Local Venues

In 1900/1926 Swansea Town, as it was known then, was one of the best musical resorts in Wales.

Many singers, comics, dancers and different acts were active doing such a lot for charities.

Prominent places were The Palace, The Empire, the Albert Hall, the Bird in the Hand in High Street, Ty Melyn in High Street, Swansea's Liberal clubs, The Star Theatre in Wind Street, Libanus Hall, Morriston, Lockley's Restaurant, Cottage Homes in Cockett, the York Hotel in the centre, the Adam and Eve in High Street, the New Pavilion Mumbles, the Picturedrome Morriston, and the Bush Hotel in High Street, as well as The Mackworth Hotel in High Street, The Globe in Clydach, and of course The Grand Theatre in town, the Market Restaurant in Oxford Street, and many more places.

Entertainers

They included, Tom Owen, Walter Collins, Gus Davies and his wife, Alfred Thomas, Larry Warner, Dick Crocker, Dick Lewis, Dennis Davies, Harry Devine, Freddy Warner, Cyril Steel, Harry Morton, Arthur Smith, Irene Doherty, Hadyn Warner, Cyril Devine, Griff Charles, Willie Thomas, Syd Jones, James Harper, Joe Dennis, Fred Waddinton, Luther Davies, Agnes Clark, Edith Jones, Kate Eden, Rhoda Lovering, Lizzy Brown and others.

These are just a few who entertained Swansea patrons on the stages in those days and brought happiness to all who shared the music, songs and general entertainment.

The Bioscope draws the crowds

The arrival of the "Bioscope Exhibition" attracted more people to the shows, with performers singing alongside the film as it played.

The Palace was a big centre for the Bioscope. It was always filled to the limit with people eager to watch and listen to the fabulous entertainment every night of the week.

William Coutts owned The Star in Wind Street Swansea, and his right-hand man and good friend was Larry Warner, who became manager of several premises.

Larry was a dancer and singer. He spent a lot of time doing charity shows and a Gala Show was put on for him by William at the Albert Hall.

It brought Larry £100 which, as he said, was enough to buy a horse and trap allowing him to get around much more easily.

By 1915 Larry was managing The Globe in Clydach, where people flocked to see the shows he put on.

Then he was called up. After the war Larry Warner could not find a position until 1921 when he was asked to go back to the new Globe in Clydach, again as the manager and he went on to become the manager of the Patti Pavilion until he retired in 1948.

Doug Warner