Welcome to the Elland Blog
How this blog will work
Just below here you will see a list of contents which will continually grow. The pages will be prioritised by age and relevance. For example, the older articles will move further down the list and newer articles and adverts will be placed at the top. That way, all visitors will start with the more relevant and fresh pages.
Everyone is invited to add their own input with anything fitting to this area. Articles can consist of anything from news and reports to walks and entertainment, stories, information and art, hobbies and sport.
There is a small fee for any adverts. Please contact info@halifaxpeople.com for details.
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Still recognisable - Southgate in earlier days.
This photograph was added by Mrs Evans of Elland. Please send us your old photographs with a description(They will be returned to you). Better still - add them yourself using the form at the bottom of this page.
Ensign (signs and graphics) of Elland, are one of our many advertisers on this website and they were one of the first companies to take advantage of our generous advertising packages.
I try to use every possible opportunity to promote them all and this blog is yet another chance for you to see what each one can offer you (click here) .
If you would like to advertise on any of our pages please contact me for details.
The Great Coram
Whitaker, Tommy
Born at Higgin Chamber, Boulderclough. He became nationally-famous as a ventriloquist, The Great Coram.
At the age of 7, he played the cornet in a band at West Vale. His family moved to Rastrick. He joined Brighouse Borough Band.
His interest was inspired when an uncle gave him a ventriloquist's doll as a birthday present. His first public performance was at a Sunday School concert in Southgate, Elland where he appeared as Professor Whitaker. He subsequently appeared at various seaside resorts. He was offered a trial at The Lyceum in London, and he was retained for another three. He took his stage name from Coram Street, London, where his agent had his offices.
He had several dolls, but the most notable was Jerry Fisher, a the cheeky guardsman. Jerry had moving eyes and mouth, and winked at the audience after cracking some outrageous remark, but Tommy moved his arms, smoked cigarettes and walked off the stage still chatting. The secret was Tommy's engineering skills. He spent hours perfecting a mechanism which allowed the movements to be made by remote control.
Tommy appeared at the Palace Theatre, Halifax on 11th October 1909 and 7th September 1914.
He appeared at the Royal Command Performance [22nd May 1930] and at Buckingham Palace
Calderdale Companion
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