Oxford Music Hall
Encyclopedia
Oxford Music Hall was a music hall
located in Westminster
, London
at the corner of Oxford Street
and Tottenham Court Road
. It was established on the site of a former public house
, the Boar and Castle, by Charles Morton
, in 1861. The hall was converted into a legitimate theatre in 1917, but the theatre closed in 1926 and was demolished. The site was occupied by the first Virgin Megastore
from 1979, which was rebranded as Zavvi in 2007.
, many music halls imitating the formula opened in London. The Oxford Music Hall was designed by Messrs Finch Hill
and Edward Paraire. The architecturally ambitious hall included deep balconies on three sides and a wide stage in front of an apse. It opened on 26 March 1861 as Morton's competitor to the nearby Weston's Music Hall
despite Henry Weston's appeal to the magistrates that there were already too many music halls in the area. At the opening, opera singers Charles Santley
and Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa
performed.
The hall quickly became one of London's most popular music halls and was run by Morton and his brother in law, Frederick Stanley. The partners continued to run the Canterbury, with acts moving between the halls in coaches. Many notable performers of the day appeared at the Oxford Music Hall, including Marie Lloyd
, George Robey
and Arthur Roberts, and the hall was famous for its lively barmaids. The barrister Arthur Munby
visited the hall in March 1862 and found that:
The hall burned down on 11 February 1868 and again on 1 November 1872, but each time it was rebuilt by the same firm of architects; and over the years the hall was enlarged. By 1873, a square proscenium
replaced the apse, and benches replaced the supper tables – with a broad promenade running where the rear balcony boxes had been – reflecting changes in the way music halls were used. The Entr'acte wrote in 1881: "As a structure, the Oxford is, in our humble opinion, the handsomest hall in London."
In its early years, the hall offered a significant amount of classical music in its programmes. However, in 1879, Charles Dickens
wrote that "the operatic selections which were at one time the distinguishing feature of the Oxford have of late years been discontinued", and the hall's programmes after that date evidence a move to popular musical forms. In 1891, the Oxford became a 'Syndicate Hall' under the management of the company that also managed the Tivoli and London Pavilion
. This period of the theatre was captured by Walter Sickert
in a series of paintings in 1892. The theatre was rebuilt to a design by Wylson and Long, with a conventional stage, 1,040 seats including boxes, domed ceiling and opulently decorated interior, and reopened on 31 January 1893. In 1891, George Robey
and in 1895, Harry Tate
made their solo débuts on the stage.
In 1917, the hall was converted into a legitimate theatre, and the musical The Better 'Ole
, by well-known cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather
, enjoyed a run of 811 performances. In 1921, the Phoenix Society revived Ben Jonson
's long forgotten Bartholomew Fair. Later that year, the theatre was renovated by Charles Cochran, and a mix of films and plays were shown. In 1926, the theatre closed and was demolished.
A large Lyons Corner House restaurant was later built on the site. From 1979, this much-modified building was occupied by the first Virgin Megastore
, which was rebranded as Zavvi in 2007.
The 1860s stage and bar of the Oxford was recreated for a 1944 film, Champagne Charlie
, with the lion comique and 'top of the bill' Alfred Vance
played by Stanley Holloway
.
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
located in Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the corner of Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
and Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road is a major road in central London, United Kingdom, running from St Giles Circus north to Euston Road, near the border of the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile...
. It was established on the site of a former public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, the Boar and Castle, by Charles Morton
Charles Morton (impresario)
Charles Morton was a Music hall and theatre manager. Born in Hackney, he built the first purpose built tavern Music hall, the Canterbury Music Hall, and became known as the Father of the Halls.-Canterbury Hall:...
, in 1861. The hall was converted into a legitimate theatre in 1917, but the theatre closed in 1926 and was demolished. The site was occupied by the first Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international chain of record shops, founded by Sir Richard Branson on London's Oxford Street in early 1971. Virgin Megastores are best described today as entertainment retailers....
from 1979, which was rebranded as Zavvi in 2007.
History
After the success of the Canterbury Music HallCanterbury Music Hall
The Canterbury Music Hall was established in 1852 by Charles Morton on the site of a former skittle alley adjacent to the Canterbury Tavern at 143 Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth. It was the first purpose-built music hall in London, and Morton came to be dubbed the Father of the Halls as hundreds...
, many music halls imitating the formula opened in London. The Oxford Music Hall was designed by Messrs Finch Hill
Finch Hill
William Finch Hill was a British theatre and music hall architect of the Victorian era.Little is known of Finch Hill's early life, he possibly obtained his early architectural experience in church building. He set himself up as 'surveyor and architect', predominantly building public houses. In...
and Edward Paraire. The architecturally ambitious hall included deep balconies on three sides and a wide stage in front of an apse. It opened on 26 March 1861 as Morton's competitor to the nearby Weston's Music Hall
Weston's Music Hall
Weston's Music Hall was a music hall and theatre that opened on 16 November 1857 at 242-245 High Holborn. In 1906, the theatre became known as the Holborn Empire.-Early years:...
despite Henry Weston's appeal to the magistrates that there were already too many music halls in the area. At the opening, opera singers Charles Santley
Charles Santley
Sir Charles Santley was an English-born opera and oratorio star with a bravuraFrom the Italian verb bravare, to show off. A florid, ostentatious style or a passage of music requiring technical skill technique who became the most eminent English baritone and male concert singer of the Victorian era...
and Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa
Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa
Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa was a British operatic soprano who established the Carl Rosa Opera Company together with second husband Carl Rosa...
performed.
The hall quickly became one of London's most popular music halls and was run by Morton and his brother in law, Frederick Stanley. The partners continued to run the Canterbury, with acts moving between the halls in coaches. Many notable performers of the day appeared at the Oxford Music Hall, including Marie Lloyd
Marie Lloyd
Matilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
, George Robey
George Robey
Sir George Edward Wade , better known by his stage name, George Robey, was an English music hall comedian and star. He was marketed as the "Prime Minister of Mirth".-Early life:...
and Arthur Roberts, and the hall was famous for its lively barmaids. The barrister Arthur Munby
Arthur Munby
Arthur Joseph Munby was a Victorian British diarist, poet, barrister and solicitor. He is also known by his initials, A. J. Munby.-Biography:...
visited the hall in March 1862 and found that:
- The great gay glaring hall & balconies were crammed in every part; there was barely standing room in the crowd, which was chiefly made up of men; business men, clerks, & others, of no very refined aspect. …
- Socially speaking, the audience were a good deal higher than those I have seen in similar Halls at Islington & elsewhere. One result of this was, that the women present were whores, instead of respectable wives & sweethearts. Therefore another result was, that there was nothing wholesome or genial in the folks’ enjoyment: they drank their grog staring gloomily or lewdly grimacing; and the worthless dread of your neighbour which halfeducated respectability creates kept them silent and selfish.
The hall burned down on 11 February 1868 and again on 1 November 1872, but each time it was rebuilt by the same firm of architects; and over the years the hall was enlarged. By 1873, a square proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
replaced the apse, and benches replaced the supper tables – with a broad promenade running where the rear balcony boxes had been – reflecting changes in the way music halls were used. The Entr'acte wrote in 1881: "As a structure, the Oxford is, in our humble opinion, the handsomest hall in London."
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
wrote that "the operatic selections which were at one time the distinguishing feature of the Oxford have of late years been discontinued", and the hall's programmes after that date evidence a move to popular musical forms. In 1891, the Oxford became a 'Syndicate Hall' under the management of the company that also managed the Tivoli and London Pavilion
London Pavilion
The London Pavilion is a building located on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Coventry Street on the north-east side of, and facing, Piccadilly Circus in London...
. This period of the theatre was captured by Walter Sickert
Walter Sickert
Walter Richard Sickert , born in Munich, Germany, was a painter who was a member of the Camden Town Group in London. He was an important influence on distinctively British styles of avant-garde art in the 20th century....
in a series of paintings in 1892. The theatre was rebuilt to a design by Wylson and Long, with a conventional stage, 1,040 seats including boxes, domed ceiling and opulently decorated interior, and reopened on 31 January 1893. In 1891, George Robey
George Robey
Sir George Edward Wade , better known by his stage name, George Robey, was an English music hall comedian and star. He was marketed as the "Prime Minister of Mirth".-Early life:...
and in 1895, Harry Tate
Harry Tate
Harry Tate was an English comedian who performed both in the music halls and in films. Born in 1872 as Ronald Macdonald Hutchinson, he worked for Henry Tate & Sons, Sugar Refiners before going on the stage, and took his stage name from them.-Career:Tate made his debut at the Oxford Music Hall in...
made their solo débuts on the stage.
In 1917, the hall was converted into a legitimate theatre, and the musical The Better 'Ole
The Better 'Ole
The Better 'Ole, also called The Romance of Old Bill, is an Edwardian musical comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliott, music by Herman Darewski, and lyrics by Percival Knight and James Heard, based on the cartoon character Old Bill, an infantryman, drawn by Bairnsfather...
, by well-known cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather
Bruce Bairnsfather
Captain Bruce Bairnsfather was a prominent British humorist and cartoonist. His best-known cartoon character is Old Bill...
, enjoyed a run of 811 performances. In 1921, the Phoenix Society revived Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems...
's long forgotten Bartholomew Fair. Later that year, the theatre was renovated by Charles Cochran, and a mix of films and plays were shown. In 1926, the theatre closed and was demolished.
A large Lyons Corner House restaurant was later built on the site. From 1979, this much-modified building was occupied by the first Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international chain of record shops, founded by Sir Richard Branson on London's Oxford Street in early 1971. Virgin Megastores are best described today as entertainment retailers....
, which was rebranded as Zavvi in 2007.
The 1860s stage and bar of the Oxford was recreated for a 1944 film, Champagne Charlie
Champagne Charlie (film)
Champagne Charlie is a 1944 British musical film made by Ealing Studios. It is based on an 1860s play that depicted the real life rivalry between George Leybourne, who first performed the song of that name, and Alfred Vance....
, with the lion comique and 'top of the bill' Alfred Vance
Alfred Vance
Alfred Peek Stevens , best known by his stage name Alfred Vance, was an English singer in the 19th Century music halls.-Early life and family:Vance was born in London in 1839...
played by Stanley Holloway
Stanley Holloway
Stanley Augustus Holloway, OBE was an English stage and film actor, comedian, singer, poet and monologist. He was famous for his comic and character roles on stage and screen, especially that of Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady...
.