Rigg – Leonard Wood Rigg

Leonard Wood Rigg

Leonard Wood Rigg was born to Thomas and Ann Rigg on 5th March 1874 whilst they were living at Heaps Rd, Rochdale. His father was a Bookkeeper and he was the eldest of 4 siblings. We know very little about his early life but at the 1891 Census, Leonard was living with his parents and siblings at 63 Mizzy Rd, Wardleworth, Rochdale. Leonard was working as an Apprentice Dyer (there is some uncertainty on that description). Census Record In 1897 Leonard’s mother Ann died. He took his middle name Wood from her maiden surname as was common in those days.

On September 17th 1899 he married Gertrude Holt Sutcliffe at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Smith St, Rochdale. The witnesses were Robert Sutcliffe, father, Bessy Sutcliffe, mother, Ethel May Sutcliffe, sister, John Hamer Sutcliffe, brother, Thomas Rigg, father, Frank Rigg, brother, and Joseph Stott. At the date they were married Leonard was living at 29 Edward Street, Rochdale and Gertrude was living at 84 Drake Street, Rochdale. Her father was an Optician and had a General Store at that address, selling optical products along with a wide range of other general merchandise. We can see from both her obituary in 1947 and other records that Gertrude was a talented musician and also linguist. As Leonard also was an accomplished musician it is quite likely that this is the arena in which they became acquainted.

In the 1901 Census Leonard and Gertrude were living at 22 Aubrey St, Castleton, Rochdale, and Leonard was working as a Commercial Traveller (Chemicals). We do not know if he was still working as a Commercial Traveller, and perhaps his job took him to places that he later visited as a musician, or opened his eyes to a wider world than Rochdale, but the following articles from Newspaper archives, indicate he was travelling around the country performing in stage and music shows. The first of these is in Derby and appears to be over the period of December 1902 through to September 1905.

From correspondence we know that at some period during 1905 or 1906 Leonard Wood Rigg and Adeline Beatrice Zarina Tankerville meet and start a relationship. Adeline being also a music hall and operatic singer and dancer we have to presume that they met in the theatrical arena. During 1905 Leonard Wood Rigg appears to have changed his name or started to refer to himself as simply Leon Wood, and again it has to be an assumption that he felt it was a better stage name or that he was trying to lose himself or distance himself from his wife Gertrude Holt Rigg. There is no record of them ever getting divorced and Gertrude retained the surname Rigg untill her death in 1947.

Leon continued to produce, conduct and perform in stage shows up and down the country. In July 1906, aged 32, Leon is shown to be Acting Manager at the Colosseum Theatre in Blackpool and by November of that same year he becomes Manager and Zarina is a performer at the same venue. During this period from November 1906 until at least March 1907 Leon was also doing a touring show of “An English Belle” along with Bert Rutley.

May 1905, Article in The ERA. This is the first time we see Bert Albert Rutley teamed up with Leon, in Sheffield. This is the one that we have the framed picture of. SHEFFIELD AMUSEMENTS NEXT WEEK. The booking at the Theatre Royal the musical comedy pantomimic burlesque, English Belle,” which comes to Sheffield for the first time. Bright music, smart dialogue, bristling fun, and graceful dancing are said the main features of the entertainment. The period of the play is the year 1800. The first act is set in a picturesque Cornwall fishing village, and the second in the Island of Cameo in the Pacific. The scenery and costumes form pleasing pictures. The company is that Messrs. Bert Albert Rutley and Leon Wood, and includes Mademoiselle Lucretia, recently returned from a visit to Australia; Miss Gertrude Wasley , Mr. George Welch, Mr. Fred Alberto, and Mr. Albert Rutley. (6) 22 June 1905, Article in The Stage. Leon’s and Albert Rutley’s company performing in the Prince of Wales theatre, Nuneaton. (7) 6 October 1905, Article in The Whitby Gazette. Leon and Albert Rutley’s company performing in the Spa theatre, Whitby, Yorkshire. (8) 2 November 1905, Article in the Falkirk Herald. One week later and the same company is in Falkirk, Scotland (9) 1 December 1905, Article in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald Less than a month later the same performance at The Kings Theatre, Kilmarnock. (10) 08 March 1906, Advert in The Stage. Leon and A F Allen-Tower looking for venues to perform their musical burlesque comedy The Hindustanee from 26th March onwards. The return address is The Empire Oxford. (11) 5 May 1906, Article in The ERA. A review of the new production of The Hindustanee, 2 months later in Darwen, just south of Blackburn, Lancashire. (12) 25 May 1906, .Frank’s Notes. Leon Wood writes to Madam Tankerville (Zarina’s mother) from Banbridge, Northern Ireland. 07 June 1906, Article in The Brighton Gazette. Leon and Bert Rutley performing An English Belle at The Aquarium, Brighton. (13) 05 July 1906, Article in the Stage. Moving on two months later to Levenshulme, South Manchester, though this appears to be a further new costume variety show. (14) 26 July 1906, Article in The Stage. Looking for artistes of all types to perform at The Colosseum, Blackpool (15) 17 August 1906, Article in The Music Hall and Theatre Review. Leon is listed as Acting Manager at The Colosseum in Blackpool. This is the earliest reference to him in Blackpool (16) 02 November 1906, Article in The Music Hall and Theatre Review. 4 months later and Leon is Manager of the Colosseum Theatre, in Blackpool and Mdlle Zarina is a performer. (17) 16 November 1906, Article in The Music Hall and Theatre Review. Leon is named as General Manager of The Colosseum Theatre. It is a variety show including Mdlle Zarina, The New Zealand Animated Pictures Co along with vocals and a novel trapeze act. (18) 14 February 1907, Postcard from Leon to Zarina. Leon writes to Zarina from 22 Guildford St, London, W C.  In it he says “met G more of anon” – Does G mean Gertrude, his first wife who he had not divorced? (19) 28 February 1907, Article in The Stage. Leon and Bert Rutley performing An English Belle at The Grand, Mansfield for 6 nights (20) 29 March 1907, Article in The Music Hall and Theatre Review. Leon listed as General Manager at The Colosseum Theatre, Blackpool (21) 11 April 1907, Franks Notes. Zarina writes to her mother from Enniskillen. Northern Ireland (22)

In October 1907, Leon’s father Thomas Robert Rigg passed away in Rochdale, Lancashire, England, at the age of 60. No records can be found as to whether Leon attended the funeral. It would appear that when he died Leon was now working for a company called The Elster Grime Operatic Co. and was touring in Ireland, and in early 1908 his first of 10 children with Zarina, Thomas Godfrey was born. Thomas G was born in Mullingar, Westmeath, Ireland on 17th February 1908. There is no record of Leon and Zarina officially getting married, so we have to assume that they simply co habited and Zarina took the name Wood as on birth certificates for the children she is listed with a surname of Wood (formerly Tankerville). (23)

At the 1911 Census on 02 April, Leon Wood lived at 68 Gordon Rd, Fareham, Hampshire, England, with Rina Wood (Zarina) and their son Godfrey. Leon was a Manager of Cinematographic Theatres and Rina was an Operatic Vocalist. We have to assume that this was a temporary address and that they were still touring, as 6 weeks later they had a new address when sending a postcard to his mother in law. On the 17th May 1911, their second child, Anna Zarina, was born in Weymouth, Dorset.

During late 1911 and early 1912 the family seem to have moved, more permanently to Saltburn by the Sea, Yorkshire where Leon takes over the running of Pictureland a theatre hall in the town. The family stayed in Saltburn until after July 1917 when their daughter, Stella Beatrice Louise, was born on 17th July 1917, and their next child Edith Muriel was born on 8^th April 1919 in Holywell, Cheshire. In the mean time, whilst at Saltburn, two more children were bon. Ernest Ridley Tankerville Wood was born on 21^st July 1912 and Edward Arnold Wood was born on 19^th July 1914.

During their period in Saltburn, Leon was trialling new forms of music hall and theatre by combining traditional variety acts with the “new” format of film. He was clearly an entrepreneur, though as can be seen from his bankruptcy hearing, not always entirely successful.

15 May 1911, Postcard from Leon to Madam Tankerville. Postcard to Madam Tankerville from 25 Ventnor Rd, Portland, “R. going along finely. Hopes to be up Wednesday. Write to her when you can.” This was a Monday and two days later their daughter was born. (40) 09 November 1911, Advert in The Stage. Leon advertising his services as a Manager- Conductor, c/o Electric Theatre, Saltburn, Yorkshire. (41) 11 January 1912, Advert in The Stage. Leon again advertising his services as Manager, Conductor. (42) 15 February 1912, Advert in the Bioscope. Leon has recently taken over the Pictureland in Saltburn and is looking for lists and catalogues from the Trade. (43) 25 April 1912, Letter published in The Bioscope. Leon complains about “Stock Companies” in a letter that is in response to an article in The Bioscope. (44) 02 May 1912, Letter in the Bioscope. A Mr J A Morgan refutes Leon’s letter in the previous issue of The Bioscope. (45) 11 July 1912, Advert in the Bioscope. PICTURELAND.” Saltburn; valuable freehold’ property (Picture Hall running), together with house adjoining, for immediate disposal.–Full particular’s from John Stephen. 134, High Street, Stockton-on Tees. (46) 15 August 1912, Advert in The Bioscope. Leon is advertising for Lists etc. as manager of the newly opened Tivoli Palace at Carlin How, North Yorkshire. (47) 23 January 1913, Article in The Bioscope. Leon endorses and advert for a Kamm Projector in The Bioscope. (48) 20 February 1913, Register of Companies in The Stage. Leon is registered as Proprietor of “The Operatics” in a listing in The Stage, first performing in Carrick on Suir, Ireland in December 1910 (49) 25 September 1913, Article in The Bioscope. A review of Leon’s productions at Pictureland, Saltburn. (50) 25 September 1913, Advert in The Stage. Leon as Manager of Pictureland is advertising for attractions to go on stage at Saltburn. (51) 8 January 1914, Advertorial in The Bioscope. Leon extols the benefits of his style of performances of novelty concert parties along with cinematic pictures that included At Handgrips with Death, Playmates of Death and From Circus to Racecourse. The programme changes 3 times per week and is one of the most popular in Yorkshire. (52) 12 March 1914, Advertorial in The Bioscope. Under the direction of Mr Leon Wood, a well-known provincial exhibitor, the theatre known as Pictureland, Saltburn, continues to do excellent business……..” (53) 06 May 1914, Notice in The North Eastern Daily Gazette. The Pierrots were very popular at seaside resorts and clearly Leon wanted part of the action. This was an acceptance by the local council of an offer from Leon. “It was decided to accept the offer of Mr Leon Wood, £4 for the use of the sands for Pierrots” (54) 18 June 1914, Article in The Bioscope. Claims that concert parties and films kept his theatre always full. (55)  05 September 1914, Article in The Yorkshire Post. Bankruptcy Receiving order. (56) 01 October 1914, Article in The Bioscope. Notification of Bankruptcy. The first meeting of the creditors of Leon Wood, of 40 Eden St, Saltburn was held a week earlier in Middlesbrough. Liabilities totalled £68 15s 10d. (Almost £6,000 at 2020 rates) (57) 08 October 1914, Article in The Bioscope. A further article relating to the bankruptcy with more detail as to capital and income had resulted in the demise. It also appeared that Zarina subsequently rented the hall and Leon continued to operate the business. (58) 04 December 1914. Tivoli Theatre Carlin How burnt down. The Tivoli Theatre at Carlin How, Saltburn burns down. Apparently the reason for the fire was a mystery! (59) 5 September 1915, Leon and Zarina in Saltburn by the Sea. Living at 30 Pearl Street, Saltburn by the Sea (60) 28 April 1916, Article in The Whitby Gazette, Leon was granted a License under the Cinematograph Act for the Parochial Hall and Pictureland for a period of 12 months. (61)

After his bankruptcy in 1914 it seems that Zarina took on the tenancy/leases etc. and Leon continued to run the shows, until in April 1916 Leon applied and was successfully granted a License under the Cinematograph Act for the Parochial Hall and Pictureland for a period of 12 months.

There is a gap now of about 2 years where it is unclear what Leon was doing, but Zarina had moved to Flintshire at some stage before April 1919 when Edith Muriel was born, but on 11 September 1920, his and Zarina’s son Clarence Arthur was born in Holywell, Cheshire where it appears that the family finally settle as this area around Chester is where the current descendants still reside. Sadly Clarence only survived for 3 months passing away on 15th December 1920.

The next time that we have clear evidence of his whereabouts is in November 1921 when he is listed as a committee member of the CEA –(Cinematic Exhibitors Association) in North Staffordshire followed by a period up to 1923 where he is listed as Manager of The Imperial Picture Playhouse in Burslem, Staffordshire, whilst in that year his and Zarina’s daughter Doreen Gwenfrewi (Frewi) was born on March 9, 1923, in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales.

Moving on to August 1924 Leon is cited in an article in The ERA to be the Music Director at The County Theatre in Bangor, North Wales. It must be at around this point that he met and had a relationship with Irene Barsotti, a Violinist who was again performing in Theatre and Music Hall around the country. As a result of their relationship, a son Dennis  Barsotti was born on 4^th August 1926 at St David’s Hospital, Bangor, North Wales. Leon was 52 and Irene 22 when their son was born! Interestingly Bangor to Holywell where Zarina was living is only about 40 miles.

Leon must have still have been in a relationship with Zarina in late 1925, early 1926 as their final child Mona Amouritta was born only 4 months later on 29^th December 1926 in Holywell, Flintshire, North Wales.

03 November 1921, Article in The Bioscope. Leon is listed as seconder of a resolution for the CEA (Cinematic Exhibitors Association) in North Staffordshire (63) 11 January 1922, Article in the Staffordshire Sentinel. Notification of transfer of a License of the Imperial Playhouse, Burslem, from James Charles Pico (who was also on the committee of the CEA) to Leon Wood. (64) 23 January 1923, Advert in The Staffordshire Sentinel. Advert for The Imperial Picture Playhouse in Burslem with Leon Wood listed as Manager (65) 23 January 1923, Article in The Bioscope. Leon is shown as being elected on to the General Committee of the North Staffs branch of The CEA (66) 02 August 1924, Article in The ERA. Leon is listed as having taken on the role of Musical Director at The County Theatre Bangor. North Wales (67) 04 August 1926, His and Irene Barsotti’s son Dennis Barsotti was born on August 4, 1926, in 4 The Promenade, Llanfairfechan, Bangor, Caernarvonshire, Wales. Another address on the certificate was given as 45 Livingstone Place, Newport, South Wales. (68)

Again we have a small period where Leon’s whereabouts are unknown but the next known location was in 1929 where we have a photograph of him playing Double Bass in the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra. This last period of his life would appear to be in and around the Norwich area as we find a letter dated 18^th October 1933, in The Somerset Courier, where Leon writes to a Mr Toms, where he states that he is Organist and Choirmaster at Colton Church and the conductor of The Odeon Orchestra in Norwich.

We have to surmise that at some stage in 1933 he was left with his son Dennis Barsotti. We have two points that confirm this. 1) Dennis Barsotti can remember his mum Irene Barsotti and Leon having an argument at the bungalow in New Costessey where he lived, and Irene poured a bucket of “slops” over his head and left. 2) In February of 1933 Irene left England and travelled by ship to live in Malta on her own. Dennis Barsotti spent the first 5-6 years of his life touring the country with his mother Irene in theatre and music hall.

At this stage from memories of my father, Dennis Barsotti, Leon was beginning to suffer from ill health and possibly drink, as he was admitted to The Wicklewood Institute on March 21^st 1934 and remained there for 3 weeks – quite who was looking after his son Dennis Barsotti during this period is unclear – but needless to say that on 17^th May that same year, Dennis himself was taken into care, where he would remain for the next 10 years.

We have little news on Leon after this apart from one time in August 1937 when he sent his son Dennis a letter and some cigarette picture cards to the Barnardo’s home in Bromborough, Cheshire where he was living at the time, a copy of a programme for the Norwich Philharmonic Society where he is listed as Double Bass player in February 1938 and a further newspaper article where he went to court over a motoring accident in July 1938.

1929. Photograph. Leon playing in the Orchestra with a double bass – Noted as being in Norwich (69) 1933. Dennis Wood arrives in Norwich. Dennis Wood remembers Irene arriving at the bungalow and arguing with Leon and leaving him with his father in Norwich. (Assumption on dates) (70) 18 October 1933, Article in The Courier (Somerset). Leon writes to a Mr Toms of Wellington explaining that he as organist and choirmaster at Colton Church and conductor of The Odeon Orchestra in Norwich, where he plays his Orchestra in St Michaels and St Martins parish churches. They “play appropriate selections, hymns, and even chants” and “the vicars of both churches are quite enthusiastic on its help” (71) 1934. Dennis living with his father Leon at Siegfried, Three Mile Lane, Stafford Avenue, Norwich (72) 21 March 1934, Leon admitted to Wicklewood Leon admitted to Wicklewood Institute, Norwich from 21st March untill 11th April 1934 (73) 17 May 1934, Dennis Barsotti admitted to Wicklewood Institute. His father was listed as Leon Rigg alias Leon Wood on the paperwork. (74) 26 August 1937, Leon sends letter to Dennis. Leon sends a letter and 10 Cigarette cards to Dennis at Bromborough, from his Barnardo’s records. (75) 17 February 1938, Norwich Philharmonic Society, Leon Wood listed as a Double Bass player in the Orchestra – Mabel Glendenning is also listed as a Friend of the Society. We have an original programme. (76) 16 July 1938, In an article in The Norwich Journal – a copy of the report is shown here.

Norwich. CASE DISMISSED Leon Wood, of “Siegfried Bungalow.” New Costessey, was summoned for driving a motor car without due care and attention at Newmarket Road on June 22nd. _ .. He pleaded not guilty through Mr. Ronald Solomon (Messrs, Daynes, Keefe and Durrant). David Goodman, of 9 Branksome Close, said that defendant’s car came out of a side road, and it appeared obvious to him that its driver had not looked to see if there was any other traffic coming along Newmarket Road. Defendant drove straight across witness s Path, causing him to swerve his car violently to the offside and collide with a tree. Questioned by Mr. Solomon, witness agreed that he came into very violent contact with the tree, and that his car was totally wrecked. He further agreed that his brakes were very efficient and that he could have pulled up in about ten yards, but he did not attempt to as he didn’t think that defendant would drive out across his path. Before the incident, h’ was not travelling quickly, but he accelerated to about to 45 miles per hour to avoid collision with defendant. Percy Frazer, of 158. Motum Road. Norwich, estimated Mr. Goodman’s speed at 20 to 25 miles per hour, and said that the accident was due to defendant failing to give way and let the other car pass. A twelve-year-old girl gave similar evidence. Police-constables A. Stockdale and H. Waddicon also gave evidence. The latter said that defendant told him he looked both ways as he entered Newmarket Road, and saw another car approaching about 100 yards away at an excessive speed He turned into the nearside of Newmarket Road, but the other car cut front him, swerved, and collided with the tree. Mr. Solomon submitted that there was no case to answer, contending that Mr. Goodman was hurtling along in a great hurry, and that perhaps his client was exercising rather undue caution. The case was dismissed. (77)

It was on 13 August 1940 that Leon Wood died. Leon was in The Vale, Swainsthorpe, Norwich, when he died of Kidney failure, and senile dementia on 13^th August 1940, aged 66. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Norwich

31 August 1940, Obituary in The Rochdale Observer. Rigg – At Norwich, on August 16th Leonard Wood Rigg (78) It is unclear who arranged this.