William Morton (24 January 1838 – 5 July 1938) was an amusement caterer, a theatre and cinema manager in England for 70 years.
After an erratic start in Southport, Morton's career stabilised when he took on struggling illusionists Maskelyne and Cooke. He developed their careers, managed them for sixteen years, established them in the heart of London and presented them by Royal Command for Prince George's 14th birthday.
For sixteen years he was manager of the Greenwich Theatre where he further speculated, developing theatrical businesses in southeast London and the provinces.
In his sixties, he moved north to Hull where he established new companies, developed and built both theatres and cinemas. From 1920 onwards he was interviewed each birthday at his office by the local press who dubbed him the Grand Old Man of Hull. Morton had become an observer and commentator on a century of English life and entertainments.
Morton contributed to the development of Victorian entertainments and the flourishing of legitimate theatre. He prospered during its heyday and saw theatre's eventual acceptance by the 'respectable classes'. In the twentieth century, he embraced new technology and successful pioneered cinematographic entertainment. Only in the 1930s did the decline of theatre-going, and the boom and bust years of cinema, take its toll.
Early years William Morton, son of George and Maria Morton, was born in the small village of Royston near Cambridge on 18 January 1838. George, an upholsterer, was a leading light in Royston Tradesmens' Benefit Society which spent its profits in building houses. Morton Street bears the family name. Childhood memories included riding on top of a stage coach to Cambridge, and travelling by train (the third-class carriages were like cattle trucks) to see the 1851 Great Exhibition at Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace in Hyde Park.'Boyhood at Royston', Morton, pp. 15-28'Death of Hull's Grand Old Man', Hull Daily Mail, 6 July 1938 p. 1,6A rare lapse of memory in Morton's memoirs wrongly attributes the Crystal Palace's design to Christopher Wren.
Morton received a limited education at the local British School, He also had a stammer which lasted into his middle years. By the age of 12, Morton's entrepreneurship and fascination for entertainment was already evident. He offered his services free to a promoter to sell programmes, thus gaining admission to concerts.'William Morton Enjoys his 86th Birthday', Hull Daily Mail, 24 January 1924 p. 5"Mr Morton's Record - 82nd Birthday", Hull Daily Mail, 8 January 1920 p. 3 He also found himself a job looking after the Mechanics Institute reading-room for 4 hours each evening where he studied the daily papers and monthly magazines, beginning a lifetime habit of self-education.
At the age of 14, his father secured him an apprenticeship at a local newspaper where he became a printer's devil, laboriously setting up type on a primitive "Caxton" hand press. Once his apprenticeship finished, and unhappy with a wage of 16 shillings a week, he moved on. To increase his prospects while working on the Nottingham Guardian as a compositor and assistant reporter, he taught himself shorthand.'91 To-Day. Mr W. Morton, Hull's Theatre Magnate', Hull Daily Mail, 24 January 1929 p. 3 Moving on to Wales, he practised his shorthand in the local church, writing down the sermons and causing the vicar considerable distress.'An Encounter with the Vicar', Morton, pp. 36-39 Early on a prominent local councillor complimented Morton on the report of his speech adding, 'It was a damned sight better than what I said.' In shaking hands Morton found himself left holding a sovereign.'His Sovereign', Hull Daily Mail, 24 January 1929 p. 3 Morton went on to join the reporting staff of various regional papers gradually working up his salary and after twelve months in Congleton he settled in Southport where he attained four pounds a week.'The Royal changes Hands - Mr Morton Interviewed', Hull Daily Mail, 22 July 1895 p. 3'Some Early Experiences', Morton, pp. 29-35
Southport In 1862, after two years on the recently launched Southport Independent and Ormskirk Chronicle, Morton now aged 24, married local girl Annie Todd. Southport had no theatre so, as a hobby, he organised concerts and entertainments including a series of literary lectures.'Early Days at Southport', Morton, pp. 40-44 After 8 years in journalism he took on more profitable work (it included first class rail travel) in nearby Liverpool using his shorthand as a solicitor's clerk, first at the County Court, and later with a firm of shipping solicitors.'No Bellows To Mend. William Morton Enjoys His 86th Birthday', Hull Daily Mail, 24 January 1924 p. 5 Later still, he opened a shop to sell books and music as well as providing entertainments. This pattern of speculative ventures he later described as "drifting into theatrical work". "I left the profession for which I was educated at the age of 28 and took that of an amusement caterer."'Eighty-Seven To-Day "Grand Old Man " of Hull's Amusement World, Mr W Morton', Hull Daily Mail, 24 January 1925 p. 1
Lectures, entertainments and tours Morton's first lecture series was held in the Southport Town Hall early in 1865. He brought in speakers from around the country, arranging for local dignitaries to act as chairmen.'Literary Lectures', Southport Independent and Ormskirk Chronicle, 31 January 1866 p.1 Another sideline was teaching shorthand.Advert in Southport Independent and Ormskirk Chronicle, 21 February 1866 p.1 By 1867 he had become manager of Southport Town Hall Entertainments.Advert in Southport Independent and Ormskirk Chronicle, 7 July 1867 p. 16 By 1870 he advertised as 'Morton’s Concert And Entertainment Institution, established 1865'.Advert in Southport Independent and Ormskirk Chronicle, 9 February 1870 p. 1
Amongst the talent he engaged were George Grossmith pére, the lecturer, George Dawson the preacher, Clara Balfour the temperance campaigner who also lectured on influential women, and John Bellew, celebrated father of Kyrle Bellew. Bellew doubted Morton's ability to pay his fee of sixty guineas for six nights and insisted on being paid each night in gold. However, Morton objected on principle to paying nightly for Bellew's brandy-and-soda and cigars. Alfred Vance was another popular client, as were Mr and Mrs Howard Paul, Henry Russell and Sir Ben Greet.
His final entertainment series was in 1870 and included a six-year-old child prodigy, Lydia Howard, who was later taken on for a three-month tour. After six weeks, she and her family vanished. He had to cancel Southport and two other venues and was left with numerous expenses to cover.'Postponement of Miss Lydia Howard's Entertainment', Southport Independent and Ormskirk Chronicle, 4 May 1870 p.1 Although he later successfully sued the Howard family, they had no resources to meet their debt.'The Fairy Actress And Her Engagements', Southport Independent and Ormskirk Chronicle, 16 November 1870
His business and shop "came to grief" and he was left virtually penniless. Arthur Lloyd, the music hall singer, heard of his troubles and offered him £5 a week plus travelling expenses as 'agent in advance' for a provincial tour. Morton began again as a speculator and took various touring companies on the road, including Sims Reeves. Morton maintained his contacts and would later bring the best to his Greenwich and Hull Theatres.'Death of Hull's Grand Old Man', Hull Daily Mail, 6 July 1938 p.1 He and Arthur Lloyd's family became firm friends.
Maskelyne and Cooke
Morton's breakthrough came about through a chance encounter with two struggling illusionists. After seeing their show debunking fake spiritualists in Liverpool at Easter 1869,Adverts in Liverpool Mercury, March & April 1869 he negotiated a partnership and after the first month broke even. He then ran them round the country for two years.'Old-New Maskelyne Trick', Hull Daily Mail, 11 February 1937 p. 6
Unlike actor-managers, Morton was happiest behind the scenes. On one occasion Maskelyne persuaded him to introduce the act, suggesting he take a glass of whisky to steady his nerves. On stage, Morton found himself unable to speak. That was the only drink he ever took and it forever influenced his temperance theatre policy.' A Man of Progress', Hull Daily Mail, 23 January 1928 p. 7 His only appearance as a stage star occurred when Mrs Maskelyne was unexpectedly taken ill. Morton recalled being dressed up in her skirts; to this was added her feathered hat and veil, the latter principally to hide his moustache. Minutes later, one of the company whispered, "Don't turn round. Something's bust." The scene was cut to the limit, but finished with applause.
Sometimes things went badly. In Darlington, with small attendances and unable to pay the hall rent, he offered to leave behind his piano as security. The manager, an old Quaker, declined saying that although on principle he never attended entertainments, he had heard good reports of Morton's work and of his exposure of the 'false spiritualists'. Thereafter, Morton always raised his hat to Quakers, and almost, he said with characteristic boyish humour, to his regular breakfast cereal, Quaker Oats.'Secrets Of Success, "The Father Of Hull Theatres”', Hull Daily Mail, 15 November 1910 p. 7 {Lecture given by Morton at the Fish Street Memorial Schoolroom} Their tour ended in March 1873 with several weeks at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham.‘The Novelty of the Age’, The Era, 16 February 1873 p. 16 Morton had now achieved a regular and satisfactory income.'Maskelyne & Cooke', Morton, p. 45-64 That autumn, he took on the lease of the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, renovated it and established his duo firmly in the national consciousness.Dawes, Edwin (1979). "The Great Illusionists". Chartwell Books Inc.: 157–159'Maskelyne and Cooke', The Era, 28 September 1873'Hull's Grand Old Man Says 99', Hull Daily Mail, 25 January 1937 p. 5 Morton managed the front of house until 1886,‘Egyptian Hall’, The Stage, 2 February 1883 p. 9 the act continuing until 1905, and then at other major London venues for the next two generations.
The highlight of the partnership was a Royal Command to bring the then twenty-strong company to Sandringham on 3 June 1879 to entertain the young Prince George (the future George V) on his fourteenth birthday.In his memoirs, Morton acknowledges that it may have been an earlier birthday.
Greenwich Around 1874 Morton, his wife and six children moved south to gain easy access to the metropolis, setting up their home and his office at 'Royston Villa', 276 New Cross Road in Deptford.1881; 1891; 1901; England, Wales & Scotland Census, William Morton, New Cross Road, Deptford Early on Morton had developed a love of horses, learning to ride at an uncle's farm; each morning he drove his carriage and pair to his Egyptian Hall. He maintained a carriage, his favoured choice of transport, until the beginning of the First World War when the government commandeered his horses and he reluctantly purchased a motor car.
New Cross Public Hall