The Archive Room

David Callister explores Old Douglas with Lewin Cain who was born in the early 1900's and lived on Douglas Head Road all his life. He recalls the characters who lived and worked in the crowded streets around the harbour as he was growing up - and explains why even the police avoided Little Hell. There's even a mention of a murder!

Katherine Cowin talks about her Mother, the Coffee Palace and the Quay Hobblers ….

Alfie Gilmour has a selection of hilarious stories about his early working life at Todhunter and Ellis - and introduces us to more characters - including Buster Drum!

And we've our first meeting with 19 year old police cadet, Arthur Underhill - it's 1936, and the force is definitely short of some essential equipment ......

As we approach Hop Tu Naa we bring you the spooky story of Gef, the talking mongoose. Hear the story of Gef, told by people who knew the family and visited their home - then make your own decision!

Eva Kane, Douglas Buxton and Norah Moore share fascinating stories from the musical life of the Island from the early 1900's onwards.

In this episode of The Archive Room, we tell the story of Cunningham's Camp, and of the Falcon Cliff Hotel - plus there are memories of the Derby Castle, and we celebrate 100-year-old Laurence Kermode becoming the oldest person ever to compete and win a class in the Manx Music Festival

Memories and stories from managers and film-goers who remember the days when Manx cinemas were numerous - and always full to capacity - and we find out what happened when the Isle of Man was chosen as the location for an Irish film! And the identity of a mystery voice is revealed!

Douglas Buxton, Manx music legend, recalls the chance conversation which shaped his whole career; Norah Moore recalls another leading figure in the world of Manx music - her Father, Noah Moore, and Eva Kane shares some memories of the Falcon Cliff Hotel and her own career in showbusiness - plus - can you name the mystery voice?

Another chance to hear a few gems from the shelf marked 'Christmas' in the Archive Room - including an interview with Geraldine Jamieson - the Manx Radio presenter who never gave interviews!

As the George Formby classic film No Limit prepares to celebrate it's 90th birthday, we hear from people involved in making - and showing - it back in 1935 - and it's the final episode of our archive serial - The Little Dark Cupboard - spoiler alert - it's scary!!

ETHEL GALE - aged 98 - is full of stories of life down North at the turn of the last century and LAURENCE KERMODE - breaking records by being the oldest person ever to win a class in The Guild when he was aged 100, talks about his early years and his start in the entertainment world. Plus the penultimate episode of our archive serial - The Little Dark Cupboard

Stanley Karran, born in 1910, lived his whole life in Cregneash - so his fascinating stories are packed with gems of knowledge about the area - and David Callister and Terry Cringle go to the pictures, and chat with some of the cinema managers from the heyday of tourism