Interview with Dursley Stott about the tourism and entertainment business in Douglas, 1950s-1970s
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Date(s): 5 September 1999
Creator(s): Manx Heritage Foundation
Scope & Content: Track 1: Dursley Stott talks to John Beckerson (at Ivy Dene) about his grandparents and great-grandparents, Leonard and Ada Dursley; being born in Strathallan Road; his grandfather marrying four times; his grandfather building the Metropole mansion block; he says that after the Palace ballroom burned down in the early 1900s, his grandfather toured Europe before building a bigger ballroom; 11,000 people attending the ballroom during the first Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races (TT) after the First World War. Dursley talks about island tourism and cinemas, theatres (including the Royalty, Regal, Picture House, Crescent, Pavillion Theatre and the Palais de Danse); artistes performing in the Isle of Man including Bob Monkhouse, George Formby, Michael Bentine, Karma, Tessie O’Shea, Roy Fox, Ronny Aldridge, Joe Loss; seasonal nature of tourism; lack of jobs in winter; poor professional opportunities; decline of tourist industry from mid 1960s; use of the birch; coach businesses (Michael Marshall of W.H. Shimmin, Knivetons); Cunningham's Holiday Camp; funicular railway; Crockfords making an offer for the Palace Co. in mid 1960s when Sir Dudley Cunliffe Owen was on the island; Dennis Poor, Tim Holland; average (summer) week for his father.
Track 2: Dursley continues to describe an average (summer) week for his father and then he talks about Harry Johnson and Harry Kneale (directors); advertising; tourist board office, Piccadilly Circus; his collection of cine films, programmes, postcards; mentions Fred Barwell’s son, Terry Cringle, David Griffin, Charles Cordon, Ian Horrox, Sam Alder, Peter Dodswell about island tourism and Barry Stanley about boarding houses; he talks about being a director of (The) Fort Anne, Imperial, Alexander, Metropole, Empress, Bay Queen and Sefton hotels; demolition of Port Erin hotels; mentions his brother Bryan Stott, Roy Kermode, Frank Kissack, T.R. Moore; Sefton Hotel; mention his wife and Sir Michael Perry (whose father was manager at Villa Marina) as useful contacts for further information.
Administration / Biographical History: John Beckerson, researcher, born 1974.
Language: English
Extent: 54 min. 37 sec.
Item name: cassette tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 2019-0001/26
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH, #UOSHHolidays