An exhibition of photographs of some of Hollywood’s greatest stars, including Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant goes on show at Glasgow Royal Concert hall on Saturday.
 

The photographs, which were taken in the mid-20th century by staff from the Glasgow Herald, the Evening Times, and the Bulletin, have been loaned by the Herald and Times group, and will be shown in the cafe area at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

A selection appear below:

The escapologist and magician Harry Houdini performed in Glasgow on many occasions. This photo of a performance was taken in 1920 and is the oldest image in the collection.


Judy Garland made her Glasgow debut at the Empire Theatre on Sauchiehall Street, a big challenge for a young performer, as Alison Kerr, the exhibition curator, explains in her blog.

“Back in the 1950s, and earlier, Glasgow was the often the first port of call for big entertainment stars performing in Scotland and some venues, notably the Empire Theatre, were viewed as the testing ground for acts. If you could survive the Empire, you could make it anywhere.”

Katharine Hepburn at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow during a 1952 run of The Millionairess, in which she played the world’s wealthiest woman.

These Glasgow children were thrilled to meet cowboy Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger at Central Station during their visit to Glasgow in 1954.

Posting on the Glasgow Guide website, Carmella recalls their arrival in Scotland: “I can remember as clearly now as at the time, his plane landing at Prestwick Airport and out he came with Dale onto the steps, and then from the back of the plane came Trigger. It was a marvellous thing for a wee lassie to see. My father had me on his shoulders so that I could see Roy Rogers. It’s a great memory.”

Cary Grant outside Regal Cinema Sauchiehall Street, 1958. Two year old David Marshall from Dunoon shakes his hand.

Elizabeth Taylor meets well-wishers after enjoying lunch at Glasgow restaurant Rogano in 1979.

Frank Sinatra visited Glasgow in 1953 and returned in July 1990 to play at Ibrox stadium.



Gene Kelly, the subject of a retrospective at this year’s Glasgow Film Festival, was also the inspiration for this exhibition. He visited Glasgow in 1953 on a research trip preparing for his role in Brigadoon, which was made in California and released the following year.

All these pictures and more can be purchased via our pictures website www.thepicturedesk.co.uk.

We would love to read about your encounters with the stars on their visits to Glasgow. Please use the comment facility below to share your memories.