Inside Croydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: Musical director of the Croydon Empire theatre enjoyed a colourful career and played a part in the community, writes DAVID MORGAN

A century ago, long before we had mass media in our living rooms and at our finger tips, Croydon locals would seek their entertainment at the cinema or the theatre, where variety and music hall were hugely popular, with a constantly changing cast of musicians, singers and comics.

And among the several theatres operating in Croydon town centre in the mid-20th Century was the Croydon Empire, at 94 North End, roughly where the entrance to the Whitgift Centre stands today.

In 1941, during the darkest days of the Second World War, the Croydon Empire appointed a new musical director who was to become a popular figure both in the orchestra pit and in the wider community.

Music man: Jack Morgan had a long career managing musicians across the country

Jack Morgan (no relation) arrived in Croydon after a career touring the country’s music halls.

Born in Swansea, Morgan was a talented musician and conductor with 20 years’ experience – when just 21, he had been leader of the orchestra at The Hippodrome, Manchester.

Morgan could play most musical instruments, specialising in the violin and trumpet. Despite being in constant demand as he toured the country, he struggled to make ends meet.

He put this down to his name being just too mundane. “I just had to change my name to get a decent living,” he told a reporter. “There was fierce competition from foreign artistes and a fellow with an everyday name like Morgan didn’t stand a chance.”

The change worked and by the mid-1930s, El Romano and his Accordion Band was topping the bill wherever they went. Marvellous reviews exist of their appearances in Mexborough and Swindon. They even appeared on stage in Croydon at the Empire. Continue reading →