Edward Compton. After Compton’s death his widow continued in partnership with Milton until 1922 when she sold her shares back to him.

DOUGLAS MILLAR

Manager & co-proprietor at Theatre Royal, Bristol

FRED NEEBE

First employer in theatre

GABRIELLE RAY

A Gaiety favourite of Edwardian days.
Recommended to Milton by Compton Mackenzie after seeing her in Red Riding Hood at the Lyric Opera House, Hammersmith, Christmas 1899. Milton booked her as Principal Girl for 3 years.

CLARKSON ROSE

Pantomime dame. “Possibly the most famous pantomime dame of all” according to Alton Douglas. King Water Rat 1958.
Milton gave him his first job in pantomime at Brighton 1915.

GEORGE M. SLATER

Old friend. Principle mourner at Milton’s funeral along with Robert Watts, secretary.

OTHO STUART


CHARLES THORBURN

Of Hotel Tryall Ltd, Sandy Bay, Jamaica (Milton’s “producer and stage manager”)
The Daily Gleaner


DIRECTORSHIPS/OTHER BUSINESS DEALS


THEATRES MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.LTD

EAGLE, STAR & BRITISH DOMINIONS INSURANCE CO.LTD

GROSVENOR SKATING RINK, CITY ROAD, CHESTER, c 1909
Advertisements in TMA journal list American Rink Chester
Dec 1922-June 1924

READING GREYHOUND RACING STADIUM
In its early years (also mention in one obituary of White City London???)

DENTON MILTON BODE & MACKENZIE
14/3/1907 “formed to acquire Australian & Australasian acting rights in certain musical plays”.

“The Girl Behind the Counter” – Frank Curzon sold rights to St John Denton 26/2/1907
“Miss Hook of Holland” - Frank Curzon sold rights to St John Denton 26/2/1907
“The Belle of Mayfair” – Leslie Steward, Charles H.E. Brookfield, Messrs A & S Gatti, Charles Froham, Messrs Francis Day & Hunter – sold rights to Milton & Thomas Mackenzie for 5 years 5/4/1907

All these were then sold to the company 31/3/1907
Company went into liquidation (voluntarily) 1911

READING BOARD OF GUARDIANS

FOUNDATION MEMBER OF READING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ROBERT COURTNEIDGE LTD

THE IRVING THEATRE LTD
1909-1913

HB IRVING LTD
(1916 Who’s Who in Theatre) - Director

SPENCERS WOOD, SHINFIELD (FORMERLY PART OF HILL HOUSE ESTATE)
Milton financed purchase of land and buildings on western side of main road from Reading to Basingstoke in July 1925 for purchase price of £2700.
July 1925 – House sold to Commander Douglas Browne for £2800.
In August 1925 he sold the bungalow, brooder house & building on the land called Oaklands Poultry Farm to Evelyn Bligh Gunston, wife of Derrick Wellesley Gunston of 12 Chester St, London, army captain for £2000.
October 1925 – petitioned for bankruptcy against solicitors for not passing on payment from Commander Browne.
In February 1926 he sold part of the land containing 32 acres 3 roods and 27 poles to Arthur Newbery for £2000.
In June 1927 he conveyed another part to Edward Duncan Fraser & Cecil Herbert Russell as joint tenants (price not known).

BANDMAN OPERA COMPANY
26/4/1902 The Gleaner, Jamaica
“It may be interesting for our readers to know that Mr Bandman has considered arrangements with Mr George Edwardes, Mr George Dance, Mr Milton Bode & Mr George R Simms for the sole & exclusive Mediterranean, West Indies & S.American rights of all their plays for a number of years to come..”

THEATRICAL MANAGER’S ASSOCIATION
Formed in 1894, but minutes only available from 1910 onwards. At this point Milton is already a provincial member.

AGM held in Adelaide Room Friday February 12th 1915
Amendment moved by Mr Warden
Seconded by Mr Glover
“that it would be to the interest of the Association if the members who on account of the number of their theatres are the largest subscribers to the funds* of the association (viz Messrs Wyndham, Hart & Bode) would be willing to be Vice Presidents. Messrs Wyndham & Bode stated that they would rather not accept office and the Chairman being reminded that Mr Hart had refused to serve on a former occasion the amendment was not put and the original resolution was carried.” (original resolution – “moved by Mr Bode, seconded by Mr Fredericks, that Fred Terry & Mr Tom B Davies be Vice Presidents, also that Mr Redfern be re-elected & Mr Elliston).

*1919 accounts show subscriptions paid by Milton:
County Theatre Reading £ 5 5s 0d
Opera House Leicester £10 10s 0d
Theatre Royal Leicester £ 5 5s 0d
Opera House Northamton £ 5 5s 0d
Royalty Chester £ 5 5s 0d

Autumn General Meeting Friday 12th November 1915.
Moved by Mr Kelly and resolved that Mr Milton Bode be a Vice President. Carried.

AGM March 18th 1920
Letter from Mr Milton Bode
“expressing a wish to resign his Vice Presidency” but was carried unanimously that all four Vice Presidents be re-elected.

AGM March 17th 1921
“Mr Milton Bode wrote resigning his Vice Presidency owing to his inability in future to attend the meetings. The resignation was accepted with regret”.

1922 Association becomes a limited company.
Milton is shown as a director.

Last meeting attended my Milton was on Thursday 15th November 1928 at 52 Shaftesbury Avenue W1
Absence regrets received until 17th April 1930
Listed as a honorary member in journal of 1933

Monthly general meeting. 20th January 1938
“The late Mr Milton Bode. Mrs Milton Bode acknowledged with thanks the expression of condolence from the President, Council and members of the assn. on the death of her husband”