This website has not been updated during 2009, as I’ve been so pre-occupied with my local history site, Sutton Beauty & Heritage, as well as preparing a new site devoted to 1930s Hollywood legend, Herbert Mundin. The latter won’t be online until late January 2010, but do look out for some wonderful pictures of the character actor, who like George Groves was born in St.Helens, England. However, I do have some new Groves photographs which will be appearing here very soon.

A major disappointment at the beginning of 2009, was the realisation that the BFI Cinema 100 plaque that was dedicated to George and Stanley Watkins’ achievements, had been lost. It had been ceremonially unveiled in November 1996 at Warners’ flagship West End cinema in London, four months after a separate plaque had been unveiled in St.Helens. The loss was first discovered by George’s step-daughter Susie, who was brought up by in California by the English movie sound pioneer, always calling him ‘Pappy’.

Susie and her son Marlon, flew to the UK during October 2008 in order to attend ‘The Quiet Little Englishman’, Esther Wilson’s marvellous play on the life of George Groves. After staying in Liverpool for a few days, the pair visited the Warners’ cinema in London, so they could see for themselves the commemorative plaque. They discovered that it was nowhere to be seen, and as it was unveiled by the Association of Motion Picture Sound in association with the British Film Institute, I asked AMPS to investigate.

Hilda and Molly Watkins unveil the plaque in London's West End watched by Peter Dobson

Brian Hickin of AMPS contacted Warners who undertook a thorough investigation. They reported that they’d sold their cinema chain, including their flagship Leicester Square cinema, to SBC International Cinemas in 2003, who’d re-branded them all as Vue. A re-development had taken place at the West End theatre, the plaque had been removed and it was never returned. No one knows where it is now, as Warners’ spokesman commented:

“Unfortunately, we are unable to come up with any clues as to its whereabouts. Even searching in the out of the way nooks and crannies of the cinema has not yielded results.”

As George Groves’ sister Hilda Barrow and Bob Allen of AMPS, who were both instrumental in organising the plaque unveiling, are no longer with us, the family have taken the decision not to consider a replacement.

When the St.Helens plaque was unveiled in June 1996, Hilda told me that the commemoration of her brother’s work was the highlight of her life. That plaque was sensibly installed by St.Helens Film Society high up on a wall of the former barbershop, at the corner of Duke Street and Hamer Street. So far, it’s evaded any efforts by vandals and thieves to damage or remove it. As long as the St.Helens plaque remains on the house of George’s birthplace as a physical reminder of George’s achievements, the family will be satisfied. Plus they have their memories of the London event, which can never be erased.

In saying that, if anyone knows anything about the whereabouts of the missing plaque, please do contact this website.

So what else happened in 2009? Well the year began with a nice email from Claus Wiedemann:

“What a wonderful website, what a myriad of information! I had worked at the WB Sound Dept. from 1987 to 2001 and had heard some of the stories but none as authentic as they are presented on your site. Thank you!!!”

Nice to be validated by some one who’d worked in the sound department at Warners!Also I was contacted in January by Jay Glennie who for the last three years has been researching and gathering content for a new online resource chronicling British Oscar recipients. His project has received backing from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and the UK Government via the UK Film Council. Of course, George had to be included, so images and audio history recordings were despatched to Jay.

In April, The Jolson Journal, the twice-yearly publication of the International Al Jolson Society, published a four page article on George, with four pictures of him posing with Jolie. All the content was supplied by this website, of course, and the Society kindly sent complementary copies of the journal to the Groves family and myself. What a marvellous publication it is, with 68 glossy, A4 pages which contain some fabulous photographs and articles! Well worth joining the Society alone for.

In August the Australian Centre for the Moving Image requested a high resolution copy of the photograph of George with his friend Al Jolson, posing together with the Mammy playback turntables. This is being used in an exhibition entitled Screen Worlds: the story of film, television and digital culture. The exhibition is free and will last ten years. So if you find yourself in Melbourne over the next decade, drop it and see it!

Also in August the International Sound and Cinetechnicans Local 695 requested images for their quarterly publication. Again complementary copies were despatched by the organisation of sound technicians in Hollywood and the cover looks really great!

At the end of the month, a New Zealand organisation of 140 film enthusiasts who’d mainly worked in the film industry, got in touch requesting photographs. Warren Smyth wrote:

“I started as a film editor years ago and found your site on George Groves one of the most fascinating accounts I have read…may I thank you so much for the wonderful information you have provided to the world. We would like to share a small part of this with some elderly folk who are not computer literate and don't have access to the internet. Some of these are collectors who have early theatre equipment.”

In November, a new pub opened in St.Helens. Not an earth-shattering event, but of interest to this website because it came close to being named after George Groves. Pub chain JD Wetherspoon considered calling their new hostelry on Chalon Way West ‘The Jazz Singer’, before plumping for ‘The Running Horses’, after an 18th century coaching inn that stood near the site. The pub’s décor has a strong element of heritage, with photographs and information boards on the history and characters of St Helens. These include George Groves as well as Sir Thomas Beecham and 19th century murderer Frederick Deeming.

In his eighteen hours of oral history for the American Film Institute, George begins by talking about his home town of St.Helens and Sir Thomas Beecham, who was born in the town. I wonder what he'd make of being celebrated alongside the great conductor, as well as a serial killer!

Finally, by sheer accident whilst in the St.Helens Local History Archives in November, I came across an article in the St.Helens Reporter on George Groves’ first marriage to singer Clemence Apperson. In describing the wedding as a “spectacular affair”, the article said “many leading figures of filmland” were present and Warners Studios’ own orchestra played for the happy couple. Composer Sigmund Romberg arranged a special coach for their honeymoon.

Thanks to all have contacted me during 2009. Do feel free to get in touch if you require hi-res images for your media project or if you have any queries. Have a happy new year!

Stephen Wainwright
Site Owner

Zho Visual Theatre have announced that The Quiet Little Englishman - the theatrical production based on the life of George Groves - will open in Liverpool on October 15th with ten performances staged over two weeks. As previously reported in this blog, it's written by Esther Wilson and is her second European Capital of Culture commission. Her first, Ten Tiny Toes at the Liverpool Everyman in June explored the conflicts experienced by returning soldiers and received very favourable reviews. (see Independent, Guardian, Telegraph).

The historic and disused Park Palace music hall / cinema where the production is being staged, has required a considerable amount of refurbishment to make it fit for theatrical purpose once again, but director Paula Simms tells this website that "the venue is coming along nicely and is almost ready".

A dedicated Quiet Little Englishman page will be added to this site over the next few days but for the moment here are the dates and ticket info:

Dates:   Wednesday 15th - Sunday 19th October
                  Wednesday 22nd - Sunday 26th October
Showtime:    7.45pm      Tickets:    £10 (£7 concessions)
Venue:   The Park Palace (on the corner of Park Street & Mill Street), Liverpool, L8 6QN.
Booking Information:   Unity Theatre Box Office: 0151 709 4988
Websites:  Unity Theatre Website    Zho Visual Theatre Website

There was a three minute report on the Quiet Little Englishman production on the BBC earlier this year which can be viewed from one of these links:
High Quality Windows Media      Very High Quality QuickTime Media
Low Quality Windows Media for slower connections   
(Nb. This material is © BBC MMVIII)

The Quiet Little Englishman is a play by Esther Wilson about the life and achievements of George Groves and it's being produced by Zho Visual Theatre. It's one of the eleven 'Liverpool Commissions' which were made last year by the Liverpool Culture Company as part of the Liverpool '08 European Capital of Culture celebrations.

The director is Paula Simms who reports that the production's premiere will be on October 16th, with a likely preview on the 15th. The venue is going to be an old cinema called the Park Palace which is located in Mill Street in the Dingle area of Liverpool.

It has quite a history, having been designed by architect J H Havelock-Sutton and built on the site of an old coach works at a cost of £5,000. It opened in December 1893 as a music hall called Park Palace of Varieties with a seating capacity of 1100 and in Kelly's 1894 directory was described as:

"...an edifice of brick with an imposing front panelled red bricks and terracotta. A large sunlight hangs from the ceiling. The building is supplied with ample entrances and exits and is ventilated to the latest principles."

In 1904 King Edward VII visited the theatre and the Royal coat of arms was subsequently installed above the proscenium. Like many other music halls it began to screen films as novelties in between acts. These proved to be so popular that by 1911 it had abandoned variety and was converted into a fully-fledged cinema. It had a seating capacity of 950 and in 1930 it was adapted to exhibit sound films.

The Park Palace (pictured left in 2004) finally closed its doors in March 1959 as its attendances were hit hard by the popularity of television.

Zho are turning the old building into a temporary venue for the event and the company are also making a documentary drama film about its history with contributions from the local community as Paula explains:
"Many of the people we have been interviewing remember it well and talk about the early days of cinema with great fondness. It's a great project to work on and a lot of people have told us that although it was a bit of a flea pit it was the preferred cinema because it had the best sound, so it seems right to do it there."

The BBC have also been filming at the old building and have approached this website for photographs of George for a forthcoming broadcast piece. Zho have just appointed a marketing and press coordinator and with a recent article in the St.Helens Star, it looks like George Groves' achievements are about to be given even more exposure. Watch this space for more on this exciting project!