OBITUARY
MR PALMER GORE.
The Reaper yesterday removed from our ranks one who was just beginning to be well known and well esteemed, viz., Mr E. Palmer Gore, manager of the Albion Picture Theatre. Like the "Mine Host" of other days, he stood at the entrance and his cheery smile welcomed the hundreds who nightly frequent this place of amusement, while his uniform courtesy and consideration were greatly appreciated. The late gentleman was engaged in the theatrical business with Messrs Haywards ever since he was a lad, with the exception of fourteen years, during which period he held two important positions in the Glasgow Corporation. The first municipal position he held was in the Tramway Department. Here he had control of that body’s numerous servants, a task that was heavy as far as actual work was concerned, and laden with responsibility. For nine years Mr Gore was employed in this way, receiving a transfer to the Halls’ Department. In this new sphere, the deceased was second in command and was duly helped in his duties by his life’s partner, Mrs Gore. It was while in this capacity that Mr Gore had the honour to wait on the King and Queen on more than one occasion during their visits to the city. During the five years he occupied this position the late gentleman and his wife were in constant touch with the nobility of England. Indeed it was Mr Gore who conducted Sir Joseph Ward round Glasgow when the Freedom of the City was presented to the Colonial Premiers some years ago. The deceased was known throughout the theatrical world of the United Kingdom, and including the time spent in New Zealand was engaged in the theatrical line, under the Hayward banner for a period of over twenty years. When the Hayward firm decided to come to this colony Mr Gore gave up his position with the corporation and followed the company he liked so well. Strange to say only five months ago he received a letter from the Glasgow Council asking him to come back to the position he had filled so excellently. His Majesty's Theatre, Christchurch, was in Mr Gore's hands for four and a half years after his arrival in the colony, and eleven months ago he came to Invercargill as manager of the Albion Theatre. During that short space of time he has become exceedingly popular, and the knowledge of his sudden death will come as sad tidings to his many friends. Mr Gore was on duty to the last, supervising the theatre on Wednesday evening. In the early hours of Thursday morning he died as the result of a heart seizure. A wife and son are left to mourn the loss of an excellent husband and father. The funeral will probably take place on Saturday. It is a very high compliment to Mr Gore to be able to say that though he has in his time had thousands of men under him, he never received one complaint. This speaks for itself, and does it not speak volumes? At the Popular Pictures last evening, at a suitable interval, Mr Credgington, the manager, paid a fine tribute to Mr Palmer Gore, whom he described as a champion good fellow. The action was a very worthy one, and was much appreciated by the late gentleman’s widow and friends. -Southland Times, 25/12/1918.
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