1910 show artiste revisits Pier

A GRAND old-timer of the music-hall stage, Mr TomE. Head, of Coventry, was the guest of popular Lancashire comedian Jack Storey at a recent performance of "The Jack Storey Show" at the St Annes Pier Pavilion.

For Mr Head, who is 76, it was an evening full of memories, because he was one of the artistes who appeared in Mr H. Flockton-Foster's costume comedy company at the pier in 1910.

Until this visit he had not stepped inside the Pier Pavilion for 52 years.

A meeting that bridges the years as Jack Storey (right) greets Mr Tom E. Head.

Mr Head told an "Express" reporter, "As I was on holiday in Blackpool and had an evening to spare, I though it would be a good idea to visit the place where I had spent the earlier days of my stage career.

Comedy today was not what it used to be, said Mr Head. This was due he thought to over-use of the microphone.
"In my day there often wasn't any microphone. Now, piping voices have become big value, but take the microphone away and when would they be?" he asked.

Mr Head, who does not look day older than 50, was greeted a the pier by Jack Storey. After he had seen the show his verdict was "Wonderful."
Jack Storey commented, "I was a real pleasure to entertain someone from the old music-hall days. I only hope that someone will remember me when I an 76!"

"We started on the pier in the Easter of 1910," he said, "and then the company went on tour for several weeks. We returned in the summer of the same year and played to St Annes audiences for 23 weeks.

"They absolutely adored us. I went under the stage name of T. E. Roma, and used to tell stories. I also ,specialised in character sketches and occasional monologues."

Later Mr Head used his own name and became a producer and then proprietor of five pier companies, employing many artistes who became famous.
One of the pioneers of British broadcasting, he left the stage in October, 1925 and went into the motor industry.
 

Lytham St.Annes Express 6 September 1962.