Jabez Wood - Theatre manager

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Hi, my paternal grandfather lived at 23 Airville Terrace, Utley during the late 1940s. His name was Jabez Wood. Although retired when I knew him I have found from an online 1901 census that a Jabez Wood was a theatre manager in Keighley and I wonder if it could have been my grandfather. Do you have any information that could shed light on this?

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Chris Wood

[kellytica]

Jabez Jackson Wood was the licensee of the Queen Street Arms pub in Keighley from 1903 until 1942. Prior to taking over the pub he was theatre manager at Jarrow in the North East, having some time previously been manager of the Queens Theatre Keighley and may also have managed a Theatre at Stoke on Trent.. As a result of these connections his pub which was fairly close to the Queens Theatre Keighley became a popular haunt for those appearing at the theatre.
Whilst at Jarrow Jabez Woods close friend was a fellow theatre manager named Arthur Jefferson; his son also called Arthur became a close childhood friend of Jabez Woods daughter Edith; they remained lifelong friends.
Edith & her husband Fred Riley took over the pub following her fathers death in 1942. Jefferson junior eventually became known as Stan Laurel one half of the world famous Laurel & Hardy comedy duo.
Laurel & Hardy who were appearing at the Alhambra Theatre Bradford toward the end of July 1952 visited Edith Riley at the Queen Street Arms on Saturday 28th July possibly the most famous of all the theatricals who had visited the pub.