The Lost Theatres of Dublin

[Clash Cadillac]

The Lost Theatres of Dublin
by Philip B. Ryan (Author), Philip Chevron (Editor)

Philip, after reading your post on another thread regarding Soho it occured to me that you should be working on a book Philip Chevron: 50 years through my eyes or something like that. When I did a search to see if you had published anything previoulsy, I came up with the book listed above. Am I correct that Philp B. Ryan and Philip Chevron are indeed one and the same? When can we expect the release of your next book? Love your writing style.

[Christine]

Good grief, it never occurred to me to look. I'll second that proposal, Clash Cadillac.

The book is actually on Amazon and my copy to be delivered 14 Sept to 1 Oct. I'll let you know when it gets here!

[philipchevron]

The Lost Theatres of Dublin
by Philip B. Ryan (Author), Philip Chevron (Editor)

Philip, after reading your post on another thread regarding Soho it occured to me that you should be working on a book Philip Chevron: 50 years through my eyes or something like that. When I did a search to see if you had published anything previoulsy, I came up with the book listed above. Am I correct that Philp B. Ryan and Philip Chevron are indeed one and the same? When can we expect the release of your next book? Love your writing style.

Philip B. (Brendan) Ryan was my father, author of a small number of fairly-definitive tomes on Irish vaudeville and variety, notably biographies of Noel Purcell and Jimmy O'Dea. When he was dying in 1997, his final book, The Lost Theatres Of Dublin was, theoretically, with his publisher, but his final illness had prevented him, unsurprisingly, from giving it his fullest attention. About a year later, I made good on my promise to him to "finish" the book. Primarily, this just involved editing and repairing some of the text, adding substantially to what had, for some unexplained reason, been an uncharacteristically small supply of illustrations. Finally, I added a Foreword explaining the circumstances of the publication and paying tribute to my dad's devotion to both theatre and Dublin and the part his enthusiasms played in my own life. By neat symmetry, this piece worked well with an Afterword in a more minor key by Noel Sheridan, the son of Cecil Sheridan, the great Dublin comic for whom my father had written some early comic sketches in the 1940s and which Pop had admitted into the book's text several years earlier.

It has to be said that the prominence of "my" credit on the edition you spotted (Amazon, presumably) neither reflects my importance to the book's content or to the graphic prominence it has in Steve Averill's jacket design. These additional "unique selling points" tend to creep in over the years as publishers understandably seek new ways to offload their last few copies without going to Remainder status.

If I ever write a book or books, I rather fancy it will only happen after a number of musical and/or theatrical projects are first sent floating out to find their destinies. The book I get asked to write most often is some sort of memoir but publishers and I tend to disagree with the financial value of such an enterprise. Not, I hasten to add, because I have a grossly over-inflated value of the saleability of my writing, but because the time devoted to such a project would automatically knock off my worktable 2 or 3 of the other projects I'd just rather be working on.

[Clash Cadillac]

If I ever write a book or books, I rather fancy it will only happen after a number of musical and/or theatrical projects are first sent floating out to find their destinies. The book I get asked to write most often is some sort of memoir but publishers and I tend to disagree with the financial value of such an enterprise. Not, I hasten to add, because I have a grossly over-inflated value of the saleability of my writing, but because the time devoted to such a project would automatically knock off my worktable 2 or 3 of the other projects I'd just rather be working on.

Well the publishers need to pull their heads out...

Have they ever read a sample of your writing style? I read as often as time permits find your writing style very appealing (even though some subjects and references are over my head). I guess I will have to settle for this forum for now.

[Shaz]

I got a copy of the book off Amazon some time ago, and can confirm it is well worth reading. It's a wonderful tribute to your father, Philip.

[territa]

If I ever write a book or books, I rather fancy it will only happen after a number of musical and/or theatrical projects are first sent floating out to find their destinies. The book I get asked to write most often is some sort of memoir but publishers and I tend to disagree with the financial value of such an enterprise. Not, I hasten to add, because I have a grossly over-inflated value of the saleability of my writing, but because the time devoted to such a project would automatically knock off my worktable 2 or 3 of the other projects I'd just rather be working on.

Well the publishers need to pull their heads out...

Have they ever read a sample of your writing style? I read as often as time permits find your writing style very appealing (even though some subjects and references are over my head). I guess I will have to settle for this forum for now.

I agree. What might work is a compilation of the nuggets scattered throughout these fora... and someone else could put that together. Just a thought.

[jennylois]

Philip,
How frustrating if your illness has prevented you from working on the projects you mentioned. Hope you are feeling better now and able to get back to them. Love hearing all the things you are doing, your creativity is inspiring!

[Christine]

My copy just arrived. At first glance: good on the publishers for overcoming their natural stingyness and putting in lots of great photos. And I was struck with how much you look like your dad, Philip!

[CraigBatty]

"Lost Theatres..." is a lovely book indeed. A labour of love on Mr C's part which was well worthwhile IMO...

[Clash Cadillac]

I mentioned this book to my friend Harry who is an avid book collector and voracious reader he ordered one the same day. This pleased me to no end as it is rare that I bring up a book that Harry has not already read if it has anything to do with his native Ireland. I had not gotten around to purchasing it myself so I will have to browse Harry's copy in the next few days.

Also, Harry wanted to know more details about your fathers involvement in theater Philip. I was not able to find any information on the internet. Can you point me to an internet link that I can pass on to Harry?

[philipchevron]

I mentioned this book to my friend Harry who is an avid book collector and voracious reader he ordered one the same day. This pleased me to no end as it is rare that I bring up a book that Harry has not already read if it has anything to do with his native Ireland. I had not gotten around to purchasing it myself so I will have to browse Harry's copy in the next few days.

Also, Harry wanted to know more details about your fathers involvement in theater Philip. I was not able to find any information on the internet. Can you point me to an internet link that I can pass on to Harry?

To tell you the truth, most of the available info is in my Forward in the book.

Incidentally, a book on the 136-year old history of Dublin's famous Gaiety Theatre has just been published, written by Robert O'Byrne and published by the theatre itself. I warn you though - it costs 65 Euros, which is a lot in dollars these days.

[Clash Cadillac]

For further reading by Philip's father try these titles:

Noel Purcell: A Biography
Jimmy O'Dea: The Pride of the Coombe

[Clash Cadillac]

Philip,

I went for a visit to Doc Harry's today and he had this book sitting on his table. The "lost" copy finally turned up. I only skimmed it for a few minutes and look forward to receiving the copy you pointed me to last week (I guess it will now find a home in my library rather than Harry's). Harry really seemed to enjoy it although he mentioned that many of these these theatres were "lost" before his time.

[philipchevron]

Philip,

I went for a visit to Doc Harry's today and he had this book sitting on his table. The "lost" copy finally turned up. I only skimmed it for a few minutes and look forward to receiving the copy you pointed me to last week (I guess it will now find a home in my library rather than Harry's). Harry really seemed to enjoy it although he mentioned that many of these these theatres were "lost" before his time.

Yes, it sometimes comes as a surprise to people to learn that Dublin had theatres back in the 18th century!

[Clash Cadillac]

Well Philip my copy arrived yesterday and it was pristine. Harry's was well read and had a dark stain on the fore-edge (Harry guessed it may have been spilled Guinness). I enjoyed the forward and remembered how Harry grinned from ear to ear the previous day when he related how you threw the tantrum while being forced to leave after the pantomime at age 3. Your anecdote brought joy and maybe surfaced an old memory for my friend. It was nice to see. Thanks again for your assistance.