Bob Bain

It was in 1963 that the curtains finally came down on the Glasgow Empire.   Around that time saw the demise also of the variety shows which had been so much a feature of many other theatres across Scotland.
Bob Bain had and still has a real passion not only for the Empire, of which he has an encyclopaedic knowledge, but for the world of Variety theatre and has become not only an admirer, but also a friend, to many who “tread the boards” from bill toppers to the ladies and gentlemen of the chorus.
He owns 800 books on the variety theatre as well as 2,500 programmes from theatres across Scotland including 65 Royal Variety Show programmes, 330 from the Empire,   particular interest being those who provided  magic and illusion acts.
The Scottish Music Hall and Variety Theatre Association is dedicated to keeping alive memories of those balmy days of theatre….The Summer sessions at Ayr, Rothesay, Largs each with a cast of talented performers and each show with a dancing troupe …and often twice a night performances and a complete change of programme weekly…. may long since have gone with Glasgow Pavilion remaining the only Variety Theatre still operating in the city, however the Association has as its objective keeping alive wonderful memories of  those days of yesteryear.    Bob Bain has been totally committed to the role of Secretary since 1993.
Bob looks forward to sharing his memories of the Empire ….the  great, good and even the not so good who were featured in the theatre’s  playbills