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_______________________________________________________________________________________________ The Metropolitan, 207 Edgware Road, Paddington
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11th July 1867 ...Attend Annie Adams "benefit" at the "Met". The "lion comiques" are out in force there - Leybourne, Vance, Arthur Lloyd, Nash, Fred French, Walter Laburnum et al . . . "Champagne Charlie" must be the Song of the Hour, though Lloyd's "Not for Joseph" runs a strong counter. Peter Honri's 'John Wilton's Music Hall' Right - Metropolitan programme for week ending Jan 6th 1894 - Click for details - Warning, Large image! - Programme generously donated by Mr. John Moffatt.
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Above Right - Frank Matcham's Metropolitan auditorium - Courtesy Peter Charlton.
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The last night of the Met was on Good Friday, April 12, 1963 and the all-star bill, compered by Tommy Trinder, included Hetty King, Issy Bonn and Ida Barr from the early days, and in contrast Johnny Lockwood, Mrs Shufflewick, Wyn Calvin, Dickie Valentine, Eddie Reindeer and Ted Ray. Ivan Dozin was the MD. The theatre was packed for the occasion and hundreds were turned away. Right - The last performance at the Metropolitan 1963 prior to demolition - Courtesy Peter Charlton. |
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Left - Demolition begins on the Metropolitan. 1963 - Photo Courtesy Peter Charlton. The last night
at the Met was a wake. A time to remember the good days and for one
more time be stirred by the music and the lights. As we sat waiting
for the show to begin I looked at the faces of the caryatids supporting
the stage boxes. They looked as serene as ever with no indication of
their pending doom. The show was great. Never better. As we sadly exited
it was hard to believe this was it. Happily the theatre lives on on
film and can be seen in the classic Ealing Studio's "The Blue Lamp"
which shows scenes inside during a performance. Cinema historians may
also like to know that the legendary cinema The Coliseum in Harrow Road,
also features in this film. The text (Edited) above was kindly written for this site by David Baines BMHS |
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Above - The death of a landmark: All that remained on September 20 of the famous Metropolitan in Edgware Road were the remnants of these two balconies. Like so many London Theatres and especially Music Halls, the Metropolitan has fallen under the picks and hammers of the demolition workers. Illustrated London News 1963. |
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Originally
on this site was an inn called the White Lion Public House which dated
from 1524. In 
Last
Night at the Met by David Baines
The
Metropolitan Music Hall, Edgeware Road was unique in its world.
Countless devotees have spent happy hours soaking up the offered entertainment.
Soaking is a good word as this was one place where it was possible
to enjoy the proceedings from a seat at the bar. Sadly the progress
of the M1 motorway necessitated its removal. 
