MILTON BODE


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THEATRES



Prince of Wales Theatre, Birmingham


1911 John Hart in association with Milton Bode was acting as managing director

Theatre Royal, Brighton


1909 Lessee with Edward Compton. Appointed Robert Lawson Lambert as manager.
First action of new management was, with consent of Directors, to reduce price of all seats at all but star performances, except for the ampitheatre and gallery.
Pantomime was Milton Bode’s “Red Riding Hood”

1910 Redecoration due under terms of lease dated 1904. Bode & Compton tried to get out of this, but Directors refused. Theatre completely redecorated during usual month’s closure in June or July.
Pantomime was Milton’s “Cinderella”

1911 Milton’s pantomime was “His Cat and Dick Whittington”

1912 Lease due to expire. Bode & Compton offered to renew this if rent reduced from £2,850 a year to £2,000 & insurance lowered to £21,000. Directors of theatre not willing to go below £2,650 so tenancy collapsed on 25th March 1911.
22/2/1911 - a fire broke out in one of the dressing rooms (reported at 2:10am).
Milton agreed to produce pantomime at Christmas in return for 60% of takings. This arrangement was repeated until 1916.
Directors took back direct control, employing Lawson Lambert as manager (at his suggestion).

1913 Claim for dilapidations (resulting from fire) amounting to £2,561 was still outstanding against Bode & Compton and their guarantors, John Henry Sparrow & the executors of Robert Halford, who had recently died. This was “probably settled” for about £2,000

1915 Pantomime was “Sinbad the Sailor”. Bode gave Clarkson Rose (later “probably the most famous pantomime dame of all”) his first job in pantomime - the part of Prince Abdullah.

Theatre Royal, Bristol


1925 Milton buys theatre in partnership with Robert Courtneidge & Douglas Millar.
12 July 1929 Millar sells his share to Courtneidge & Milton
Dec 1931 William King “who had been running Leicester theatre for Milton Bode” replaces Millar as manager.
7 April 1938 Note to deeds states that after Milton’s death “title is now vested in R.Courtneidge & Mrs Bode”

Her Majesty's Theatre, Carlisle


1895 Milton ran the theatre with Mr R. Stewart McKim (Milton = sole lessee & manager, McKim = resident manager)
1903 Bode ended the partnership
1904 McKim died and the theatre burned down. When it was rebuilt it was run by McKim’s widow & Thomas Courtice who had managed it for Bode & McKim from 1900-1902

Royalty Theatre, Chester


1900 Weekly Despatch dated 21/1/1900 describes Milton as “connected with Chester”
The Era states that Milton has theatre in Chester
1905 Bode & Compton secure control (along with Lawrence Booth of Chester) from James ‘Jas’ Carter
Managers in this time included Mr McKim, Mr Andrews, Mr Fontaine, Mr H.Norcott
Milton purchased the adjoining site on which to build a Hippodrome capable of accommodating 4000 people. The project received great opposition principally from parsons & publicans. So he erected the Grosvenor Skating Rink. Mr H Norcott was manager of this.
1922 Milton is “sole owner” . Manager = H. Norcott
? (1934?) Sells theatre to Mr Edmund Keyes

New Theatre, Dalston


The theatre was built by Compton and Bode.
25/7/1898 Dalston Theatre opens with “Davy Garrick”. The first “safety theatre”.
Architects = Messrs Wylson & Long of 10 King William St, The Strand, London
Dalston was a disaster at first - it loses money heavily in the first year. In 1899 Bode reassured Mrs Compton that a new policy of lower prices and providing nothing but strong melodrama and musical comedy would turn the tables. Also that they were going to send out Dan Leno in Orland Dando, a musical comedy written specially for him, which was to have its premiere at Dalston. This was a gamble which did not pay off. Leno could not adapt his stage genius to the disciplines required by musical comedy and the piece was not a success.
Bode first made headquarters at Dalston, then moved to Reading leaving William Ritchie King as manager at Dalston
1900 still associated with Dalston (Weekly Dispatch)

Theatre Royal, Eastbourne


1888 19-21 Nov Milton’s first appearance in a play called “Called Back”. He played part of Dr Cenari.
1899 Brought the play “Tommy Atkins” to the theatre in August.
1901 Under Milton’s management (Gowland’s street directory) . Local manager was Colet Dare.

Theatre Royal, Huddersfield


1989 Milton took out long lease starting April 1900. It faced competition from a new theatre then being erected by the Northern Theatre Company.
1900 Theatre closed for 11 months for alterations valued at £5000 (providing better exits, improved lavatory accommodation, more ventilation and fireproof staircases). Reopened 11th March 1901 with “The Cruise of HMS Irresponsible” - a musical play featuring the famous comedian Arthur Robert.
Shortly after reopening Milton was joined by Edward Compton
Aug 1915 Bode & Compton introduced twice nightly system whenever the length of play permitted
The Bode-Compton management of the theatre was consistent rather than spectacular. It had no pretension or wish to raise the theatre above the status suitable to a “no.2” town. The theatre was fortunate to be in the hands of two men whose love of drama was stronger than their business acumen to “cash in” on either the popularity of the music-hall or the cinema.
The theatre passed to Alfred Wareing

Kennington Theatre (Princess of Wales)


Sep 1912 Milton took over management with Edward Compton from Robert Arthur (who got into financial difficulties building the theatre)
Feb 1918 Compton took over sole control

Theatre Royal, Leamington Spa


1903-10 Lessee with Edward Compton

Theatre Royal AND The Opera House, Leicester


Feb 1906 Milton took over 2 theatres both run by Col. Winstanley
Sep 1906 Lease of the Theatre Royal granted to Milton & Compton. They soon asked the proprietor for permission to reduce the prices of the pit & the gallery. Refused but in 1907 agreed if took lease for further 3 years.
1906-1924 No regular adverts in local paper (to save money?)
Allowed to perform twice nightly
1917 Smoking permitted during performances
1918 After Compton’s death Milton continued to run the Opera House on his own.
Lease granted to Milton & renewed 1924
Oct 1921 Meeting held at County Rooms to discuss possibility of forming committee to run rep session at the Opera House by arrangement with Milton. He made arrangements for the Birmingham Rep Co. to appear at the Opera House & they did in May 1922.
1932 Sold the Opera House to Mr Prince Littler

Grand Theatre Llandudno


5.8.1901 Theatre opened under the directorship of Milton “one of the best known managers in the theatrical world”. Had a “long lease”. Theatre opened with “Davy Garrick” performed by Compton Comedy Company.
Built with fire regulations in mind.
Local manager is Mr Stanley Rogers
From The Stage 8/8/1901
“the theatre is built in a good position but rather far away from the pier….”
“Llandudno may now boast that it has one of the best constructed and most beautiful theatres in the country. Mr Milton Bode has obtained an unrestricted excise license…”
“A large audience, including the officer of HMS Cleopatra, were present at the opening....After the second act Mr Compton, in well chosen words, introduced Mr Bode, the lessee, to the audience.”

Garrick Theatre, London


June 1910
“..passes temporarily into the hands of 3 provincial managers Wentworth Croke, Milton Bode & Edward Compton who have arranged to produce…’Billy’s Bargain’. Croke and his comrades have only got the theater till the end of the year and should ‘Billy’s Bargain’ go down they have a new play by Hall Caine to follow. On termination of their lease, Arthur Bourchier & Herbert Sleath again take up the running..”
Nebraska State Journal

30/10/1910
“There has been a good deal of friction in connection with the Garrick Theater lately. As you have already been informed Hall Caine’s latest effort ‘The Bishop’s Son’ was withdrawn there after a week’s run although his contract stipulated for a minimum of 50 performances. Then came the question of what would the present tenants, Milton Bode, Edward Compton & Wentworth Croke do with the house? The last mentioned was quickly ruled out on financial considerations. Apparently the two remaining parties could find nothing satisfactory of their own to put into the program and were compelled consequently to look round for someone to take their place. During the past week two would-be occupants have presented themselves, the first Jerome K Jerome…” “..on the other hand Herbert Sleath is intent upon trying his luck at the Garrick with the late Clyde Fitch’s ‘A Fool There Was’. Meanwhile the doors of the Garrick remain closed and the rent runs on. I can imagine that Sir W.S. Gilbert, the ground landlord, views the situation with no very favourable eye for it cannot increase the value of his property to have it hawked about in the market as it has been done for some time past.”
Nebraska State Journal

Northampton Opera House


1903 Milton took over management with Edward Compton, buying it from Edmund Lockwood & James Dangerfield

Free List was permanently suspended (i.e. free admission for people in public houses and shops in return for displaying theatre bills). Northamptonshire Licensed Trades Association recommended members not to exhibit Opera House bills unless Bode changed his tune.

Half price admission introduced for first time for entry at 9 o’clock or 9:15. Fifty years earlier the evening had consisted of 2 or 3 major plays and some songs so admission at that time made sense, but not at this time when there was only one play a night. Led to a drunken rabble spoiling the pleasure of those already there & upset the entertainers but meant extra pennies and so suited Bode.

Inaugural manger was Mr W.J. Andrews

Bode applied the maxim learned to his cost at Dalston “give ‘em melodrama”

1905 Early in the year there was “an absence of consistent advertising and editorial coverage” - either Bode and his manager had fallen out with the press or else he had an economy drive to meet “the times”. Regular advertising recommenced in Aug 1906.

1906 Mr Harry Esden left the mangership in July and duties were taken over temporarily by Bode’s general manager, Mr Reginald Taylor. New manager appointed a few weeks later was another of Bode’s right-hand men, Mr Frank Seddon. Had been with Bode for 12 years with special responsibility for music. Wrote all the music for Bode’s pantomimes.

1908 At Easter began introduction of twice-nightly variety. Such a move was usually a sure sign that the theatre was not prospering. Smoking allowed during variety period. Variety lasted until 1912

Strike for better pay by the band lasted 23 weeks - part of a country-wide agitation for improved wages for musicians of the pit. Jan-Aug. The Northampton Independent 7/8/1909 - Bode “refused to undertake any of what we would now term ‘meaningful negotiations’ with the strikers”

From Aug 1914 to Aug 1916 Manager was Mr William Ritchie King, who was succeeded by Mr Knight-Pearse who moved here from the Reading Theatre.

1918 Tom A Evans left the managerial set at the Opera House after nearly 2 years to be replaced by William Ritchie King who returned from the Kennington Theatre.

1919 In February Opera House management was taken over by Mr C.G. Collet-Grattan a former manager of the Compton Comedy Company who had then joined Milton Bode. The theatres he had managed included the Grand at Wolverhampton where his two children died in infancy and were buried. He died of pneumonia after 7 months at Northampton and was also buried in Wolverhampton.

1920 Accounts book shows that in April £275 was paid to Milton “on account of expenses”

In May Opera House patrons were asked to sign a petition protesting against a bit of bureaucracy forbidding the sale of chocolate in theatres after 8pm
Virginia Compton sold her interest in five theatres to Milton. She had found it impossible to get on with Milton.

1921 Accounts at start of new financial year and season there is an entry on the income side “From M.Bode’s Capital Account £250” so it would appear that Milton had to send money to keep things afloat.

1922 The accounts book shows that during the 7-week vacation the manager J.H. Turner received £1 5s 9d expenses for travelling to Reading (to see the boss?). The same year a supply of chocolates left over at the end of the season were sent on to the Leicester theatre, the carriage on £5 5s 2d worth being a mere 2s 1d
In December voting slips were issued to the audience. Headed “Opera House, Northampton”, it read “ Milton Bode has been approached on the matter of smoking in the theatre during the season of first-class plays, with the exception of operas, Shakespearean and similar serious plays, and is anxious to meet the desires and convenience of the patrons as far as possible. THEREFORE Milton Bode will be glad if patrons of the above house will please vote on the matter according to their wishes, stating both name and address as evidence of good faith and hand this in, or post it to him as soon as possible.”

1924 After term of 4 years J.H. Turner was succeeded as manager by Mr Frank Esmond who came from the Bode headquarters at the County Theatre Reading.

Sells to “New Theatre (Northampton) Syndicate” with which Mr Walter Simmons, for many years connected with the Palace Theatre, Reading, was associated”

Royal Clarence Theatre, Pontypridd


1901 Kelly’s Directory lists Milton as proprietor (someone else listed in 1895 & 1906 editions). Also mentioned in The Era Feb 1901

Royal County Theatre, Reading


1897 Milton became lessee & manager taking over from Ormsby Trench. There were 40 applicants for the lease. Four years later he became sole proprietor and manager. Bode’s successful policies meant it could operate on a year-round basis.
1911 Edward Compton becomes co-lessee
Milton was in partnership for some years with Mrs Walter (M.A.) Simmons who later was associated with the Rex Cinema, Reading. Her late husband’s illness necessitated her relinquishing her interests in the Royal County Theatre. Milton started her in her theatrical career by giving her a part in the pantomime “Babes in the Wood” at the Theatre Royal Cardiff (many years before she went into partnership)
1931 Theatre bought by Mr R.J. Langley

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton


1901 Weekly Despatch 21/1/1900 “…the playhouse will be under their joint management, Mr Bode booking the companies…”
Lessee & manager (with Mr.E.H. Bull) - also confirmed on poster dated 14.9.1903. This poster for the play “Sherlock Holmes” shows the part of Billy being played by a very young Charles Chaplin.
1914 Pantomime programme still lists Milton as being co-lessee with E.H. Bull

Theatre Royal, York