The Marylebone Music Hall, 32 - 33 Marylebone High Street, London
Also see the Marylebone Theatre here
The Marylebone Music Hall in the High Street, Marylebone, London was built for Sam Collins who would later go on to open another and better known Music Hall in Islington which carried his name, Collins Music Hall. The Marylebone opened in 1856 as a Music Hall attached to a public house called the Rose of Normandy. The Music Hall could accommodate 800 people and was built at the not inconsiderable cost for the time of £8,000.
The
long time Manager of the Marylebone Music Hall was Charles Wilkins and
on his death in 1886 the Entr'acte
printed an obituary for him saying:- '...The late Mr. Wilkins - Jeffs
was really his name - I had known for a number of years. His career
was throughout honourable, albeit that one part of it was highly sensational.
As a chairman he was quite a top-sawyer. The late Mr. H. J. Byron, in
one of his comedies, attempted to portray a representative music-hall
president but it is evident that he did not make Mr. Wilkins his model,
for the latter had not the soaking propensities which belong to the
sponge. Those persons whom Mr. Wilkins liked he would have a convivial
glass with, but he did not care to drink with Tom, Dick, and Harry;
and it was distinctly understood when he joined anybody in a friendly
glass that be was incurring obligation, and that if he drank at your
expense, you must drink at his.'
Left - A sketch of Charles Wilkins - From the Entr'acte, 18th September 1886.
The Entr'acte went on to say:- '...The late manager-chairman of the Marylebone was quite an autocrat in his way, and his manner of dealing with those delinquents who interfered with their neighbours' enjoyment had more of the fortiter in re, perhaps, than the suaviter in modo about it. Mr. Wilkins was righteously severe on those young persons who sometimes on Saturday night asserted themselves unnecessarily, and thus produced discomfort and confusion. He would not tolerate deliberate outrages of decorum, and was in favour of dealing with such outrages in a summary fashion.
The
Marylebone Music-Hall, with which Mr. Wilkins was associated for so
many years, and in which he could not have taken a more lively interest
had the place been his own, has by his death lost its most distinguishing
characteristic, for he was even better known there than the proprietor
himself. It must be admitted that Mr. Robert Betting consented to the
prominent part which his manager-chairman performed in the establishment
for so long a period, and never attempted to disparage his judgment
or his ruling.
Right - Charles Wilkins Gavels as used by him as Chairman of the Marylebone Music Hall - Courtesy Richard T. Jones, his maternal G. G. Grandson.
There were a great numberof professional folks gathered round his grave at Finchley on Wednesday, a fact-which might have been anticipated, for the deceased was one of the very best known and most respected men in what is called "the profession." We are told that there is a better world for all "good fellows," so that the future of Charley Wilkins cannot be a matter for doubt.'
The above text in quotes (edited) was first published in the Entr'acte, 18th September 1886.
Arthur Lloyd appeared
at the Marylebone at 9.50pm on his first day of performing in London,
on the 12th of October 1862,
directly after his London debut at the Sun Music Hall in Knightsbridge at 9.00pm.
The Marylebone Music Hall was in business right up until 1900.
Above Left - An advertisement for the Marylebone Music Hall from the February 2nd 1884 edition of 'The General Theatrical Programme,' a weekly Newspaper and Guide to Theatres, Music Halls, etc. Click for a Special Feature on this edition.
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