U838 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 -1915.
| Title | Theatre Royal (Peeps) |
| Date | 1876 – 1915 |
| Location | Yeadon |
| Photo ID | U838 |
| Comment | George Herbert Teale. A brief history: At first there was opposition to a theatrical group from the local churches, but one of the instigators a George Herbert Teale, and members of the group, the first Yeadon Amateur Dramatic Society (YADS), persevered, and by paying a weekly subscription and opening a small general shop they managed to save £100 by 1876. With this money the theatre was built on the junction of King Street and Football and was called ‘The Peoples Theatre’ and became known locally as the ‘Peeps’. The building was of wooden construction included a balcony and could accommodate 800 people. The name of the Peoples Theatre was changed in 1892, to the Theatre Royal, though local folk still referred to it as the ‘Peeps’. |
X123 – Hartley Harrison, c1900.
Hartley Harrison – c1900 – Theatre Royal (Peeps)
Hartley Harrison was an insurance salesman and also he acted in many local theatre productions. Here he is wearing normal attire.
X123A – Hartley Harrison, c1900.
Hartley Harrison – c1900 – Theatre Royal (Peeps)
Hartley Harrison seen here playing the part of Mother Hubbard in a Peeps production.
X123B – Hartley Harrison, c1900.
Hartley Harrison – c1900 – Theatre Royal (Peeps)
Hartley Harrison seen here playing the part of a dame in a Peeps production.
A119 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Robinson Crusoe Pantomime – c1900 – Theatre Royal (Peeps)
Produced at the Theatre Royal (Peeps) Yeadon, this pantomime has Hartley Harrison on the left playing Mrs Crusoe, holding a placard ” How to mend a Morter Car”.
The driver, playing Billy Crusoe is Sydney Howard, perhaps the most famous person to have come from Yeadon.
His father, Robert Howard had a paper and stocking shop on the High Street, Sydney worked for him as a sales representative while taking an enthusiastic interest in amateur dramatics.
In 1914 he joined the Navy, then transferred to the Royal Navy Air Service. He married Dora White who’s parents had a newsagents shop on Ivegate. He became a professional entertainer, his big break came when he starred in the first production of “Anything Goes” in London. He became extremely successful, starring in many stage shows and films. He died in 1946, his only child Wendy lived locally until her death. It is said that if he had lived into the television age he would still be more widely remembered.
A162 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Robinson Crusoe Pantomime – c1900 – Theatre Royal (Peeps)
Hartley Harrison puts his feet up playing Mrs Crusoe in this production of Robinson Crusoe at the Theatre Royal (Peeps).
E035 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Robinson Crusoe Pantomime – c1900 – Theatre Royal (Peeps)
This lady was playing the part of Polly. It is thought she was the wife of Hartley Harrison who played Mrs Crusoe in the show, was she also the daughter of George Herbert Teale?
Sydney Howard also appeared as ‘Billy’.
X103 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Robinson Crusoe Pantomime – c1900 – Theatre Royal (Peeps)
Playing the part of Crusoe is Nellie Waterhouse, she is carrying her daughter Dolly who was a character called Rosie. Dolly Waterhouse can be seen acting in numerous pantomimes as she grew older in the following pages of ‘Peeps’.
M054 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Theatre Royal (Peeps) Actors – c1900
An undated photograph of a group of Actors, from the Theatre Royal (Peeps). On the back row is Margaret Bailey one of the men with her is ‘Waterhouse’. The man in the front row is Joe Bailey, one of the women is Edith Bailey.
D164 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Chamelo Troupe – c1909
Four undated photographs of a group of girls who were the Chamelo Troupe of entertainers. It is possible the location is the Theatre Royal (Peeps).
On the reverse of the first postcard photo is a message which reads:
“Dear Mary and Arthur I was pleased to hear you were having lovely weather. Hope you like these photos. The waether here is simply boiling loving all at present with best love from Mother”.
It was sent from Yeadon to a Mr Arthur Robinson in Blackpool.
A148 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Chamelo Troupe – c1909
As above.
D165 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Chamelo Troupe – c1909
As above.
M029 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Chamelo Troupe – c1909
As above.
A154 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
The Theatre Royal (Peeps) Orchestra, c1910
This was the Theatre Royal (Peeps) Orchestra. On the back row, second from the right is Haydon Long. Haydon went on to play in London orchestras and it is noted that he performed with a Mrs Obbe.
In the picture of the Peeps orchestra, Joe Bailey, is the violinist sitting on the right of the conductor. See ‘Previous Comments’ at the foot of this page.
D079 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
Two Little Drummer Boys – Pantomime
An undated advertisement on a postcard for the Theatre Royal (Peeps). It has the following details:
“Theatre Royal, Yeadon
Thursday, Friday, Saturday October 18th 19th 20th
Miss Maggie Morton’s Co. presents Two little Drummer Boys
Plan at Box Office Prices as Usual”
Previous Comments:
Re I030 & F122
Christine Roberts
The fairy on the far right is my paternal grandma, Doris Annie Peck.
04 December 2020.
shirley Bork
I remember doing our Christmas shopping at the Peeps Market. We bought a ‘ Dolly’s teaset’ and some lights for our tree, Never realised how young I must have been as I remember the artificial grass which covered the stall and what the lighting inside the building was like.
Can I ask if anyone remembers “Messiah” being performed at Yeadon Town Hall with choirs and the: Yeadon Prise Brass Band “. I must have been 8 or so. It was during the war. A great experience.
21 December 2020.
Re A154
S. Eddison
In the picture of the Peeps orchestra, my grandfather, Joe Bailey, is the violinist sitting on the right of the conductor. He told me how they used candlelight to see the music. On one occasion, he left his bow on the stand in the interval and when he came back, his violin would not play as some wax had dripped onto his bow and it wouldn’t grip on the strings.
17 July 2021.
Re A154
AdminJack609
S Eddison – many thanks for the information on your grandfather it is very much appreciated. I will amend the page accordingly shortly on migration to the AHS 2 website at the below link:
https://aireboroughhistoricalsociety.org.uk/ which is currently being populated and consolidated.
Kind regards, Jack Brayshaw. AHS.
17 July 2021.
Page 1 of 7 More >>
Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 25 November 2020.
Last updated: 16 August 2023 – Photo ID: X123, X123A, X123B & A119. 28 July 2023 – Photo ID: A162. 19 January 2023 – All images updated. 02 November 2021 – Photo ID: X103.
