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The Empire Theatre of Varieties, Grimston Street, Hull was originally built in 1840 as a Lecture Hall with affiliation to the Mechanics' Institute.

Later the building was converted to a Theatre and Music hall with a capacity of around 1,500. In the 1870s the building was known as the Mechanics Music Hall.

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed here 1875 1878 1880 1889

Below are several press cuttings concerning the Mechanics' Hall, related to Arthur Lloyd and his Company - kindly supplied by Peter Burgess.

The Mechanics 1875. H.Burton. General Manager J.H.Wood.

Monday 4 January.
Lt. Fred Charles. Instrumentalist, Vocalist and Author from Arthur Lloyd's Company.
Brown and Harold. Vocalists and Dancers.
Harry Dales. Comedian and Vocalist.
John and Maggie Fieldings. Irish Domestics.
Tom Gordon. Comic Vocalist.
Fred Merson. Provincial Comique. Rose Vincent. Serio-comique and Vocalist.
Frank Wright and Ada Rose. Duettists. The Artic Regions a series of 18ft x 20ft pictures presented by Stuart H.Bell.
Fri 8 Jan. Benefit for Harry Dale.
Notice. It having come to the knowledge of the proprietor's that some person is saying that the lease will expire shortly. He is obliged to say that this is not true and we are not closing.

Monday 11 January.
Lt. Fred Charles. Instrumentalist, Vocalist and Author, from Arthur Lloyd's Company.
Harry Dales. Comedian and Vocalist.
Professor Grant. Ventriloquist and Siffleur.
Marie Leslie. Serio-comique and Vocalist.
Fred Merson. Provincial Comique.
Singleton Phillips. Baritone.
Flora Plimsoll. Vocalist.
Alex Staunton. Irish Delineator.
Frank Wright and Ada Rose. Duettists.
Fri 15 Jan. Benefit for Frank Wright and Ada Rose.

The Mechanics.
Monday 3 June 1878.
Arthur Lloyd For Goodness Sake don't Say I Told You So. At it Again. The Parson's Nose. What's Everything Made Off? The Gallant 93rd. Unfortunate Man. Never Mind Me. Silly Billy.
Agnes Bernard. Serio-comique.
Will Brown and T. H. Brydge. Negro Comedians.
Lloyd Clarance and Kate Hollingsworth.
R. Edgar.
The Four Leopolds. Electric Acrobats and Hat Spinners.
Ada Lundberg. Comedienne.
Fri 7 June. Benefit for Brown and Brydge.

Monday 24 May 1880. The Mechanics.
Arthur Lloyd and Company. Comedians, Vocalists and Dancers.
Dr. Cavendish, travelling with Arthur Lloyd's Company. Conjuror.
Charles Godfrey. Descriptive Vocalist.
Messrs Carroll and Son. Negro Comedians.
Mr.W. E. Royal. Comedian and Dancer.
The Ashleys. Comic Duettists and Dancers.
Miss Alice Liston. Serio-comique and vocalist.
Miss Fanny Rosebud. Character Vocalist and Skipping Rope Dancer.
Madame Zulema. French Trapeze Artiste.
Friday 28 May. Benefit for Charles Godfrey.

Monday 11 June 1889. The Mechanics.
Arthur Lloyd. Lion Comique.
Eastern Morning News 12/06/89. The patrons of this place should esteem Mr. Bosco for one thing-his engagement of that genuine comedian Mr. Arthur Lloyd. It is not some years since Mr. Lloyd competed-and successfully competed-with lion-comiques, like the late Leybourne and the late Vance, but then Arthur Lloyd had youth on his side. His fame was acquired very early in life; hence it is that, vigorous as ever, more experienced than of your and with talents fully developed, he can show to music hall habitués a performance which hits the happy medium between the somewhat slow characterization of twenty years ago and the probable to fast fashion of present day performers. Mr. Lloyd last evening was in good form.
The other artistes engaged by the lessee are of more than average ability and altogether no one will be disposed to doubt Mr. Bosco's successful strivings to provide a pleasant Whitsuntide bill of fare.

Press cuttings concerning the Mechanics' Hall kindly supplied by Peter Burgess.

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please contact me here...