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Collins' Music Hall, 10/11 Islington Green, London

Above - Image of the original frontage of Collins' Music Hall - Courtesy Peter Charlton

Collins' Music Hall in London's Islington Green was a conversion of a public house called the Lansdowne Arms and was created by the Irish Vocalist and Music Hall entertainer Sam Collins, whose real name was Sam Vagg, in 1863. The Music Hall itself was formed at the rear of the pub and Collins only ran it for two and a half years before his death in 1865.

Right - Programme for 'Strippingly Saucy' at Collins' Music Hall in March 1950 - Click to see entire programme.

The Music Hall was reconstructed in 1897 but furthur extension of the building was no longer possible afterwards as it backed onto a former burial ground called New Bunhill Fields.

In 1958 a major fire in the building resulted in the demolition of almost everything apart from its frontage and side walls, although according to the Theatres Trust there are apparently some traces of the original escape staircases still in existence, but there is nothing left of the original music hall itself.

In 2008 a Waterstones Book Shop occupies the site but a new Theatre, to be called Collins Theatre is currently being constructed on the corner of Islington Green and Essex Road and is being undertaken by Sally Greene, head of the Collins Theatre Trust. The Theatre will occupy part of the site of the old Music Hall but sadly the Frontage of the old hall will not form the entrance to the new Theatre as it is already occupied. The Theatre will have seating for 600 people and the whole building, estimated to cost around £26m, will also include bars, restaurants, and 72 flats. The complex is planned to be completed in 2009.

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed at Collins' Music Hall in 1886.

Above - Collins' Music Hall auditorium and stage - From an original engraving by D. J. Higgins - Very kindly sent in by Sue Sokhan. The engraving is currently availiable for sale at Manor House Antiques & Collectables

Islington Green, situated at the junction of the High Street with Upper Street and Essex Road, contains a statue of Sir Hugh Myddelton of New River fame, erected in 1862 near the corner of Upper Street and Essex Road. On the north side of the Green is the Collins' Music Hall.

Right - Bill advertising 'Easter Parade' at Collins' Music Hall in April 1950.

A notable building on the west side of Upper Street is the former Agricultural Hall, opened on 13 December 1862 It has a second entrance in Liverpool Road, and before the last war was used for all kinds of exhibitions, particularly those of a commercial character. It is now a department of the General Post Office.

Farther north on the opposite side of Upper Street is St Mary's Church, the successor to one or more churches occupying the same site.

Left - Collins' Music Hall Bill for 1944 - Courtesy Colin Charman whose Grandmother, Little Ena Dayne, was on the Bill for that week, along with Joe Murgatroyd, Marie Lloyd and De Haven & Page.

The old parish church was pulled down in 1751 and rebuilt at a cost of £7,340. It has a handsome tower surmounted by a spire of Portland stone. The foundation-stone was laid by James Colebrooke, the largest landed proprietor in the parish, on 28 August 1751. The building was opened on 26 May 1754. Close to St Mary's Church is the new Islington Town Hall, erected in 1921. It is a spacious building with a facade of Portland stone, but its appearance might be greatly enhanced by the addition of a lofty clock-tower. Adjoining the Town Hall is the Islington Public Library and at the back in Halton Road are several fine blocks of Council flats.

Upper Street, leading to Highbury Station and Holloway Road, is the principal shopping thoroughfare of Islington, and is about a mile in length. Its buildings are very old-fashioned and shabby in appearance, and the great majority of them would look all the better for redecoration or a cleaning with the steam brush.

Right - Collins' Music Hall Auditorium - Courtesy Peter Charlton.

No rebuilding ever takes place in Upper Street, and compared, for instance, to Brixton Road in South London, it is a great disappointment to the casual visitor to these parts, and suggests that almost anything is good enough for the people of North London. Many buildings at the northern end have been destroyed or damaged by bombing including the facade of Highbury Station and some houses opposite in Compton Terrace which were demolished by a flying rocket in August 1944. Compton Terrace is flanked by a pleasant public garden extending for some distance along Upper Street. In the centre of Compton Terrace is the Union Chapel which is crowned by a tall and handsome Gothic tower...

The above text is an extract from 'The Face Of London' by Harold P. Clunn, 1956 on Islington Green.