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City Varieties theatre hosts Music Hall shows 150 150 mhamer

City Varieties theatre hosts Music Hall shows

The Good Old Days show at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds

Jimmy Cricket went back in time when he appeared on the opening weekend of the autumn 2016 season at the world-famous City Varieties Music Hall theatre in Leeds.

Jimmy Cricket appeared in The Good Old Days show at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds

Each year the City Varieties recreates a version of Music Hall, an incredibly popular format for theatre during Victorian Britain.

The venue in Leeds is synonymous with Music Hall, as not only was it built to stage these shows, but it was also the location where the very popular and much-loved BBC light entertainment show called  The Good Old Days was filmed during the 1970s & 1980s.

The show – Jimmy appeared in the original in the 80s – retains its eternal popularity as the reruns of it on BBC4 on Friday evenings attract significant viewing figures.

The City Varieties Music Hall theatre Jimmy, 70, headlined the first show of autumn 2016 where there was the typical chairman figure, who presided over proceedings and linked in to every artist with a cacophony of words – in this instance the role was played by the very experienced Johnny Dennis.

Also on the bill was the talented plate spinner Andy Van Buren and the highly skilled ukulele player and vocalist Wendy King – both gifted performers who are also good friends of Jimmy.

Comedian Jimmy said: “I was thrilled to participate in this Music Hall show, which continues a long-held tradition at this unique and historic venue set within the heart of Leeds city centre.”

Returning to Christmas panto? Oh yes he is! 150 150 mhamer

Returning to Christmas panto? Oh yes he is!
Jimmy Cricket to make nostalgic Leeds return 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket to make nostalgic Leeds return
Jimmy Cricket performed in the Good Old Days at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds
A “thrilled” Jimmy Cricket returns to the legendary City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds – and goes back to the 1980s – later this year.

The famous entertainer, 70, says he is delighted he has been invited to headline the first weekend of the City Varieties’ 2016 Good Old Days season on 23 and 24 September.

The audience dressed in period costume for the Good Old Days programme at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds

A variety show, The Good Old Days was one of the BBC’s most watched light entertainment programmes of the 1970s and 1980s.

It  sought to re-create the heydays of Music Hall, which charmed audiences at the turn of the 19th century.  The BBC re-creation of the music hall held true to its historic format, as performers appeared in period costume and a chairman entertained those present with hearty introductions. Even audience members were instructed to attend in Victorian attire (above right).

This BBC series was filmed on location at one of the best maintained music hall venues in the country – the City Varieties in Leeds.

Although the BBC finished producing The Good Old Days TV show during the 1980s, the host venue is still open and continues to flourish. It even went through an extensive restoration phase a few years ago and to this day presents a varied diet of music, comedy and drama, including its very own version of the Good Old Days.

The shows in September will be nostalgia-filled as Jimmy appeared in the original BBC series and his performance continues to feature on the home page of this website. Images shown with this article are from his appearance decades ago.

PLEASE NOTE THAT RE-RUNS OF THE ORIGINAL BBC TV SHOW ARE NOW BEING SHOWN ON A FRIDAY NIGHT ON BBC4 – FOR MORE INFO: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes

Jimmy Cricket performed in the Good Old Days at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds

Fitting tribute to a former chairman 150 150 mhamer

Fitting tribute to a former chairman

Irish Post feature about Jimmy Cricket was at the Leeds Mayo Association’s annual dinner dance at the Leeds Irish Centre

Jimmy Cricket was the host and master of ceremonies at an emotional dinner dance in West Yorkshire earlier this year.

The well-known entertainer was invited, along with his wife May, to host the Leeds Mayo Association’s annual event at the Leeds Irish Centre.

The dance, which took place at the beginning of February, was an emotional occasion as the former chair of the association – Frank Ansboro – had only passed away late last year. 

Jimmy said: “Members from other Mayo Associations had travelled up to Leeds to be present at what turned out to be a fitting tribute to Frank.”

An article featuring lots of pictures of the event appeared in the 15 March edition of the Irish Post, which is popular within the Irish community of the UK.

It included not only a great animated photo of Jimmy in action (above), but another one towards the end of the article which featured his wife, May (on the right of the picture bottom middle below).

Irish Post feature about Jimmy Cricket was at the Leeds Mayo Association’s annual dinner dance at the Leeds Irish Centre

Here comes the bride… 150 150 mhamer

Here comes the bride…

The happy couple doing the first dance played to music from the two DavidsRochdale-based Jimmy Cricket crossed the Pennines to attend his niece’s wedding reception at the end of August.

Lindsay and Chris actually got married at Lake Garda in Italy, but on their return to Leeds they wanted to have a celebration for all their family and friends who could not make the ceremony.

The evening’s entertainment at Morley Rugby Club was provided by Lindsay’s brother and Northern Irish-born Jimmy’s nephew, David, who sang and played the keyboard alongside David Tattersall, a singer and guitarist.

They created delightful harmonies and the repertoire they chose for the occasion was a fine array of modern and classic pop songs.

The happy couple thanked everyone for their attendance, with a special mention to both their mums who, over the course of the night, looked after their one-year-old daughter, Brooke.

Above, the happy couple have the first dance of the evening to music performed by the two Davids and, below, Jimmy with wife May and the newly weds.

Jimmy Cricket with wife May and the newly wed couple

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