A Monthly Publication

By John Smith

 With the current ongoing discussions concerning the future of the Princess Theatre it is perhaps a good occasion to reflect on one of the many highly successful shows from the past which were performed on the stage of what was then the Capitol Cinema.

The scenario is 1952 and whilst it is difficult to envisage now, this was the period of the Cold War and Hunstanton was embarking on one of its most exciting and challenging periods in its history, with the welcoming of the first large influx of American servicemen and their families from the USAAF base at Sculthorpe.  

In a “get to know you” exercise a joint Anglo-American Revue was planned to be performed on the stage at the Capitol Cinema. The revue entitled “They Call Them Yanks” was written by local journalist Graham Fisher and was not only successful in promoting good relations but also broke all box office records at the time with an audience of over 3,600 in its six-day run, which was 600 more than the previous record. [Was this ever beaten?]

.A look at the cast list should bring back many happy memories to the more senior of our citizens – Wilfred Copestake, Clem Prescott, Ida Ramm, John Storey, Jack Winch, Pam Witley etc. etc. The content of the revue proved that both the “Limeys” and the “G.I. Joes” were capable of some good-hearted banter with the subjects of nylons, girl chasing, seaside landladies included in the sketches. Even a Panto a l’American was tackled.

The show itself was paid a compliment with a letter of commendation from the American Ambassador of the time – Walter Gifford. The B.B.C. sent a mobile recording unit to record parts of the show and interviews with the writer, the producer, members of the cast and the rousing Barn Dance sequence which was broadcast on the light Programme’s Radio Newsreel. It was reported that this was the first time that the B.B.C. had broadcast from Hunstanton – fame had arrived!