Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s production of “Florodora” played at the Hippodrome Theatre in Keighley for six nights (and a Saturday matinee) from Monday 22nd November 1926. The comic opera had music by Leslie Stuart, a libretto by Owen Hall, and lyrics by E. Boyd Jones and Paul Rubens. The KAODS production was produced and directed by G. Edward Hall, with musical director Joseph Harker.
The story takes place on the paradise-like island of Florodora and then in the Welsh castle of Abercoed. It involves an unscrupulous American Cyrus W. Gilfain (played by Arthur B. Hird) who now claims to own Florodora and has “distilled” its rare essence for exploitation purposes. The rightful owner of the island has died, and his surviving daughter Dolores (Edith Robson) is unaware of her inheritance. The Englishman handling Gilfain’s distillation process is Frank Abercoed (Arthur G. Ramsden) who has fallen in love with Dolores. Her true identity is discovered by ‘Professor’ Anthony Tweedlepunch (Ernest Marsden) with whom she then mysteriously disappears. All the characters then reassemble at Gilfain’s purchased family seat at Abercoed Castle and after much subterfuge everyone is partnered off appropriately and the secret of the island is maintained.
The show also starred Jack Crabtree, Louis G. Bacon, Alan Petty, Allan Potter, Edward Caswell, Leonard Jackson, Clarence Haigh, Jack Steele, Hilda Mitchell, Eva Robson, Mabel Feather, Elsie Butterfield, Mrs M. Asquith, Ethel Smith, Evie M. Carr, Peggy Eaton, Nellie Hardwick, Stella Dewhirst, Claire Mitchell, Elsie Pickles, Sallie Corban, Mrs John Spencer and Mrs Percy Taylor.
The cast photographs shown here were taken by Keighley-based professional photographer W. Bruce Johnston and feature in the 52-page programme for the production. The programme was part of an anonymous donation given in 2022. It can be viewed in full on the History Society’s Flickr site.
