Abertillery History

Olive Melba. Olive Melba was a child actress who began her career at just 7 years of age.  In 1914 she appeared at the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery in the production of “Life for a Life”. She was known as “Little Olive” in the early days, she signed Mrs Willis’s book and wrote a little saying with drawings of faces. She …

Madge Trevelyan. Madge Trevelyan was an accomplished actress, she appeared at the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery on the 8th March 1914.  It seems Madge Trevelyan appeared in the same show as Bessie Osborn and Olive Melba who were all at the boarding house together on the same dates.  Madge Trevelyan was a native of Kirkham, Lancashire the daughter of a farmer. …

Billy Wilson. Billy Wilson appeared at the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery and left a little adage and his signature on the 8th May 1914. (More information to come).

Unknown. An undecipherable signature left in the book by someone who appeared in the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery, they signed the book and left a little quote on the 19th September 1914. They were in the same company as Janet Hodson who appeared on the same date. (More information to come).

Janet Hodson. Janet Hodson appeared at the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery, she signed the book and left a little quote from Shakespeare on the 19th September 1914.  (More information to come).

Robert Davey. Robert Davey, violinist with the famous O’Mara Opera Company left his card and a little verse on the 3rd October 1914. (More information to come).

Bertram Gates. Bertram Gates wrote a quote from Shakespeare and signed the book on the 30th September 1914. (More information to come).

Nancy Sewell. Nancy Sewell signed the book and appeared at the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery in 1914. She wrote a little adage along with “Rip Van Winkle”. More research is needed on the possibility she performed in that show. (More information to come).

Tony Barton. Tony Barton was a baritone singer and appeared in many shows, he signed the autograph book on the 16th January 1915. A regular at the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery he featured in Jack & the Beanstalk with Queenie Ray and must have boarded at the Willis’s Boarding House on this occasion with the rest of the troupe.  (More information …

Will Parkin. Will Parkin was a producer of shows and he came to the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery with his latest production The “Man in the Moon” showing from the 18th January 1915 for six-nights.    (More information to come).