Time to tread the theatrical boards once again, although this time with its 'alfresco' performances even the Pier's decking boards occasionally provided the stage of entertainment in these shows.
Firstly I must thank local Essex historian Bernard Polley who researched and compiled a fantastic booklet 'The Rambla's, the story of a seaside concert party' which not only gives a year by year history of the shows and its performers but Bernard has also given us a feeling of what it was like as an artist in a story told through the eyes of a fictional performer working in the show.
It is with great pleasure and thanks, that Bernard has given me permission to include extracts of his booklet to accompany the pictures and articles which I will be posting up.
In 1932 Mr. Kingsman built an outdoor stage at the end of the Pier for the staging of concert party style shows. Taking on the producer and entertainer Rex Deering, the 'Rambla's' was born.
These first two photographs are undated, but from the building in the background R/H it dates the pictures between 1932/4 . The band on stage were called the 'Sunshine Revellers' either under the directorship of Ernest S. Heather in 1932; W.T. Badas in 1933 or Syd Chapman in 1934.
The attentive audience in the last picture is from a locally produced post card, these post cards would be offered for sale to the audience as a little bit of extra income.
CE