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New Cross, London, Theatres and Halls

Broadway Theatre
New Cross Empire

Broadway Theatre, Broadway, New Cross

Above - The Broadway Theatre, New Cross - From a Postcard - Courtesy Andreas Praefcke

The Broadway Theatre (Shown above) was built by W. G. R. Sprague at a cost of £35,000 with a seating capacity of 1,372 and a stage of 80' by 40'. The Theatre opened on 27th December 1897, was converted for cinema use in 1911, and demolished in the 1960s.

Arthur Lloyd and his daughters Lillie and Dulcie are known to have performed at the Broadway Theatre New Cross, London 1902. See Poster right.

The poster above right is one of a large collection of original Lloyd Posters collected since the mid 1800s by members of the family and found recently after being lost for 50 years. To see all these posters click the Poster Index here...

New Cross Empire, New Cross Road and Watson Street, New Cross
Also known as the Deptford Empire of Varieties / New Cross Empire Theatre of Varieties

Above - The New Cross Empire Theatre London - Courtesy Peter Charlton

The New Cross Empire was built by the renowned Theatre Architect Frank Matcham for London District Empire Palaces Ltd., and opened on the 31st of July 1899. The large auditorium with a seating capacity of 2,000 was built on four levels, Stalls (290) and Pit (466), Grand Circle (406), Upper Circle (254), Balcony (240), and four Boxes, two on either side of the proscenium, with seating for four persons each.

Right - The Auditorium of the New Cross Empire as it looked when it first opened in 1899 - From a poster advertising the opening night.

The Theatre was built for London District Empire Palaces Ltd., and was managed by Oswald Stoll from its opening in 1899 to 1912 when Sir Horace Edward Moss took over. From then on it had a succession of different managements including Moss Empires Ltd., in 1925. The last management at the New Cross Empire was Park Theatrical Productions Ltd., with Frank Sydney Webb.

Left - Programme for 'The All Comedy Variety Show, Laugh and be Happy' at the New Cross Empire in May 1948.

On its opening the Theatre was credited as being built: "From the plans of the eminent architect, Frank Matcham, Esq., Warwick Court, Holborn, is handsomely designed, constructed upon the latest principles, luxuriously furnished, electrically lit, provided with heating apparatus, sliding roof, and all the appointments that safety, comfort, and elegance dictate."

The seating prices of the Empire on its opening were; Private Boxes 10,s for four persons, Fauteuils 2/-, Stalls 1/-, Pit 6d, Grand Circle 1/6, Balcony 4d, and Gallery 3d.

Right - Detail from a 1948 Variety Programme advertising the forthcoming BBC 'Happidrome' Radio show to be performed at the New Cross Empire.

The Theatre opened with two performances a day and an entire change of programme every week, and was mainly in use as a Music Hall and Variety Theatre, indeed it was also known as the New Cross Empire Theatre of Varieties, and the Deptford Theatre of Varieties for many years. In its later years the Theatre was also sometimes host to the BBC's 'Happidrome' radio show.

The Theatre was demolished in the 1950s.

Above - The New Cross Empire - From a postcard sent in 1910