A "magnificent" Liverpool nightclub which saw numerous famous faces pass through its doors "rose from the ashes" to be engulfed in flames for a second time.
The former Shakespeare Theatre, whose name had been synonymous with variety since it opened in 1888, had played host to stars including Sarah Bernhardt, Lily Langtree and film actress Greer Garson among others. After spells as the Pigalle Theatre Club and the New Shakespeare, in the early 1960s it became the Shakespeare Club, known for cabaret and later a casino club inside.
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Affectionately nicknamed 'the Shakey,' the Fraser Street venue was taken over by the Robley Group which had renamed it the Shakespeare Club and invested heavily in its refurbishment. When it closed after period as a theatre club, efforts were made to acquire it for a warehouse and furniture showroom., but because of ‘public outcry’ the move is said to have failed.
The Shakespeare Club boasted a lot of original features and attracted many across Merseyside and a number of stars who performed there. Anyone who went there in the late 1960s and early 1970s will remember the olive green, cream and gold theatre with oak panelling and four-tiered balconies – the top one was never used.
Liverpool’s first ever electric stage that moved up and down also became the dance floor for the theatre after the stars had performed. But in its life as a club, the building suffered a lot of misfortune.
Once described as the most elegant nightclub in Britain, The Shakespeare opened in 1963 to a great fanfare after a £60,000 reconstruction. But two weeks later, in the early hours of November 15, 1963, a fierce blaze tore through the Shakespeare Club, leaving a charred interior and management and staff devastated.
The headline from the front page of that morning’s ECHO summed it up – Sixty-Minute Blaze Wrecks Luxury Club. Joint managing director of the Robley Group, Ted Roberts, 49, stood among the soaking ruin of the theatre section while firemen tackled the flames.
The ECHO reported how - "in tears" - he said: "I just cannot find the words to describe all this. You try to create for the second time - and then this.
"It is completed finished. This is the end of the Shakespeare."
A number of customers were gambling in the building till 6am that morning. Shortly after 7am, the blaze was discovered by a night watchman.
The fire destroyed the rising stage and charred pillars and the separate gambling club within the building was badly damaged by water as more than 70 firemen and 17 appliances fought the blaze. Roulette tables and other equipment worth about £25,000 were saved.
A the time, Mr Alan Durband, chairman of the Shakespeare Theatre Preservation Society, said: "I was shocked and dismayed to hear the new. It is indeed a bitter blow coming so soon after the splendid reopening of the theatre. One’s only hope is that something might grow phoenix-like from the ashes."
And the club did just that, reopening and becoming one of the biggest cabaret clubs in Britain. Acts such as Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse, Bruce Forsyth and Tom Jones performed there, with local personality and DJ Pete Price as the compere.
In his autobiography, Pete Price previously told the story of how he got his big break at the legendary Shakespeare club in 1969. He said: "It was decorated in over-the-top Victorian style, with carvings of scenes from Shakespeare plays and gold leaf on the walls.
"It was, if you’ll pardon the expression, the dog’s b******s." But by April 1975, the staff had heard unofficially that the Shakespeare was about to close, with Pete making the announcement.
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He said: "It’s our last night. We’re broke, we’re all out of a job, and the receivers are coming in on Monday morning. So let’s make it a night to remember. It took about five seconds before everyone rushed to order drinks. It took another five for people to start pocketing the cutlery.
"Then the chairs went, then the fridges, everything in the kitchen, the lights, the sound system, the tables, the soap in the toilets, the paper in the toilets and the seats on the toilets." The Shakespeare later reopened under a different management, but it's fate was sealed the following year.
Do you remember The Shakespeare Club? Let us know in the comments section below.
In March 1976, a second fire ripped through the venue and and what remained of the structure was demolished. Four firemen were injured when a 60ft wall wall crashed down on them at the height of the fire and four people were rescued from the blaze, including head waiter Enzel Franco, chef Derek Harrison and manager David Meakin.
At the time the ECHO reported: "About 100 men fought the blaze as flames shot 100 feet into the air, raining charred wood and glass in surrounding streets." Many would agree that the magnificent building was a huge loss to the city and after the ECHO previously shared a brief lookback at its past, many took to social media to share their memories.
The latest series of Memory Lane is in major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Home Bargains and selected newsagents now. This series of the bumper picture special looks at fun in the sun - with stunning photographs and treasured memories of family holidays from years gone by. You can also buy Memory Lane online here.
On our Facebook page, Jennie Wills said: "Loved it there gutted it burnt down !!!" Tanya Roberts Dowling wrote: "Went here in the 70s with my friends parents to see the New Seekers. We were only 15, so had to dress up to get in. Had dinner there and then the show, felt so grown up. Happy days."
Marie Stopforth commented: " Me and my husband had a night out there, we had such a good night. Later that night when we were clapping for the act, his wedding ring flew of. They were so good every one helped to look for it but it was never found. They said come back tomorrow after it was cleaned and we will see if it turns up. Ok thank you so much we said. Next day all over the radio and news the famous Shakespeare has burnt down. We could not believe it. Sad the place had burnt down, but gutted John would never get his wedding ring back. Really sad on both counts."
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Freda Lloyd posted: "Loved going there. Great times." Elizabeth Bennett said: "Saw The Real Thing at the Shaky back in the 70's."
Colette Renshall wrote: "Many happy evenings was spent here." Alfred Nestor commented: "I worked with Adams Bros Ltd on the restoration of the Theatre replacing all the Artistic Plasterwork. Unfortunately, it then burnt down again afterwards, which was the final blow. It was a strange place to work in at night [which we did], and it was beautiful once restored. A great tragedy that we lost it. But its odd that it tended to have so many fires over the years."
Linda Davis commented: "Best place to work ever. I loved every minute, great bosses they paid our taxis home every night. I worked there when it re-opened the second time." And Lyndsay Styles posted: "So sad to see this. I worked at the Shakespeare in the 60s. It was a magnificent place and met many famous people there."
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