Source: Skegness Standard 22nd February 1934
Probably at no other seaside resort in the country has the architecture of the main thoroughfare and its environment under one such a sweeping transformation as as been the case at Skegness during the course of a decade or so. It seems only a short while since the Tower Gardens (formerly the Pleasure Gardens) came right up to the pavement on the north side of Lumley Road, while the whole of the space between the National Provincial Bank and Greenwood’s Cafe was occupied by apartments and boarding houses approached by stone steps, which have given place to imposing business premises.
A similar transformation has been commenced in the Lumley Terrace and Harrington Gardens “sector” and possibly ere long further architectural Changes will take place there.
And now comes the “passing” of the Lawn Theatre which, for 23 years, has constituted one of the “‘landmarks” of the town.
Possibly many people have speculated as to why the entertainment venue was so named, but the older section of residents readily recall how the site on which the building was erected was the lawn adjacent to Hildred’s Hotel, originally called the “New Hotel.”
CLEMENTS’ OLD “PITCH.”
In the course of time Mr. Fred Clements secured a lease of the land in question, which was enclosed from High Street by a wooden fence with a row of trees inside and a similar row running along the opposite boundary. Here Clements’ Entertainers gave their evening seasonal shows for some years, the stage and dressing rooms being situated at the Lumley Terrace end of the “lawn.”
At the opposite end ground-floor windows of Hildred’s Hotel opened on to the site, and the writer well remembers a highly amusing sketch called “The Comehereograph,” which culminated in one of the performers leaping through in open window of the hotel and running along the gangway to the stage.
CANVAS ROOF INNOVATION
It was a proud day (or night) for Mr. Fred Clement when he was able to announce the provision of “a waterproof canvas roof, so that patrons can he assured of the utmost comfort, whether the weather be wet or fine. This protection from the elements was, however, only afforded to those who occupied the seats. We “thripennies” at the rear stood up-and got wet if it rained.
The introduction of the Bioscope as an addendum to the show represented almost unheard of enterprise in connection with a concert party in those days (or so “Freddie” told us!) and the wonders of the world were unfolded before our eyes —with fairly frequent stoppages due to the making of films. It seems difficult to appreciate the enormous strides made by the movies in the comparatively brief interim of years.
The Lawn Theatre was erected in 1910 and was opened by Mr Clements at Whitsuntide, following the disastrous coal strike at Easter in that year. So far as memory serves, Mr. Clements occupied the building pending the completion of Arcadia the following year, and from that time onward the Lawn was tenanted by Mr. Henri De Mond, the local picture pioneer, who has recently transferred his activities to the new Central Cinema on Roman Bank.
Pictures, variety turns, stage plays and other forms of entertainment have been presented in the Lawn during its 23 years regime, which has now come to a close.
As is generally known, the owners of the property, Messers. Bass, Ratcliffe and Gretton, have secured a licence for the property aired are adding it to already extensive frontage occupied by Hildred’s Hotel. Workmen are busy and soon the Lawn as such will be but a memory perpetuated by photographs.
It is interesting to note that the doomed theatre looks rather insignificant beside the commanding turretted spire of the Baptist Church.
Skegness Magazine 