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The Fulham Theatre, Putney Bridge Approach and Fulham High Street, Fulham

Later - The Shilling Theatre / The Grand Theatre

Above - W. G. R. Sprague's Fulham Theatre, later the Grand Theatre, Fulham - From an early postcard

The Grand Theatre, Fulham was built by Pattinsons and Sons for Alexander F. Henderson and designed by the respected Theatre Architect, W. G. R. Sprague, with decorations by Mr De Jong. The Theatre's auditorium was built on four levels, stalls, dress circle, balcony, gallery, and boxes, and on opening could accommodate 2,239 people seated and standing, although this was later reduced to a more modest 1,132. The Theatre opened with a production of 'The Geisha' on Monday the 23rd of August 1897.

Right - A Programme for 'Mrs. Gorringe's Necklace' at the Fulham Theatre, 23rd September 1903.

From 1912 the Theatre was often in use as a Cinema called the Shilling Theatre, and by 1937 it was renamed the Grand Theatre, showing live performances again, although on Sundays it still showed Films.

The Theatre closed down in 1950 and then stood empty until it was finally demolished in 1958.

An office block called Redbank House was then built on the site.

OPENING OF THE FULHAM THEATRE
From the ERA, 28th of August 1897.

Mr Alexander F. Henderson's beautiful New Grand theatre at Fulham was opened on Monday last by Mr George Edwardes's Geisha company in The Geisha. The view of the front of the house was even more effective under artificial illumination than by daylight. The stately pillars which support the portico stood out, creamy-white, against the delicate shadows cast by it; and under the pure rays of the electric lamps every detail of the ornamentation was observable. This was especially the case with respect to the handsome group of statuary at the top of the building, the contours of which were vividly defined; while the ruddy transparency of the circular stained-glass windows was agreeably warm and rich. The vestibules, now completely decorated and swept, showed magnificently; and the auditorium, with its creamy tints touched with gold, and its ruby-coloured curtains and crimson lamp shades, as bright, comfortable, and cheerful as could be desired.

Above - An extract from a Programme for 'Mrs. Gorringe's Necklace' at the Fulham Theatre, 23rd September 1903.

With Mr Alex. F. Henderson to see that everything in front went smoothly, to hospitably receive his many friends, and to be as ubiquitous as is humanly possible, even to a manager on the opening night of his theatre, all went without a hitch. After the usual chorusing of the National Anthem, Mr Henderson, who was received with enthusiastic acclamation, appeared and said :—

"Ladies and Gentlemen, - My first duty is to offer you a sincere and hearty welcome. It is very gratifying to me to see this very large audience here to-night, for it assures me that no mistake has been made in erecting this theatre in your midst. In going over the map of this vast metropolis I found within a radius of few miles a population approaching half a million, souls without any place of amusement. This led me to approach a friend, and a very dear friend. I am very pleased to see him here to-night. He is too modest to come on the stage, but I am sure he shares with me the pleasure in welcoming you. When we discussed the question of building a theatre in this neighbourhood, he at once said yes, and, moreover, it shall be a theatre of no mean order, and, ladies and gentlemen, I think you will agree with me that in this particular he has kept his word.

Left - W. G. R. Sprague's Fulham Theatre, later the Grand Theatre, Fulham - From an early postcard

As lessee and manager it is my determination to place before you absolutely first-class attractions, and it will be my constant desire to study the comfort of all; whether it be my friends in the gallery or my patrons in the stalls. I do not intend to keep your time any longer, as I am sure you are most anxious to witness the beautiful play that I have been fortunate enough to secure for my opening attraction. I dare not leave the stage without introducing to you Mr Sprague, the architect. No words of mine can express the excellent work he has done, not only in this theatre, but in all the others that he has so successfully built. I should like to draw your attention to two very important and remarkable features in this theatre. The one is the total absence of columns in the auditorium, thus affording an uninterrupted view from all parts of the theatre, the other is, although my first wish will naturally be to fill the theatre, it can, if necessary, by means of the perfect system of exits, be emptied in under two minutes. On mentioning Mr Sprague I must not forget to express my sincere appreciation of the very valuable services rendered by everyone connected with the building, particularly to Messrs Pattinsons and Sons, the contractors; Messrs Vaughan and Brown, who have carried out the electric lighting so successfully; and to Messrs Lucas and Pyke, the consulting engineers, whose advice and assistance have been of the greatest possible value. Mr De Jong's decorations also, I think you will agree with me, are very beautiful. I once more have to thank you sincerely for your presence here to-night, and the very enthusiastic reception you have given to the opening of this theatre."

The-electric lighting and heating arrangements of the new theatre are elaborate. The generating plant consists of a Crossley high-speed gas-engine, an Easton, Anderson, and Goolden dynamo, and a large set of E.P.S. accumulators. These are arranged so that the dynamo is at night time always independent of the accumulators, which are of sufficient power to light the whole theatre. In this way the engine and dynamo will, as a rule, furnish the power, but in case of breakdown or overload certain circuits can be at once switched over to the accumulators.

Right - An extract from a Programme for 'Mrs. Gorringe's Necklace' at the Fulham Theatre, 23rd September 1903, also advertising the forthcoming production of J. M. Barrie's 'Quality Street' from the Vaudeville Theatre.

The engine-room occupies one corner of the basement, and, as is often the case in such plants, this corner was awarded to the engineering department because it was too irregular in shape for other purposes. Hence, although the plant is well arranged, no small amount of care and forethought had to be given to it by the consulting engineers. The gas-engine is one of Crossley's 20-h.p. nominal high speed engines of the type introduced about two years ago for electric lighting direct. The normal speed of this engine is 210 revolutions per minute, and the maximum horse-power indicated when running at this speed is about 72, while some 59 b.h.p. can be obtained. The consumption of gas per brake horse-power at Fulham is yet to be tried, but with gas equal to that supplied in Manchester the makers expect this will be about 18'9 cubic feet. The lubrication of the large end of the connecting-rod brasses is so imaged that the engine can be run long periods without stopping for oiling, which is a great advantage for electric lighting. This engine drives, by means of a link belt, a four-pole dynamo, capable of giving 410 amperes at 110 volts or 327 amperes at 140 volts when :running at a speed of 850 revolutions per minute.

Above - The Cast List from a Programme for 'Mrs. Gorringe's Necklace' and ' Miss Hilary Regrets' at the Fulham Theatre, 23rd September 1903, including Charles Wyndham, Alfred Bishop, Leslie Faber, Eille Norwood, and Reginald Walter.

The foundations of both engine and dynamo are special on account of the fact that the level of the lower part of he foundations is lower than the high-water mark of he River Thames. The subsoil being gravel the water vas found to give trouble when building. The following arrangements were adopted to give freedom from vibration, and at the same time to prevent the water flooding the foundations.

The first step was to put in a thin layer of some six inches of concrete. On this two layers of creosoted railway sleepers were placed, the sleepers in the upper layer being placed at right angles to those in the lower layer, on which a galvanised iron tank was placed of sufficient depth to bring the upper edge at least a foot above the high-water mark. Inside the tank two more layers of sleepers were put before the concrete was recommenced. Planks were then placed around the tank so as to leave a space of three inches between them and it, and inside the planks the concrete block was formed. This block is some six 'feet thick under the bed-plate of the engine and under the outside bearing. The space between the wood planks and the tank was then filled in with sawdust, to prevent the transmission of vibration from the block to the tank, and hence to the main building.

The above text on the opening of the Fulham Theatre was first published in the ERA, 28th of August 1897 - Courtesy BF.

Above - W. G. R. Sprague's Fulham Theatre, later the Grand Theatre, Fulham - From an early postcard

The Grand Theatre, Fulham closed down in 1950 and then stood empty until it was finally demolished in 1958. An office block called Redbank House was then built on the site.

The Forum Theatre, 142 Fulham Road, Fulham

Later - ABC / Cannon / MGM / Cineworld

Above - Cineworld, Fulham, formerly the Forum Theatre, in August 2009 - Photo M.L.

The Forum Theatre, Fulham was built for Herbert A. Yapp's Wyanbee Theatres circuit and designed by John Stanley Beard and A. Douglas Clare and opened on the 18th of December 1930 with the film 'The Storm' and a variety show on stage accompanied by a 24 piece orchestra and featuring Clapham & Dwyer (See Video below). The Theatre was also equipped with a Compton 3Manual / 8Rank organ. This was the first of three Forum Theatres built for Herbert Yapp by Beard, the others were the Forum, Kentish Town, now a concert venue run by HMV; and the Forum, Ealing which was largely demolished in 2009 leaving only the facade in place.

The auditorium of the Forum Theatre, Fulham was decorated in the Classical style with Romanesque embellishments and a huge 80 foot coffered dome taking pride of place in the ceiling's centre. Built on two levels, stalls and one circle, the auditorium could accommodate some 2,200 people. For an image of the auditorium in its original guise click here.

Right - A recording of Clapham & Dwyer in their sketch 'Making a Talkie.' (You will need to have the Macromedia Flash Player plug-in installed to be able to view this Video)

The Forum's fully equipped stage was 30 foot deep with a 45 foot wide proscenium opening, and there were eight dressing rooms for its variety artistes. Above the foyer of the Theatre was a cafe.

To see some early photos of the Forum click here.

In 1935 Wyanbee Theatres sold the Theatre to Associated British Cinemas but the Theatre wasn't renamed ABC until 1961. Later in the 60s the Theatre's original Compton Organ was removed.

In June 1974 the Theatre was closed and converted into a three screen Cinema by closing off the circle and fitting one screen there, and then providing two screens in the former stalls. The following year a fourth screen was created by converting a squash Court which had previously occupied the Theatre's original car park.

In 1977 the Theatre was further expanded when the former circle screen was divided into two. Another screen, built above the former squash court, means that the Cinema, currently owned by Cineworld, presently has six screens.