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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
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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
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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
217:. It was built originally as the Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two years and reopened as the Alhambra. The building was demolished in 1936. The name was also adopted by many other British music hall theatres located elsewhere; in
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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
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The
Alhambra was destroyed by fire in 1882, 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
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337:. 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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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The
Leicester Square theatre's name was changed frequently, but usually reflected the building's (very loose) stylistic associations with the celebrated
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and was a landmark building at 23–27 Leicester Square, completed in 1854 by T. Hayter Lewis as a venue for showcasing the finest in the arts and for
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performing his aerial act, above the heads of diners in May 1861. Other entertainments included "patriotic demonstrations" celebrating the
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Also: Royal
Alhambra Palace; Alhambra Theatre of Varieties; Theatre Royal, Alhambra; Great United States Circus and New Alhambra Theatre
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and the notorious front-of-house
Promenade bar. At its bars, the attractions of the Alhambra's ballet were not merely artistic:
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571:"The Odeon Leicester Square: Formerly – The Royal Panopticon of Science and Art / The Alhambra Theatre"
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310:. Rebuildings occurred in 1866 and 1881, by Perry and Reed. From 1871, when it obtained a licence, an
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475:(1895). Merry had previously performed his lightning fast drawing as part of a music hall stage act.
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took over management at the Alhambra and made it famous for its sumptuous staging, alluring
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Contemporary articles concerned with the former London Alhambra at victorianlondon.org
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Archive Material, Information, and Images on the Alhambra Theatre, Leicester Square.
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London's Alhambra was predominantly used for the popular entertainment of the day,
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style, with lavish fenestration, two towers and a dome, similar to the eponymous
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A London theatre burned: The Alhambra, the home of pageants, totally destroyed
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Another example of the fare on offer was this 1882 production, written by
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This article is about the former theatre in London. For other uses, see
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etc. The name comes from association with the Moorish splendour of the
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349:. The usual music hall acts were performed, as well as the début of
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725:"Demolition of the Alhambra Theatre, Leicester Square, London"
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Alhambra Theatre poster. Marian the Giant Amazon Queen, 1882
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Tom Merry Lightning Cartoonist, sketching Kaiser Wilhelm II
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has also been demolished and is now a modern office block.
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Former buildings and structures in the City of Westminster
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Early films were also a part of the entertainment, with
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and British military successes. The theatre also staged
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Stewart, Maurice. "The spark that lit the bonfire", in
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The Alhambra Theatre dominated Leicester Square in 1874
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was performed. From 1872 to 1898 (except for 1883–84)
688:Tom Merry Lightning Cartoonist, sketching Bismarck
516:with lyrics by Clifford Grey, and the text was by
512:(1918). The music for the revues was written by
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808:Former music hall venues in the United Kingdom
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843:Demolished buildings and structures in London
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287:The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
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833:1858 establishments in the United Kingdom
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27:Former theatre in London, United Kingdom
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710:If You Were The Only Girl In The World
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818:1882 disasters in the United Kingdom
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788:Former theatres in London
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52:1884 Alhambra Theatre
46:1854 Royal Panopticon
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518:George Grossmith Jr.
48:1858 Alhambra Circus
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548:Dion Boucicault Jr.
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469:Kaiser Wilhelm II
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365:. In the 1860s,
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144:Current use
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96:Coordinates
85:Westminster
823:1882 fires
782:Categories
558:References
461:Birt Acres
443:Benkendorf
424:as Lucifer
361:and light
347:music hall
312:equestrian
308:Music Hall
252:scientific
229:palace in
203:music hall
138:Music hall
106:51°30′38″N
581:12 August
465:Tom Merry
233:, Spain.
209:, in the
188:Architect
183:1854–1936
164:1884 Reed
149:(on site)
109:0°07′45″W
693:Archived
671:Archived
649:Archived
619:NY Times
448:—
385:—
296:Alhambra
267:Bradford
227:Alhambra
219:Bradford
211:West End
199:Alhambra
404:Can-Can
380:Can-Can
300:Granada
263:Moorish
242:Origins
237:History
231:Granada
223:Glasgow
159:Rebuilt
76:Address
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480:revues
396:(1940)
359:ballet
315:ballet
215:London
89:London
79:23–27
534:Notes
363:opera
304:Spain
172:1912
740:ISBN
583:2016
498:and
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134:Type
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