Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Runaway Train Hanging off Finsbury Park Bridge, 1959

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Comment by Gordon T on January 17, 2025 at 9:04: Here are details of the production - https://theatricalia.com/play/emy/aladdin/production/xx8

It wasn't just any old pantomime. Music by Cole Porter, directed & choreographed by Robert Helpmann. The Emperor was played by Ian Wallace.

Comment by Chris Barker on January 17, 2025 at 11:06: The bus stop would have been for the 212 (now W7), 233 (now W3) and 210, all of which were single deckers and could therefore get under the bridge.

Comment by Joe H on January 24, 2025 at 14:19: Are you sure, Chris? I was born a few years after this photo was taken, but the only bus that used to go under the bridge in later years was the 236 (on its way to Leytonstone, which, if you went by 236, felt like it was somewhere in Yorkshire!) The 210 (the only other single-decker) didn’t go under the bridge, as it started in the same place as it does today, and turned left on the way out of the station to go north on Stroud Green Road, like the W7 and W3. (Whatever happened to the W2?)

Ronald Shiner: A minor comedy celebrity whom few would remember today (beaky, like a comedy Johnny Morris), but one of the few showbiz celebrities to have gone to St Aloysius College on Hornsey Lane (the only other notable as far as I know, was Peter Sellars).

Comment by Don on January 24, 2025 at 18:43: The London Coliseum was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1904 by Oswald Stoll, who aimed to run a “respectable” music hall. It subsequently housed major musicals and pantos on a vast stage with a triple revolve, was converted to host Cinerama and then restored to be home to English National Opera, who are (just) clinging on today. There’s an Aladdin programme on sale on eBay for £4.95 at present, should you want it!

Comment by Hugh on January 25, 2025 at 2:48: I see that Aladdin was played by Bob Monkhouse, who many of us will remember as the somewhat slick host of 70s TV game show The Golden Shot.

Comment by John Shulver on January 25, 2025 at 12:43: That would make more sense Jeremyb, thanks.

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