Alhambra Theatre

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This article is about the former theatre in London. Alhambra Theatres were located throughout the British Empire, significant examples were located in London, Bradford, Hull and Glasgow

The Alhambra is a former theatre located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End. This theatre was established in 1854 and demolished in 1936. It was also the name adopted by many other English Music Hall theatres. Significant ones were located in London, Bradford, Hull and Glasgow. The name comes from association with the Moorish splendour of The Alhambra palace in Granada.

In 1874 Leicester Square was dominated by London's Alhambra Theatre.

1 Origins
- 1.1 Entertainments
- 1.2 Notes & References
2 External links

[edit] Origins

The Alhambra theatre in London, was a popular theatre in Leicester Square, London, England, but was demolished in 1936. It was built at 23-27 Leicester Square in 1854 by T. Hayter Lewis as The Royal Panopticon, a venue for scientific demonstrations and popular education. This was a commercial failure.

In 1858 the building was converted to the Alhambra Circus, also by T. Hayter Lewis. It had a 104 foot 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 in diameter and 94 feet high. There was a secondary entrance to the rear on Charing Cross Road.

Jules Léotard, 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 Alhambra in Granada, Spain. In 1858 it was the Alhambra Circus. By 1864 it had become the Alhambra Music Hall. Rebuildings occurred in 1866 and 1881, by Perry and Reed. From 1871, when it obtained a licence, an equestrian ballet was performed. 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 W. M. Bruton, 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.

[edit] 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.

The attractions of the ballet at the Alhambra in the Victorian era 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 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...' (Fanny by Gaslight (1940) by Michael Sadleir).

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

Another example of the fare on offer was, this 1882 production, written by Dion Boucicault^[1] and 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, and is still growing.^[2]

Like many other theatres the Alhambra went into decline in the 20th century due to the popularity of cinema and television. It was demolished in 1936 to make way for the Odeon Leicester Square, which remains on the site. The entrance on Charing Cross Road has also been demolished and is now a modern eponymous office block.