Theatre
Interior of Covent Garden theatre: 1800
Illustration of the interior of Covent Garden theatre. Etched and engraved by Heideldorf. This image is part of a group of images in the Massingham's album, which contains theatrical prints, autographed admission tickets and play bills, many relating to Edmund Kean. This album was originated by Mr. Massingham who was the box office keeper, at Drury Lane Theatre in 1800.
New Pavilion Theatre, Whitechapel: c.1905
Photographic image of The Pavilion Theatre in Whitechapel, seen from accross the street. Home of Yiddish Theatre in the East End, The Pavilion Theatre reached the height of its popularity in the early decades of the twentieth century, after which it went into decline and was forced to close in 1935.
Pollock's Toy Theatre: c.1850
Pollocks toy theatre. This toy theatre has a proscenium with an arch with ribbon ties, a wooden stage and flies unit incorporating a footlight insert. The orchestra is represented on the front panel of stage. Plays produced at the major and suburban theatres were full of exciting larger-than-life characters. Apart from the 'pin-up' portrait prints of actors in costume, print sellers sold model theatres to be constructed out of card and paper. They included stage fronts, sets and small figures for cutting out. Once made up, favourite scenes from popular plays could be acted out at home.
Alhambra Theatre programme cover: 1912
Alhambra Theatre programme cover. This theatre programme is for a variety show at the Alhambra Theatre, Leicester Square. The programme lists performances for the week commencing Monday 17 June 1912. The cover price was 6d [sixpence].
Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties programme: 1900
Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties programme. This theatre programme for the Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties features a colour chromoligthograph image of facade of theatre on the cover. The artists listed performing, on 22 October 1900, include the comedienne Vesta Victoria and the American Comedy Four described as 'Harmonious Part-singing Extraordinary'. The list of acts is bordered by numerous advertisements including pianos for sale, Sulpholine skin lotion, and alcoholic drinks and cigars sold in theatre outlets. Opened on 16 November 1857, as Weston's Music Hall, after its owner Charles Weston, the theatre was renamed the Royal Music Hall in 1868, and changed names again in 1892, becoming the Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties. The last surviving theatre in the West End to stage variety shows, it was destroyed during the Blitz in 1941.
Poster for a moving picture show, France, 1898.
Lithographic poster by Jules Cheret for Reynaud's 'Pantomimes Lumineuses' at his Theatre Optique (Optical Theatre). Emile Reynaud's (1844-1918) Theatre Optique was patented in 1888 and was a large-scale adaptation of his Praxinoscope. The 'Pantomimes Lumineuses', comprised a band of sequential pictures painted on a flexible strip, which was reeled through projection apparatus and projected on a large screen. It was first presented to the public in Paris in 1892, but was soon superceded by the realism of photographic moving images.
The Burning of Drury Lane Theatre from Westminster Bridge: 19th century
The Burning of Drury Lane Theatre from Westminster Bridge. Oil painting. View taken from Westminster Bridge where spectators and three firemen can be seen. The spire of St.Martin-in-the-Fields, St. Giles-in-the-Fields, St. Mary-le-Strand and St. Clement Danes, with York Building Waterworks Co. tower dominate the skyline. The Royal Terrace, the Adelphi and Somerset House are also visible and part of Lambeth shore is on the extreme right. Drury Lane Theatre (1791-4) was designed by Henry Holland and burnt down on the night of 24 February 1809. It was constructed primarily of wood, with bricks used only to fill in the framework. Luckily, the fire started just after eleven o'clock, when the theatre was empty. It took less than a quarter of an hour for the fire to engulf the entire building.
Astley's Theatre: 19th century
Astley's Theatre. An etching of the boarded-up and semi-derelict theatre facade. Astley's was situated on Westminster Bridge Road and was demolished in 1896.
View of Charing Cross Road and the Garrick Theatre: 1929
View of Charing Cross Road and the Garrick Theatre. George Davison Reid took this photo looking north along Charing Cross Road. He captured the theatrical and musical face of London's West End at the end of the 1920s. The London Hippodrome, The Alhambra and the Garrick Theatre are all included in the composition. At the Garrick, a young Laurence Olivier was playing a supporting role in The Stranger Within for the summer of 1929.
'The Duke's Theatre, in Dorset Gardens', London, c 1820.
Engraving by R Page published in about 1820, of the Dorset Garden Theatre (also known as the Duke's Theatre), designed by Christopher Wren (1632-1723) and opened in 1671. The theatre was built beside the River Thames, in Dorset Garden at Whitefriars, and could be reached by boat. The playwright Aphra Behn (1640-1689), who wrote several of the plays which where performed there, lived close by in Dorset Street. The theatre was demolished in 1709. Illustration from 'Encyclopaedia Londinensis, or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature' published in London, 1810-1829.
A Greek Slave from Daly's Theatre
A Greek Slave from Daly's Theatre, poster by John Hassall (1868-1948) and printed by David Allen & Sons Ltd. Poster. London, England, 1895.
New anatomical theatre, University of Rome, Italy, 1785-1805.
Engraving of the 'Nuovo Teatro Anatomico' or new anatomical theatre at the University of Rome in Italy. The Collegio Reale, later the university, was established in the late 18th century and enlarged in 1785 to provide for the study of sciences such as chemistry, anatomy and the theory and practice of medicine, and, in 1792, surgery and midwifery. The Anatomy Theatre shown here was probably built at this time. Two men are examining the disecting table in the centre of the room. Dimensions: 300 mm x 380 mm.
Toy Theatre: 1857
Toy Theatre. The publisher John Redington made this theatre in 1857. The stage is set for the last scene of The Corsican Brothers. This dramatic play ends with a sword fight to the death. The theatre features a Proscenium arch with ribbon ties, and a wooden stage and flies unit; a footlight insert is also incorporated. The orchestra is printed on the front panel of the stage.
Poster of The King Frog at Marylebone Theatre, by Oswald Allan
Poster of The King Frog at Marylebone Theatre, by Oswald Allan. London, England, 1875.
The Bear Garden and the Globe Theatre, Bankside, London, c 16th-17th century.
Engraving by E J Roberts made c 1820, of the Bear Garden where bears were baited by mastiffs for entertainment, and the Globe Theatre which opened in 1599. It burned down in 1613 and was rebuilt, but was finally closed down by the Puritans in 1642. A new Globe was opened in 1997, close to the original site in Southwark. The plays of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) are performed in the modern Globe, as they were in the 16th century Globe. Below are 17th century checks or tokens for the theatre in Dorset Gardens. Illustration from 'Encyclopaedia Londinensis, or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature' published in London (1810-1829).
'Great Yarmouth', BR (ER) poster, 1959.
Poster produced for British Railways (BR) Eastern Region (ER), promoting rail travel to the Norfolk seaside resort of Great Yarmouth, showing an aerial view of the beach, sea and the Britannia Pier, with the Marina Open Air Theatre in the foreground. The theatre was built in 1937 but was demolished in 1979 to make way for a new seafront leisure complex. Artwork by Bagley. Dimensions: 1010mm x 635mm. Printed by Jordison & Co Ltd, London & Middlesbrough.
Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square
Photograph of the exterior of the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. The Playhouse, which was once a music hall but then England's oldest repertory theatre, opened as a theatre in 1911. The style of the older part of the theatre is inspired by the teachings of the architect Charles Reilly who adapted many features of Greek architecture to create a distinctive style. The extension, which is the main focus of this composition, was built in 1966-8. The great curves of glass are interesting when juxtaposed with the original theatre. In the newer area the theatres entrance, restaurant and bar are situated. The corner of the department store George Henry Lee's is visible in the right of the composition and St John's Precinct is on the far left.
