Wolverhampton Grand at 125: Jeremy a box office attraction
Theatre-goer Jeremy Hobbs had queued for 20 minutes at the Grand's box office when he lost his temper, banged on the glass partition and declared: "This is absolute nonsense – something's got to be done."
He then complained to the Wolverhampton theatre's director and general manager Colin Angus who outlined the problems the box office were having.
As a result Mr Hobbs volunteered to help behind the counter for a couple of days a week.
The encounter took place in October 1983, not long after the theatre had re-opened following a three-year closure, and our picture shows him settling into his new role assisting box office manager Maureen Gage.
"I was irate when I banged on te glass," said Mr Hobbs, who ran a nursing home in the city. "What I didn't realise was the pressure the staff were under.
"The box office has been deluged with inquiries. There were three phones, now they are getting two more."
Reflecting a time before new technology was part and parcel of everyday life, he suggested the real root of their problems.
"Having seen the box office at work, I feel a lot of the criticism is unjustified. Unfortunately the staff don't have a computer, which I think is essential in a modern theatre. Using seat plans is old hat."
But he added that the service had "improved dramatically".
The image is reproduced here as the Express & Star joins with the Grand to mark the theatre’s milestone 125th anniversary later this year.
* If you have memories or pictures, email 125@grandtheatre.co.uk or write to 125 Memories Project, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, WV1 1DE.
