Llandudno Pier & Pavilion - Old Photos & Memories

[Fester]

   Just been looking at the dear departed Yorkie's photo of the dear departed Pier Pavilion. Has anyone noticed the prominence of the Camera Obscura?  Looks to be twice the height of what it actually was

Mike, just so you know, Yorkie is not dead or anything, he is very much active and kicking my backside at Scrabble.

[DaveR]

 

[SteveH]

Another to add to the group from 8/7/2014...........

[SteveH]

Pavilion and Dodgem Boats...

[Michael]

   I wonder if anyone remembers the kiosk where a man sat and cut out (excuse this, my spell checker won't come up with the correct spelling) siluetes of whoever was sat on his chair. And of course paid the fee. The kiosk could well have been the one occupied by our very own Mr. Fester.
  They were brilliant. My first wife had one done of our son, and years and years after I could look at this sil u et and I instantly went back in time better than I could by looking at a photo.

[Merddin Emrys]

I remember it! I had one done in an oval frame, i put the picture on here years ago.

[Fester]

Mike, although it was before my time, I know that the Silhouette Man was indeed operating in the Kiosk I currently run.

I know this, because a lady came to visit me about 4 years ago, she was the daughter of that chap.... and she came in to introduce herself, and reminisce!

I also heard that prior to him, some years before there was a Strongman, who used to perform in there, mainly posing his muscles and doing feats of strength.
He should try and lift some of the boxes I get delivered !!   

[Gwynant]

            The gentleman who had the kiosk on Llandudno pier was retired army Captain H.L.Oakley, (1882-1860) and he had a kiosk on the Orme side the pier in the late 50's. He was born in York and served with the Green Howards  with his two brothers during the First World War, and designed one of the famous recruitment posters entitled "Think".
         I can remember standing outside watching him cut out silouhette portraits of the subject who would be sat in a chair inside the kiosk. He specialised in that form of art but also did paintings as I have a small signed oil painting of Conway Castle in my possession.

[Gwynant]

           After reading my last post on Capt. Oakley I realised that I had said that he died in 1860, some 22 years before he was born! This should of course be 1960, and I therefore think that he would have been on the pier in the late 40's and early 50's. He was known as "The man with the Magic Scissors".

[Bosun]

This may be of interest in respect of Capt Oakley:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Profiles-First-World-War-Silhouettes/dp/0752493523

[Merddin Emrys]

That must have been a different man to the one who did mine,  as mine was done when i was about 10 which would be about 1965.

[Nemesis]

   I wonder if anyone remembers the kiosk where a man sat and cut out (excuse this, my spell checker won't come up with the correct spelling) siluetes of whoever was sat on his chair. And of course paid the fee. The kiosk could well have been the one occupied by our very own Mr. Fester.
  They were brilliant. My first wife had one done of our son, and years and years after I could look at this sil u et and I instantly went back in time better than I could by looking at a photo.

I somewhere have one of me done in the mid '50s. I will see if I can lay my hands on it.

[Gwynant]

That must have been a different man to the one who did mine,  as mine was done when i was about 10 which would be about 1965.

               M.E, it says in the link below, (which I hope works as I always seem to have problems posting links!) that Capt. H.L.Oakley operated on the Pier from 1922 until 1958, and was so fond of Llandudno that his ashes were scattered in St. Tudno's churchyard when he died after suffering a stroke in 1960, which seems to suggest that a different artist must have taken over the kiosk after his death.
               http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/45caa633-be53-3672-b01c-55ef83b09e6c
                              (or Google "Silouhette Artist on Llandudno Pier")
                     

[Ian]

Excellent, Gwynant.

[hollins]

How interesting. I wish I had seen him at work. I hope you find your portrait Nemesis.
I remember seeing them do this in Paris. It is a real skill to work so spontaneously.
It makes me wonder how this sort of "entertainment" would go down now on the pier.
For me personally it would be an attraction but I fear that I maybe classed as an oldie!