THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

Pat Collins display at Bloxwich Library.  Picture by Stuart Williams.

Dateline:  1 May 2009

A display celebrating the 150th birthday of 19th and early 20th century fairgound and cinema mogul Pat Collins, known as "The Bloxwich Showman", has opened at Bloxwich Library in Elmore Row.

It incorporates historic photographs, mainly from the collections of Walsall Local History Centre, newscuttings from Pat Collins:  King of Showmen by Freda Allen and Ned Williams, and text by Stuart Williams with additional information from Ned Williams.

Collins, who was born in Chester on 12th May 1859, became one of the most famous fairground entrpreneurs from the late 19th century up until his death in 1943.  He was also a pioneer of commercial cinema in the Black Country.  His Grosvenor Cinema of 1922, heavily modified internally over the years,  is still in use as a youth centre, The Electric Palace, and is one of the most prominent buildings in Bloxwich High Street. 

Collins was also a Liberal Councillor, later Alderman and became Mayor of Walsall and MP for the Borough in his parallel civic career as a local politician. before being granted the Freedoom of the Borough in 1939.  His name is still proudly borne by the present Pat Collins Fun Fair which is run by Councillor Anthony Harris, based in Brownhills.

The timely exhibit is a joint effort between Walsall Local History Centre, which has supplied the photographs, text and other images, and staff of Bloxwich Library, who have designed and created the display using the material supplied.

Visitors are welcome during normal Bloxwich Library opening hours:

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