Barber's shop might go

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 1

Barber's shop might go

One man affected by the, possible sale of the Theatre Royal is Mr R. Crawford, owner of the Gloucester Street hairdressing shop next door to the main entrance to the theatre. Mr Crawford has occupied the premises since 1950. Stars from shows in the Theatre Royal have come to his salon for a trim during the time he has been there. “The first star I can remember who came in for a haircut was John Calvert, who was here in 1951,” Mr Crawford said. John Calvert, as a film star, played the detective in “The Falcon,” and was also a magician. When shows involving large casts, such as “Hot Ice” and “Kiwi Concert,” were playing, lots of them “popped in” for a haircut, Mr Crawford said. Over the years, he had) developed a show-! business clientele, especially with Australian, people who “did not want a short-back-and-sides.” Mr Crawford hopes that the Theatre Royal is not demolished, as Christchurch would lose a dis-, tinctive landmark.! “When I’m away on holiday, and people ask me where my shop is, they! know immediately when; 1 say ‘Next door to the Theatre Royal’,” he said.! “When Sandy Powell was in my shop having his hair cut, he told me he thought the Theatre Royal just the type for the music hall variety! show,” Mr Crawford said. If the theatre is not pulled down, Mr Crawford * hopes to put in a second floor in his salon, with decor similar to that of the theatre. “If it does come down, Ij hope to have something a little more palatial,” he said.