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John Mead @TMArchivist

Archive Manager for a UK National Newspaper Group all views are my own

Joined March 2016
  • Tweets 409
  • Following 164
  • Followers 55
339 Photos and videos
Day 12: The Grand Finale of #PantoChristmas! We’re ending at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle in 2000 with the legendary John Inman. Widely celebrated as the greatest Panto Dame of his era, seen here as the iconic Widow Twankey in ‘Aladdin.’ @mirrorpix
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Day 11 of #PantoChristmas: Theatre Royal, St Helens, 2017! Hometown hero Johnny Vegas (Magic Mirror) and Corrie’s Lucy-Jo Hudson (Snow White) team up for this ‘Snow White’ photocall! A legendary run that brought some serious star power to @StHelensTheatre @mirrorpix
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Day 10 of #PantoChristmas: Manchester Opera House, 1978! Absolute chaos during 'Dick Whittington' as a comedy dream team takes on a Bed of Nails! Frank Carson ("It's a cracker!") Basil Brush (Boom! Boom!) Ronnie Coyle All piled on top of strongman Barry Wall! @mirrorpix
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Day 9 of #PantoChristmas: Coventry Theatre, 1962! 🐱👢 A legendary comedy duo takes the stage for 'Puss in Boots'! Imagine the laughs behind the scenes with: 😂 Sid James ✨ Frankie Howerd Two of the greatest funnymen in British history. @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
31 Dec 2025
Day 8 of #PantoChristmas: Arts Theatre, London, 1950 Stepping back 75 years to a beautiful classic ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ 🕰️ Featuring a fantastic vintage lineup: Michael Atkinson as The Beast Jonathan Meddings as The Wizard Judy Nimmo as the adorable Baby Dragon! @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
30 Dec 2025
Day 7 of #PantoChristmas: Theatre Royal, Newcastle, 1972! We’re going backstage for final rehearsals with the late, legendary Stanley Baxter in ‘Mother Goose.’ Known for his spectacular costumes and quick-fire wit, Baxter made this production a North East classic. @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
29 Dec 2025
Day 6 of #PantoChristmas: Lewisham Concert Hall, 1977! It’s a ‘Dad’s Army’ reunion in ‘Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood’! Check out this incredible lineup: Bill Pertwee & Ian Lavender as The Robbers Melvyn Hayes as Dame Trot John Clegg as the Sheriff @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
28 Dec 2025
Day 5 of #PantoChristmas: Birmingham Hippodrome, 1974! It’s an ‘Aladdin’ photo-call featuring a star-studded Birmingham cast: 💅 The legendary Larry Grayson (Wishee Washee) 🎭 Alfred Marks OBE (Abanazar) 🌟 Dilys Watling (Aladdin) @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
27 Dec 2025
Day 4 of #PantoChristmas: Manchester Opera House, 1972! 🧚✨ Relive the magic as pop icon Lulu takes flight in rehearsals for ‘Peter Pan.’ Joining her in the clouds is 13-year-old Manchester local Simon Thompson, playing Michael Darling! @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
26 Dec 2025
Day 3 of #PantoChristmas: Manchester Palace, 1986 A legendary trio at the dress rehearsal for ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’: Windsor Davies Russ Abbot Bella Emberg A masterclass in Panto comedy! Who remembers seeing this iconic cast at the Palace Theatre? @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
25 Dec 2025
Day 2 of our #PantoChristmas takes us to rehearsals for 'Emu in Pantoland Georgina Moon as Sleeping Beauty Barbara New as the Tea Lady Carl Wayne (The Move) as Jack Billy Dainty as Jack's Mother Rod Hull and the legendary Emu! Did you see this show at the Empire? @mirrorpix
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John Mead retweeted
Birmingham Archives & Collections@TheIronRoom
24 Dec 2025
#Birmingham #Panto Here’s the rather dashing Mr Paul Cinquevalli playing Fritz at the Prince of Wales Theatre, 1899. A popular act as a juggler in the English music halls. Ref: (513710) L 08.2 Periodicals D/11 - The Birmingham Pantomime annual, 1899 @LibraryofBham
A sitting male figure with his head pointing to the right. His hair is parted and he has a waxed moustache. He is wearing a brocaded corset with an intricate design. A medallion is around his neck falling down to his chest. His arms are bare and he has stockings on his legs. Text at the bottom of the photo indicates who the figure is and where they will be performing in Birmingham.

ALT A sitting male figure with his head pointing to the right. His hair is parted and he has a waxed moustache. He is wearing a brocaded corset with an intricate design. A medallion is around his neck falling down to his chest. His arms are bare and he has stockings on his legs. Text at the bottom of the photo indicates who the figure is and where they will be performing in Birmingham.

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John Mead@TMArchivist
24 Dec 2025
On Day 1 of our #PantoChristmas, we’re heading back to Birmingham for this star-studded 'Cinderella'! ✨ Dame Anna Neagle as the Fairy Godmother 🕺 Lionel Blair directing & starring as Buttons Who else remembers this magical run? 👇 @mirrorpix #Brum #TheatreHistory"
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John Mead@TMArchivist
24 Dec 2025
Get ready for a front-row seat to panto history Starting today we’re bringing you 12 days of festive magic with a special series of iconic pantomime images from our archives From legendary Dames to classic principal boys stay tuned for a daily dose of Xmas nostalgia. @mirrorpix
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Sad to hear the news of the death of the author Jilly Cooper. Known for her raunchy novels also for her love of dogs and support for animal welfare charities. Seen here at home in 1982 with one of her dogs. Image taken by Mirror photographer Arthur Sidey. @mirrorpix #jillycooper
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John Mead@TMArchivist
30 Sep 2025
60 years ago today Thunderbirds aired for the first time on ATV blasting off from the Slough Trading Estate where it was filmed to destinations around the world. George Greenwell of The Mirror was invited to the studio shortly after the programme launched #mirrorpix #Thunderbirds
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John Mead@TMArchivist
15 Aug 2025
Daily Mirror cartoonist Philip Zec cartoon from the 15th Aug 1945 "And Now Let's Learn To Live Together!" A lesson that we still need to learn. Today we honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served, their bravery secured peace for generations to come #VJDay @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
15 Aug 2025
How the news of VJ day was reported at the time by some of the Reach titles. 80 years on we remember what we owe the veterans of the Far East campaign. They brought an end to the WWII. Lest we forget that many paid the ultimate sacrifice. #VJDay @mirrorpix
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John Mead@TMArchivist
11 Aug 2025
So sad to hear the news of the passing of Biddy Baxter. Editor of BBC's Blue Peter, who transformed the programme into a national institution. Seen here in the Blue Peter studio in January 1968. Thoughts and prayers with her family and friends #BiddyBaxter @mirrorpix
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The two atomic detonations at Hiroshima & Nagasaki stand as lasting reminders not only of the immense human tragedy that unfolded but of the profound danger of nuclear weapons pose to humanity in todays fractured world The cartoon by Zec is as pertinent now as it was in 1945
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