The Sunderland and Newcastle theatre star who laced Eric and Ernie's soup

Anton Petrov lived a life which was probably never equalled by anyone in the world.

After all, who else could say that they had worked as an intelligence officer in World War II, kept theatre goers enthralled in Sunderland and Newcastle, and once laced the soup of Morecambe and Wise!

Anton could and here’s his story, told with the help of Philip Curtis from Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

He lived in Sunderland for over 25 years, initially living at Roker before settling down in Foyle Street.

Anton was born in Prague and studied law and philosophy in his native Czechoslovakia.

He was encouraged to learn the piano by his mother who was an operatic singer. When aged only 13, Anton toured Australia as accompanist for her.

In 1939, he arrived in England and studied at the Royal Academy of Music before serving with the Intelligence Corps in the Middle East during the Second World War.

After the war Anton, he appeared in theatres throughout Britain and, in 1957, worked for four years as Musical Director at the Palace Theatre in Newcastle before coming to Sunderland in 1961.

He stayed for 14 years before becoming resident pianist at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle.

During the 1960s and 70s Anton was appointed as the resident Musical Director at the Sunderland Empire in 1961 after the theatre’s director, Reginald Birks, ended the services of the Empire’s full time pit orchestra. This was done only after agreement with the Musician’s Union that he appoint at least one permanent musician on a full-time basis - that musician was Anton Petrov.

Anton would play the old Bechstein grand piano in the pit, entertaining the audience before curtain up.

He was always resplendent in tails with a fresh carnation in his button-hole. He would usually get the audience’s attention by coughing loudly and lifting the keyboard cover before removing what appeared to be an enormous handkerchief from the top pocket of his dinner jacket and wafting it over the piano with exaggerated movement.

But what about those links with Eric and Ernie?

In 1972, Morecambe and Wise were appearing on the Michael Parkinson television show when Eric reminisced about Anton, and how both Eric and Ernie once had to run for their lives.

This was when he was working as pianist and cook for a circus with which they were all touring. Eric said Anton had laced everyone’s soup with Epsom Salts. Eric continued: “Anton was a marvellous character – I wonder where he is now?”.

Well of course he was alive, well and resident in Sunderland.

Our thanks go to Philip and the Antiquarian Society.

You can also find out more about the society by getting along to its Heritage Centre which is open in Douro Terrace on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9.30am to 12pm.

You can also visit the Antiquarian Society’s Facebook page or its website which is at http://www.sunderland-antiquarians.org

And to apply to become a member, email [email protected]