Colin Wheeler Remembers…….We bought the Palace

Jack, on leaving the army where he held the rank of Major came, together with his first wife Phyllis, to live in Redditch in 1947. He immediately took out a lease on the Cosy Cinema, Studley, which he operated for a short period before also acquiring a lease on the Palace Theatre from its owner Teddy Wilkinson. He was the manager of the Palace from 1947 to 1951.

He was a larger-than-life character and from day one set out bring an enthusiastic, to style of management never before, to the theatre. With previous Knowledge of the town, he was determined to revitalise the Palace, which had been going through a chequered period during the war years. He presented a wide variety of productions six nights a week in order to gauge the demand of the Redditch public, but he resisted the temptation to present nude shows, which were popular at that time.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of the legitimate theatre and encouraged the Midland Theatre Company, which alternated with a week at Kidderminster. one at Coventry and then back to Redditch. He presented a resident repertory company which, together with visiting professional variety and revue companies, filled in the vacant weeks. During this period, some (later) very famous names learned their craft. Among the performers were Geoffrey Kendal and his wife Laura Liddell. Their better-known daughter Felicity appeared on stage as a babe in arms at the age of six weeks and again, aged three, when she appeared as an Indian boy in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Also in the cast were Graham Stark. Bernard Cribbins *, Anthony Quayle, Alfred Burke and N Fraser. Although Jack persisted over a long period with these actors, he soon learned the hard financial lesson that only a tiny minority of Redditch folk would support live theatre.

Jack was very supportive of local talent and enthusiastically supported local operatic groups, charity concerts, and in particular Elsie Siddele Downing's Stage School. I can see him now, standing in the foyer, resplendent in his dress suit, personally welcoming as many patrons as possible.

Jack was always game for a laugh and would always be willing to take an active part in any publicity stunt to attract business. I remember when after a  week of capacity business for the Frank Randle Show, he did, in response to a dare, a stylish tap dance on stage in front of the whole company.