Terry's Theatre
Encyclopedia
Terry's Theatre was a West End theatre
on Strand
, in the City of Westminster
, London. Built in 1887, it became a cinema in 1910 before being demolished in 1923.
, the Old Coal Hole, and was designed by Walter Emden
for the publican, Charles Wilmot and a Dr Web. The theatre was built to accommodate 800, seated in pit and stalls, balcony and a dress circle. Fountain's Court was named for 'Fountain's Tavern', where the Fountain Club met – formed by Robert Walpole
's political opponents. In 1826, Edmund Kean
, the actor, founded a late supper club here, known as the 'Wolf Club' for carousing. It ran until the 1850s, introducing entertainments similar to Evans Music-and-Supper Rooms
, in nearby Covent Garden
.
Edward O'Connor Terry
, as owner-manager, opened the theatre on 17 October 1887, with the farce The Churchwarden, followed by The Woman Hater. Terry had been the leading comedian of the Royal Strand Theatre
and then starred in John Hollingshead
's company at the Gaiety
before entering theatre management. He achieved considerable success with his own production of Arthur Wing Pinero
's Sweet Lavender, which opened at Terry's Theatre on 21 March 1888 and ran for 683 performances, producing a £20,000 profit. The play was quickly revived and ran for a further 737 performances. Its cast included: Terry, Brandon Thomas
, Maude Millett and Carlotta Addison.
Thomas Hardy
's The Three Wayfarers premièred at the theatre on 3 June 1893 with four other one act plays on the bill. This was typical of theatres of the time, offering 3–4 one-act plays commencing at 7:45pm, and running until 11pm. Many of the principal parts would be taken by Terry, himself, with other members of a permanent company sharing the other roles. Pinero also wrote "In Chancery" (1890) and "The Times" (1892) for the theatre. Law's farce The New Boy played in 1894.
In 1894, Edward Laurillard
became manager of the theatre, producing King Kodak, opening on 30 April 1894, with music by Alfred Plumpton and lyrics by Arthur Branscombe and a score by Walter Slaughter
. Little Christopher Columbus
transferred to the theatre in 1894. Stephens and Yardley's The Passport played at the theatre in 1895. Madeline Ryley's Jedbury Junior playec in 1896. W. H. Griffiths became manager, and there was a further success for Slaughter, with the opening of The French Maid
, on 24 April 1897, transferring the following year to the Vaudeville Theatre
and running for a total of 480 performances, with Louie Pounds
in the title role, before transferring to New York. During the Christmas season, 1897–98, a series of matinees consisting of short musicals for children by Basil Hood
and Walter Slaughter
played with much success at the theatre.
With Frederick Mouillot installed as manager, My Lady Molly
, a comic opera, ran for 342 performances between 14 March 1903–16 January 1904. Ib and Little Christina
was revived at the theatre for short runs in both 1903 and 1904.Wearing, J.P. The London Stage 1900-1909 (2 vols), Scarecrow (1981) ISBN 081081403
The theatre was remodelled by Frank Matcham
in 1905, and in 1906 H. A. Jones' comedy The Heroic Stubs premièred. After further changes to the building, it was reopened on 24 October 1910 as the Grand Casino cinema, a part of the "Bey Circuit". It was finally demolished in 1923 to facilitate a road widening scheme. An office block, named Norman House stands on the site, with shops below. The modern Coal Hole public house stands near, but not on, the former site of the theatre.
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
on Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
, in the City of 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. Built in 1887, it became a cinema in 1910 before being demolished in 1923.
History
The theatre was built in 1887, near Fountain's Court, on the site of a former public housePublic 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 Old Coal Hole, and was designed by Walter Emden
Walter Emden
Walter Lawrence Emden was one of the leading English theatre and music hall architects in the building boom of 1885 to 1915.-Biography:...
for the publican, Charles Wilmot and a Dr Web. The theatre was built to accommodate 800, seated in pit and stalls, balcony and a dress circle. Fountain's Court was named for 'Fountain's Tavern', where the Fountain Club met – formed by Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....
's political opponents. In 1826, Edmund Kean
Edmund Kean
Edmund Kean was an English actor, regarded in his time as the greatest ever.-Early life:Kean was born in London. His father was probably Edmund Kean, an architect’s clerk, and his mother was an actress, Anne Carey, daughter of the 18th century composer and playwright Henry Carey...
, the actor, founded a late supper club here, known as the 'Wolf Club' for carousing. It ran until the 1850s, introducing entertainments similar to Evans Music-and-Supper Rooms
Evans Music-and-Supper Rooms
Evans Music-and-Supper Rooms, 43 King Street, Covent Garden, was a famous venue for music and singing in early nineteenth century London, providing the type of entertainment which later evolved into music hall....
, in nearby Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
.
Edward O'Connor Terry
Edward O'Connor Terry
Edward O'Connor Terry , English actor, who became one of the most influential actors and comedians of the Victorian era.-Life and career:...
, as owner-manager, opened the theatre on 17 October 1887, with the farce The Churchwarden, followed by The Woman Hater. Terry had been the leading comedian of the Royal Strand Theatre
Royal Strand Theatre
The Royal Strand Theatre was located in Strand in the City of Westminster. The theatre was built on the site of a panorama in 1832, and in 1882 was rebuilt by the prolific theatre architect Charles J. Phipps...
and then starred in John Hollingshead
John Hollingshead
John Hollingshead was an English theatrical impresario, journalist and writer during the latter half of the 19th century. He is best remembered as the first manager of the Gaiety Theatre, London...
's company at the Gaiety
Gaiety Theatre, London
The Gaiety Theatre, London was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was established as the Strand Musick Hall , in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. It was rebuilt several times, but closed from the beginning of World War II...
before entering theatre management. He achieved considerable success with his own production of Arthur Wing Pinero
Arthur Wing Pinero
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was an English actor and later an important dramatist and stage director.-Biography:...
's Sweet Lavender, which opened at Terry's Theatre on 21 March 1888 and ran for 683 performances, producing a £20,000 profit. The play was quickly revived and ran for a further 737 performances. Its cast included: Terry, Brandon Thomas
Brandon Thomas
Walter Brandon Thomas was an English actor, playwright and song writer, best known as the author of the farce Charley's Aunt....
, Maude Millett and Carlotta Addison.
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
's The Three Wayfarers premièred at the theatre on 3 June 1893 with four other one act plays on the bill. This was typical of theatres of the time, offering 3–4 one-act plays commencing at 7:45pm, and running until 11pm. Many of the principal parts would be taken by Terry, himself, with other members of a permanent company sharing the other roles. Pinero also wrote "In Chancery" (1890) and "The Times" (1892) for the theatre. Law's farce The New Boy played in 1894.
In 1894, Edward Laurillard
Edward Laurillard
Edward Laurillard was a cinema and theatre producer in London and New York during the first third of the 20th century...
became manager of the theatre, producing King Kodak, opening on 30 April 1894, with music by Alfred Plumpton and lyrics by Arthur Branscombe and a score by Walter Slaughter
Walter Slaughter
Walter Alfred Slaughter was an English conductor and composer of musical comedy, comic opera and children's shows. He was engaged in the West End as a composer and musical director from 1883 to 1904.-Life and career:...
. Little Christopher Columbus
Little Christopher Columbus
Little Christopher Columbus is a burlesque opera in two acts, with music by Ivan Caryll and Gustave Kerker and a libretto by George R. Sims and Cecil Raleigh. It opened on 10 October 1893 at the Lyric Theatre in London and then transferred to Terry's Theatre, running for a total of 421...
transferred to the theatre in 1894. Stephens and Yardley's The Passport played at the theatre in 1895. Madeline Ryley's Jedbury Junior playec in 1896. W. H. Griffiths became manager, and there was a further success for Slaughter, with the opening of The French Maid
The French Maid
The French Maid is a musical comedy in two acts by Basil Hood, with music by Walter Slaughter, first produced at the Theatre Royal, Bath, England, under the management of Milton Bode on the 4 April 1896. It then opened London's Terry's Theatre under the management of W. H...
, on 24 April 1897, transferring the following year to the Vaudeville Theatre
Vaudeville Theatre
The Vaudeville Theatre is a West End theatre on The Strand in the City of Westminster. As the name suggests, the theatre held mostly vaudeville shows and musical revues in its early days. It opened in 1870 and was rebuilt twice, although each new building retained elements of the previous...
and running for a total of 480 performances, with Louie Pounds
Louie Pounds
Louisa Emma Amelia "Louie" Pounds was an English singer and actress, known for her performances in musical comedies and in mezzo-soprano roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company....
in the title role, before transferring to New York. During the Christmas season, 1897–98, a series of matinees consisting of short musicals for children by Basil Hood
Basil Hood
Basil Willett Charles Hood was a British librettist and lyricist, perhaps best known for writing the libretti of half a dozen Savoy Operas and for his English adaptations of operettas, including The Merry Widow. He embarked on a career in the British army, writing theatrical pieces in his spare...
and Walter Slaughter
Walter Slaughter
Walter Alfred Slaughter was an English conductor and composer of musical comedy, comic opera and children's shows. He was engaged in the West End as a composer and musical director from 1883 to 1904.-Life and career:...
played with much success at the theatre.
With Frederick Mouillot installed as manager, My Lady Molly
My Lady Molly
My Lady Molly is a comic opera in two acts with a libretto by George H. Jessop, with additional lyrics by Percy Greenbank and Charles H. Taylor, and music by Sidney Jones. It opened at the Theatre Royal in Brighton, England, on 11 August 1902 and then at Terry's Theatre in London on 14 March 1903,...
, a comic opera, ran for 342 performances between 14 March 1903–16 January 1904. Ib and Little Christina
Ib and Little Christina
Ib and Little Christina refers to two theatrical adaptations by Basil Hood of the 1855 fairy tale by Hans Andersen of the same name.The first was a play styled "A Picture in 3 Parts", with incidental music by Arthur Bruhns and was first produced at the Prince of Wales Theatre, opening on 15 May...
was revived at the theatre for short runs in both 1903 and 1904.Wearing, J.P. The London Stage 1900-1909 (2 vols), Scarecrow (1981) ISBN 081081403
The theatre was remodelled by Frank Matcham
Frank Matcham
Frank Matcham was a famous English theatrical architect. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.-Early career:...
in 1905, and in 1906 H. A. Jones' comedy The Heroic Stubs premièred. After further changes to the building, it was reopened on 24 October 1910 as the Grand Casino cinema, a part of the "Bey Circuit". It was finally demolished in 1923 to facilitate a road widening scheme. An office block, named Norman House stands on the site, with shops below. The modern Coal Hole public house stands near, but not on, the former site of the theatre.
External links
- Terry's Theatre (Arthur Lloyd theatre history)