This Mancunian Film Studio's Official site is dedicated to John E Blakeley, Frank Randle and all the performers and people associated with the output of the Mancunian Film Company. The site is researched and collated by Dr CP Lee (University of Salford). Itsahotun is home to the Cuthbert Club whose members generated the funds for the Frank Randle Blue Plaque installed on Blackpool's North Pier in 2007 and who meet there each year on a Saturday close to the 7th July as a tribute to the comic genius of Frank Randle. Itsahotun now features OTHER MANCUNIAN LEGENDS SUCH AS CLIFF TWEMLOW, LORD BUCKLEY AND BERNARD MANNING
Coming in July - SOMEWHERE IN POLITICS stills - keep a watch on this Home page
Frank Randle Funtime Memorial Day Saturday, 11th July 2009 A tribute to the King of Blackpool
SEE SCHEDULE OPPOSITE
FETTLE FORMBY from 2.00 pm - RECLAIM THE UKE!! A FUN afternoon - a wonderful CELEBRATION - SINGALONGA Frank!!
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BLACKPOOL - SATURDAY 11 JULY 2009 On Saturday July 11th Cuthbert Club members and Frank Randle fans everywhere from Oswaldtwistle to Fuengirola will be making the trip to Blackpool to meet old friends and make new ones at the blissful Frank Randle-esque Hotun of a day that celebrates the life and liver of Frank Randle, this being the THIRD anniversary of the Cuthbert Club's unveiling of Blackpool's lasting tribute to King Twist himself - The Cuthbert Club Blue Plaque on the North Pier. SCHEDULE Carleton Cafe morning, Pier in the afternoon The Morning 11.15 am CARLETON CEMETERY* The Afternoon 2.00 pm NORTH PIER BRING YOUR UKULELE WITH YOU ON THE DAY!! Make Frank's Day go with a STRUM!!! Come one! Come all! Raise your glass in a toast to the "greatest character comedian of his age" - The One! The Only! Mr Frank Randle!!! * Frank's resting place at Carleton Cemetery, click for pdf of map |
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*** BLACKPOOL NORTH PIER NEWS *** |
FRANK RANDLE'S BLACKPOOL Frank Randle's connection with Blackpool is well documented here on ITSAHOTUN.COM and with thanks to the Williams brothers (pictured below), we are now able to list the addresses where Frank lived ... When Frank moved to Blackpool to live with his mother and stepfather he did so at their home of 16 Heald Street – a small terraced house. After he and Queenie were married they both continued to live at Heald Street. Their next home was a slightly larger terraced house at 38 Ellesmere Road where they lived for several years. In 1935 they next moved back to Heald Street (No14 next door to their old house) where they remained for three years before moving to 32 Forest Gate. After Forest Gate they moved to 50 Grenfell Ave – then ‘Westwood’ (209) Whitegate Drive – then Craig Royston, Lytham Road before finally 94 Bispam Road. THE DAY OF THE BLUE PLAQUE UNVEILING is known as 777 (owing to the date being the 50th anniversary of Frank's death on 07/07/57). Fittingly placed on the wall of the North Pier Theatre, Frank Randle's plaque is an inspiration to all comics and a triumph for British Comedy heritage. It was conceptualised by the Cuthbert Club, whose members succeeded in achieving its design, manufacture and installation in honour of the comic genius of Frank Randle, the man who Gracie Fields described as, "the greatest character comedian that ever lived". A great time was had by all on 777. Everyone was thrilled to see Jackie "Cinders" Herrick, long-time friend of Frank's - below is a 'snap' of Jackie reminiscing about Frank with Audrey Lupton Lane who, with her partner Arthur Lane were producers, promoters and directors of theatrical productions. Other luminaries at the event included Michael Leader (from Eastenders), Marion Konyot (who worked with Frank Randle), Cyril Critchlow (RIP 2008), Slim Ingram and Steve King ... and hundreds more!
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After an absence of four years the organ is to return to the SUN LOUNGE on the NORTH PIER!! David Windle (pictured below) is the new resident organist and his concerts will be performed twice daily at 11.00am and 2.30pm from Sunday to Friday commencing 27th May 2009. David is a Frank Randle fan and how fitting that he is also Musical Director for the Batchelors show in the Famous North Pier Pavilion, site of the Frank Randle Blue Plaque!! |
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click for subsequent BLACKPOOL PLAQUE UNVEILING 777 IMAGES AND MEMORIES |
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Frank's blue plaque is a favourite for everyone to pose next to and here are the biggest posers of all - Mr & Mrs Cuthbert with Phil & David Williams!!!!
Cuthbert Club members Trevor Hoyle and CP Lee
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Jackie "Cinders" Herrick (right) pictured below reminiscing with Audrey Lupton Lane on 7 July 2007 - these two wonderful women are guests of honour each July when Frank Randle fans from all over the world gather to celebrate Frank's life and career here at the site of his blue plaque in Blackpool.
++ thanks to Jackie for sharing this publicity shot of her as Cinders - ![]() |
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FILM CLIPS TO VIEW ON YOUTUBE FILM LIST BY EMAIL
Film footage (left) of the Frank Randle blue plaque unveiling ceremony is courtesy of Nick Jackson |
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Frank Randle The greatest Character Comedian of the North! ... trace his rise to fame beginning here with the Bouncing Randles 1931 ...
... and to the right top in March 1939 ... then on to his own production company in 1950 ... |
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PREVIOUS HOTUN HEADLINE NEWS Laurel and Hardy with James Blakeley 2nd August 1932 |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With grateful thanks to Mike Blakeley, North West Film Archive (NWFA) at MMU, PM & DL Williams (authors of Hooray For Jollywood and Wired To The Moon), and Aidan O'Rourke photographer of Manchester backdrop in "Jollywood". PLEASE NOTE: Every attempt has been made to trace the copyright holders of images used on this website. We apologise if your credit does not appear. Please advise and we will be pleased to correct any omission and insert an appropriate acknowledgement. |
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INFORMATION NEEDED - Golden Films Ltd - Do you know anybody who worked for this Company? Did you obtain any Mancunian Films from Golden Films of 60-66 Wardour Street, London W1?
Please contact CP Lee with any information on Golden Films Ltd - Help the Hotun Research!
ITSAHOTUN - established 2005 - Last update 22-Jun-2009