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The owner and manager between 1888 and 1934 was Dennis J. Clarke, a local councillor, businessman and entrepreneur. He was both popular and well respected and was responsible for helping launch numerous showbusiness careers. Established artistes such as
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The theatre had seating for about 800, with pillars in the auditorium and long, narrow galleries running down either side. Its name was changed in 1876 to the
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car park now occupies the site and a play, "Argyle
Remembered", was written to commemorate the theatre which is performed by Heswall Musical Society.
155:(Junior) made one of his earliest performances at the Argyle Theatre in 1921. In this instance, he was not a success and was booed off stage.
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In addition to the wealth of talent performing at the Argyle in person, it had other claims to fame. Clarke stated in 1896 that his theatre's
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and never re-opened. However, the shell of the building remained in situ until 1973, when finally it was demolished.
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A large, decorative stone sign that was once attached to the Argyle
Theatre's exterior was moved to the
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performed at the Argyle
Theatre at the beginning of their careers. The comedian, actor and
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Bidston, Carol E (1985). "Birkenhead... Of
Yesteryear". Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.
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Brocklebank, Ralph T (2003). "Birkenhead - An
Illustrated History". Breedon Books.
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display was the first such display of moving pictures in
England, outside
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for preservation, prior to demolition. The inscription on the sign read:
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performed during the early years of the theatre's life. Stars such as
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On 21 September 1940, the theatre received a direct hit during
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and for several years plays were performed, before the name "
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Boumphrey, Ian & Marilyn (1981). "Yesterday's Wirral".
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Former theatre and music hall in
Birkenhead, England
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306:. Retrieved
304:. 5 May 2022
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336:Categories
234:References
159:Technology
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98:Repertoire
59:Birkenhead
25:53°23′20″N
185:the Blitz
165:vitagraph
61:, on the
28:3°01′16″W
308:30 April
109:Dan Leno
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77:History
67:England
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195:Legacy
169:London
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