Alhambra Theatre of Variety

Coordinates: 51°30′38″N 0°07′45″W / 51.5105°N 0.12915°W / 51.5105; -0.12915
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Alhambra Theatre
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This article is about the former theatre in London. For other uses, see Alhambra Theatres.

Alhambra Theatre
1854 Royal Panopticon
1858 Alhambra Circus
1864 Alhambra Music Hall
1884 Alhambra Theatre
Also: Royal Alhambra Palace; Alhambra Theatre of Varieties; Theatre Royal, Alhambra; Great United States Circus and New Alhambra Theatre
The Alhambra Theatre dominated Leicester Square in 1874
Map
Address23–27 Leicester Square
Westminster, London
Coordinates51°30′38″N 0°07′45″W / 51.5105°N 0.12915°W / 51.5105; -0.12915
TypeMusic hall
Current useOdeon Leicester Square
(on site)
Construction
Rebuilt1866 & 1881 Perry and Reed
1884 Reed
1888 Edward Clark
1892 Clark and Pollard
1897 W. M. Bruton
1912 Frank Matcham
Years active1854–1936
ArchitectT. Hayter Lewis

The Alhambra was a popular theatre and

Bradford, in Hull and in Glasgow etc. The name comes from association with the Moorish splendour of the Alhambra palace in Granada
, Spain.

History

Origins

The Alhambra was originally known as the

scientific
demonstrations and popular education. This lasted for two years, and then the decision to add a circus ring was taken. When it reopened on 3 April 1858 it was renamed the Alhambra.

The 1858 building conversion to the Alhambra Circus, was also by T. Hayter Lewis. It had a 104 feet (31.7 m) frontage and was very tall for the time. It was built in a

Moorish style, with lavish fenestration, two towers and a dome, similar to the eponymous Bradford theatre in architectural style. It was a complete contrast with the neighbouring buildings. Inside there was a central rotunda 94 feet (29 m) in diameter and 94 feet (29 m) high. There was a secondary entrance to the rear on Charing Cross Road.[2]

The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
, performed his aerial act at the Alhambra.

The Leicester Square theatre's name was changed frequently, but usually reflected the building's (very loose) stylistic associations with the celebrated

Music Hall. Rebuildings occurred in 1866 and 1881, by Perry and Reed. From 1871, when it obtained a licence, an equestrian ballet was performed. From 1872 to 1898 (except for 1883–84) Georges Jacobi was musical director of the Alhambra. Over the years he composed more than 100 works for ballet, many of them performed at the Alhambra where for some years the prima ballerina was Emma Palladino
.

The Alhambra was destroyed by fire in 1882,[3] and was rebuilt in a more restrained style by Reed, reopening in 1884 as the Alhambra Theatre. Further rebuildings were in 1888 by Edward Clark, 1892 by Clark and Pollard, 1897 by W. M. Brutton, and in 1912 by the prolific theatre architect, Frank Matcham. Other names used during the life of the theatre were the Royal Alhambra Palace; Alhambra Theatre of Varieties; Theatre Royal, Alhambra; Great United States Circus and New Alhambra Theatre.[2]

Entertainments

London's Alhambra was predominantly used for the popular entertainment of the day, music hall. The usual music hall acts were performed, as well as the début of Jules Léotard performing his aerial act, above the heads of diners in May 1861. Other entertainments included "patriotic demonstrations" celebrating the British Empire and British military successes. The theatre also staged ballet and light opera. In the 1860s, John Hollingshead took over management at the Alhambra and made it famous for its sumptuous staging, alluring corps de ballet and the notorious front-of-house Promenade bar.[4] At its bars, the attractions of the Alhambra's ballet were not merely artistic:

You must please imagine yourself a man about town, with money in your pocket and a fancy for a night of pleasure. It is early in the year 1870. You find a congenial companion with similar inclination, and after a leisurely dinner at the club you find yourself looking at the Alhambra. You are purposely too late for the strident 'variety' with which the programme opens, but in easy time for the Ballet which concludes the first half and is followed by a long – a very long – interval. The interval is one of the main features of the show, for the huge basement canteen is open to any of the audience who think a visit worth while ... You wander down after the ballet, pick up a couple of dancers and buy them champagne. They are cheerful young women still wearing their scanty ballet costumes and with plenty to say for themselves. Nearly an hour passes in telling stories and gossiping about the crowd of swells and chorines who skirmish and lounge and laugh in the long, bare but well lighted room. It is now nearly time for the notorious

Can-Can, and you prepare to return to your seats. The ladies wish to say thank you for their wine, and each, with an arm round your neck or his, puts unmistakable provocation into her kiss. She probably ventures other familiarities, and certainly asks softly if you will be near the stage-door when the show is over.

— Michael Sadleir, Fanny by Gaslight
(1940)

The

Can-Can
as presented at the Alhambra by the 'Parisian Colonna' troupe proved so sexually provocative that in October 1870 the Alhambra was deprived of its dancing licence.

Programme cover from The Bing Boys Are Here, 1916, with caricatures of Alfred Lester as Oliver and George Robey as Lucifer

Another example of the fare on offer was this 1882 production, written by

J. R. Planche
:

Marian, the giant Amazon queen, will make her first appearance in England at the Royal Alhambra Theatre on Saturday, 8th July, in the magnificent silver armour scene in the enormously successful fairy extravaganza, "Babil & Bijou". This young lady was born on the 31st January, 1866, at Benkendorf, a village near the Thuringia Mountains, Germany, and has attained the remarkable height of 8 feet 2 inches (2.49 m), and is still growing.

— Alhambra Theatre poster. Marian the Giant Amazon Queen, 1882[5]

Early films were also a part of the entertainment, with

Prince Bismarck (1895).[7]
Merry had previously performed his lightning fast drawing as part of a music hall stage act.

During World War I, a series of hit

Nat D. Ayer with lyrics by Clifford Grey, and the text was by George Grossmith Jr.[8]

Like many other theatres, the Alhambra went into decline after World War I owing to the increasing popularity of cinema and radio. It was demolished in 1936 to make way for the

Odeon Leicester Square,[9] which remains on the site. The entrance on Charing Cross Road
has also been demolished and is now a modern office block.

Notes

  1. ^ It may be that his diminutive son (Dion Boucicault Jr.) played opposite this statuesque woman.

References

  1. ^ "The Odeon Leicester Square: Formerly – The Royal Panopticon of Science and Art / The Alhambra Theatre". arthurlloyd.co.uk. Arthur Lloyd Theatres. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b Alhambra Theatre (Arthur Lloyd) accessed 23 Oct 2007
  3. ^ A London theatre burned: The Alhambra, the home of pageants, totally destroyed 7 December 1882 (NY Times) accessed 23 Oct 2007
  4. ^ Stewart, Maurice. "The spark that lit the bonfire", in Gilbert and Sullivan News (London) Spring 2003.
  5. ^ British Library Collection Archived 27 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine accessed: 26 Nov 2006
  6. ^ Tom Merry Lightning Cartoonist, sketching Kaiser Wilhelm II, Birt Acres (1895) (BFI) Archived 25 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine accessed 3 Nov 2007
  7. ^ Tom Merry Lightning Cartoonist, sketching Bismarck, Birt Acres (1895) (BFI) Archived 25 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine accessed 3 Nov 2007
  8. ^ If You Were The Only Girl In The World (First World War) accessed 24 Oct 2007
  9. ^ "Demolition of the Alhambra Theatre, Leicester Square, London".

External links

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