On the small island of Bute there were several venues for the entertainers. They played in Rothesay, latterly in the Winter Gardens, in Port Bannatyne and at Ettrick Bay amongst other places. There were even evening cruises with entertainment aboard. The most famous of all the groups who played in Rothesay were the Fyfe and Fyfe Entertainers, among whose ranks were Reneé Houston and Charlie Kemble.

In Aberdeen, the Beach Pavilion was one of the finest sea-side venues. Harry Gordon - as the Laird of Inversnecky - brought joyful hilarity with his high quality character comedy and played there until 1940 when he commenced his great partnership with Will Fyffe in Tom Arnold’s pantomimes at the Alhambra, Glasgow. Situated within the town was the Tivoli theatre which first opened in 1872

In Ayr seaside entertainment owed a great debt to an impresario from Bradford, Mr Ben Popplewell and his family. In 1913 Mr Popplewell took over the lease of the Beach Pavilion to which he brought such stars as Dr Walford Bodie, the young Will Fyffe and the great Florrie Ford. In 1925 he refurbished the Gaiety Theatre and established its maxim: "Run by a family for all families"

Established stars such as Renee and Billie Houston, and Sir Harry Lauder blazed the trail for those who followed: Dave Willis, Robert Wilson, Jack Anthony, Tommy Morgan and above all the Gaiety’s undisputed champion, Johnny Beattie, who worked so hard to save it from the arch enemies of the variety playhouses - the bulldozer and the office block.