A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Vaudeville Theatre

by Alexis Chitty

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE, 404 Strand, London, was designed by Mr. C. J. Phipps, and opened April 16, 1870. Messrs. H. J. Montague, David James, and Thomas Thorne, lessees.

It may be useful here to give a list of the Theatres opened in London since the year 1866.

Alexandra Theatre, Park Street, Camden Town. J. T. Robinson, architect. Opened May 31, 1873; proprietor, Madame St. Claire. Afterwards called The Park; burned down Sept. 11, 1881.

Alhambra Theatre (New), Leicester Square. Opened Dec. 3, 1883. Perry & Reed, architects. Proprietors, the Alhambra Theatre Co., limited.

Aquarium Theatre, adjoining Westminster Aquarium, Tothill Street, S.W. Mr. A. Bedborough, architect. Opened April 15, 1876; first lessee, Mr. Edgar Bruce. Is now known as The Imperial.

Avenue, Northumberland Avenue, on site of house or gardens of Northumberland House. F. H. Fowler, architect. Opened March 11, 1882; proprietor, Mr. Sefton Parry.

Charing Cross, King William Street, Strand. Mr. Arthur Evers, architect. Opened June 19, 1869; first lessees, Messrs. Bradwell and Field. From Oct. 16, 1882, known as The Folly, and now as Toole's. Built on the site of the Lowther Rooms, where Blake's Masquerades were once held. It afterwards became the oratory of St. Philip Neri, and there Cardinal (then Dr.) Newman preached his famous sermons to Anglicans in Difficulties. It next became a Working Man's Club and Institute under the presidency of Lord Shaftesbury, and in 1855 was opened by Woodin as the Polygraphic Hall, for his monologue entertainments, after which it became the theatre as named above.

Comedy, Panton Street. Mr. Thos. Verity, architect. Opened Oct. 15, 1881; lessee, Mr. Alexander Henderson.

Court, Sloane Square. Mr. Walter Emden, architect. Opened Jan. 25, 1871; first lessee, Miss Marie Litton. The site was formerly occupied by a Methodist chapel; on April 16, 1870, was first known as The New Chelsea Theatre, and afterwards as The Belgravia.

Criterion, underneath the Restaurant of that name, Piccadilly. C. J. Phipps, architect. Opened March 21, 1874; lessees, Messrs. Spiers & Pond.

Elephant and Castle, opposite the Chatham and Dover Railway Station of that name. Messrs. Dean, Son & Co., architects. Opened Dec. 26, 1872; first lessee, E. T. Smith.

Empire, Leicester Square. Mr. Thos. Verity, architect. Opened April 17, 1884; proprietors, The Empire Co. Limited. Built on the site of Saville House, which was occupied from Feb. 14, 1806, to April 23, 1846, by Miss Linwood for her Gallery of Needle-work. Saville House afterwards became the Eldorado Music Hall and Café Chantant, and was burned down March 1, 1865.

Gaiety, Strand. C. J. Phipps, architect. Opened Dec. 21, 1868; lessee, Mr. John Hollingshead. Built on the site of the Strand Music Hall.

Globe. Mr. S. Simpson, builder. Opened Nov. 28, 1868; proprietor, Mr. Sefton Parry. Built on the site of Lyons Inn, an Old Chancery Inn of Court.

Grand, Islington. Mr. Frank Matcham, architect. Opened Aug. 4, 1883; first lessees, Messrs. Clarence Holt and Charles Willmott. Built on the site of the Philharmonic Music Hall and Theatre; burned down Sept. 6, 1882.

Holborn, High Holborn, W.C. Messrs. Finch Hill & Paraire, architects. Opened Oct. 6, 1866; proprietor, Mr. Sefton Parry. Afterwards known as The Mirror and Duke's; burned down July 5, 1880.

New Royal Amphitheatre, High Holborn, W.C. Thomas Smith, architect. Opened May 25, 1867; proprietors, Messrs. McCollum and Charman. Opened as a circus, but having at the same time a dramatic licence. Subsequently called The National Theatre, the Connaught, the Alcazar; now The Holborn Theatre.

Novelty, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn. Mr. Thomas Verity, architect. Opened Dec. 9, 1882; proprietors, The Novelty Co. Limited.

Opera Comique, Strand, Holywell and Wych Streets. F. H. Fowler, architect. Opened Oct. 29, 1870; first lessees, Messrs. Leslie, Steele, and Norton.

Prince's Theatre, Coventry Street, Haymarket Mr. C. J. Phipps, architect. Opened Jan. 18, 1884; proprietor, Mr. Edgar Bruce.

Queen's, Long Acre. C. J. Phipps, architect. Opened Oct. 24, 1867; first lessee, Alfred Wigan. Built on the site of St. Martin's Hall. About 1878 it ceased to exist as a theatre, and was sold to a Co-operative Association.

Savoy. C. J. Phipps, architect. Opened Oct. 10, 1881; proprietor, R. D'Oyley Carte.

Variety, Pittfield Street, Hoxton. C. J. Phipps, architect. Opened March 14, 1870; proprietor, Verrell Nunn.

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Appendix:

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE. To list of London Theatres under this head add:—

Terry's Theatre; architect, Walter Emden; lessee, Edward Terry. Opened Oct. 17, 1887.

Court Theatre (re-erected on a site near the former theatre of that name); architect, W. Emden; lessees, Mrs. John Wood and Mr. Arthur Chudleigh. Opened Sept. 24, 1888.

Shaftesbury Theatre; architect, C. J. Phipps; proprietor, John Lancaster. Opened Oct. 20, 1888.

Grand Theatre, Islington. Burnt down Dec. 28, 1887. Rebuilt; architect, Frank Matcham; lessee, Charles Wilmot. Re-opened Dec. 1, 1888.

Lyric Theatre; architect, C. J. Phipps; proprietor, Henry J. Leslie. Opened Dec. 18, 1888.