Days of fun on the Esplanade

The site originally formed part of the Royal Norfolk Hotel grounds, but it was sold in 1901 for the princely sum of 60.

The town surveyor, Oswald Bridges, was then called upon to design a bandstand on the site for use by the large number of military bands that travelled around the resorts to entertain the public.

By 1913 the venue was so popular it was enlarged and deckchairs were made available for the comfort of the audience.

The charge for these chairs helped to raise the 500 a year needed to hire the bands.

In 1936, Bognor Regis Town Council put forward a proposal for a Winter Garden to replace the modest wooden bandstand.

These plans included:

* a hall for band and orchestral concerts, entertainments, theatrical performances or dances;

* sheltered promenades and open terraces adjoining the hall, from which band concerts may be heard; and

* a caf adjoining the hall where light refreshments may be supplied.

The building was apparently designed to 'express its function of modern entertainment'.

This sounded quite interesting. The original theatre plans looked somewhat different to the new theatre.

An enclosure was proposed and approved and finally opened on June 19, 1937 at a cost of 3,666; and according to the press, the opening was attended by a staggering 3,000 people.

This bandstand enclosure comprised only a horseshoe-shaped wall and was turfed inside, but still open to the sky.

However, when it rained the noise was deafening, especially if you were able to rush under cover.

In 1945 further improvements were made as the turf was removed and replaced with tiles. In 1946 the area was covered with a canvas roof and renamed the Esplanade Concert Hall.

However, many of the audience were not able to see the stage because of the design of this structure. So much use was made of this concert hall that by 1951 further improvements were made, including 720 tip-up seats, in one raked tier. When it reopened in 1951 there was to be yet another name change, this time to the Esplanade Theatre.

Many stars remembered the theatre with affection, including Tony Hancock, Roy Castle and Dusty Springfield.

Cyril Fletcher was a frequent visitor, as was Bill Pertwee.

How many people in the town today can remember the shows that regularly graced the stage, such as the Bouquets or the Dazzle shows in the 1950s and 60s?

In one of the 1968 summer programmes there is a list of ticket prices. Adults cost up to 6/'“ (30p) and a 1/'“ (5p) reduction for Theatre Club members, children and pensioners.

Also included is a bus timetable for people travelling around the area with late buses at 10.30pm. These old programmes also contain a wealth of information on local companies which supported the theatre, together with children's activities during the summer season.

The theatre was always well used; a licensed bar was added in the mid-1960s.

In October 1978 and by popular demand again in March, 1979, evenings of old films of Bognor were shown to packed audiences.

Sadly, trends changed. Television became more popular; theatres were in decline and the Esplanade was no exception.

James Robinson, the manager of the Picturedrome, had thought of taking over the theatre for two or three years, as he believed 'with a little enterprise and flair it should not be too difficult to make a commercially viable proposition for the theatre'.

However, it was finally closed on February 10, 1980, with its demise creating much sadness and anger in the town.

The final show at the theatre was reported as 'an extravaganza'. The show lasted four-and-a-half hours, and in addition to the entertainment, funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust were raised.

By April, 1980 the theatre was demolished, leaving just the popular Macari's caf remaining on the seaward side of the site.

It was suggested in excess of 100,000 would be needed to carry out structural repairs to the theatre, and this was more than was available at the time.

There were plans for a German-style beer garden, but the authorities scotched these as they awaited news of 'Arun's long-term redevelopment plan for the seafront'.

When it closed it was the fifth theatre to shut in the town, following the Theatre Royal, Pier Theatre, Roof Gardens Theatre and Pierrotland.

The decrease in holidaymakers and the increase in entertainment provided on-site at holiday camps and caravan parks helped with this demise of the theatres.

In 1981 students of Felpham Community College painted a mural on the wall of the caf to try to brighten the area, for the benefit of the general public, who saw it only as an eyesore.

Towards the end of 1981 there was also a low-key attempt to use this area, when groups tried their hand at petanque, but this was short lived.

At this time Leisure Union Ltd had shown interest in placing a model-boat concession on the site, but this plan, like the others, did not materialise.

It was not until 1996 that a more permanent and full-time use for the area was found with the introduction of the skateboarding construction for young people.

I must admit it is difficult to pass without seeing the area in use. It is still an entertainment area, but sadly only for a small sector of our community.

A fine model of the Esplanade Theatre may be viewed in the town museum.

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