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____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Theatres in New Cross, Deptford, London, SE14 Broadway Theatre - New Cross Empire - New Cross Super Cinema / Kinema / Gaumont / Venue |
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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 with a variety show on the Tuesday the 1st of August 1899. The Theatre was to have opened on Monday the 31st of July but the Licence wasn't ready in time. 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. A week after the Theatre opened the ERA printed a review of the building and the opening night production in their 5th of August 1899 edition saying:
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 building has been erected at a cost of £25,000, and it is constructed to seat over 3,000 persons. The principal facade fronts the New-cross-road, and, by the construction of new thoroughfares, the place is completely isolated. Its external design may be described as composite, although the Italian Renaissance, with a free treatment in the direction of Mauresque, more clearly indicates the work of the well-known architect Mr Frank Matcham, whose knowledge of the requirements of the modern theatre and music hall need not be insisted on in these columns. So far as concerns the interior, the building is constructed on the cantilever principle, with three tiers, consisting of grand circle, balcony, and gallery, the floor of the house being divided between fauteuils, stalls, and pit. A feature of the gallery is that the seating does not extend to the proscenium on either side, the space that is generally occupied by boxes in less up-to-date houses being made a decorative feature of. Panels most artistically painted represent the ancient industries of Deptford, and the innovation, if such it can be called, is a very welcome one. There are no pillars in any part of the house that can obstruct the view of the stage, and the theatre is provided throughout with the latest sanitary and fire extinguishing appliances, as well as electric lighting, and has the additional luxury of a sliding roof, for use during hot weather, with all modern improvements in ventilation.
Above - A notice in the ERA of the 26th of August 1899 , just a month after the New Cross Empire opened, reads 'Mr. Arthur Lloyd the Original Arthur Lloyd, an Immense Success with Son and Daughter at New Empires, Stratford and New-cross, The Bedford.' - Courtesy BF. The decorative work is of the Louis XIV period, and the prevailing tints are bronze, gold, and pale blue. The vestibule is remarkable for a grand staircase with marble pillars; and the pay-boxes are surmounted by a prettily decorated cupola - a happily conceived idea which gives an oriental character to the entrance. The upholstering by Warings is on a sumptuous scale, the colour being a deep crimson. Tip-up chairs and seats have been introduced, and those of the pit and balcony are cushioned and have padded backs. A novel feature of the dress circle is that two roomy boxes have been placed at each end. The stage depth is 40ft., with a proscenium opening of 36ft. The stage is fitted with traps, &c., and is adapted for large productions, while the dressing-rooms are large, and fitted with hot and cold water. The treatment of the four private boxes is novel, large niches being arranged between them, and the whole interior shows excellence of design.
Above - The New Cross Empire - From a postcard sent in 1910 The favourable position of the theatre affords scope for exits at every necessary point; and the consideration which will probably most largely interest the people in the neighbourhood is that the prices range from as low as threepence for the gallery to only two shillings for numbered fauteuil. The new house is to be run on the two houses a-night principle. Pithy programmes are to be the pabulum for the people of New-cross and Deptford. It is, indeed, claimed for the dual performances that the early one provides distant residents with an entertainment of satisfying length, and it also enables them to reach home at convenient hour - a very great desideratum indeed with working folk. It also meets the views of those in the more immediate vicinity who prefer early hours. The late performance answers the requirements of persons detained late at business, and who have hitherto had to pay whole prices for half performances or forego these entertainments altogether. It was unfortunate that the original intention of opening the hall on the Monday could not be carried out; but the provisional licence, for some reason or other, could not be confirmed before Tuesday. On that evening the new place was launched. Rightly and properly, the National Anthem, played by the band of the Second Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment, under the direction of Mr George P. Robertson, and the theatre orchestra, led by Mr Shackleton, inaugurated the entertainment, the solo being taken by Miss Katie Cohen. The fine stage was utilised in the course of the two entertainments to its fullest capacity, and the landscapes and interiors are exceedingly creditable to the taste of Messrs Walter Hann, Frederick Fox, and J. B. Parker. The set used for Humanity, Mr John Lawson's sketch, was a particularly elaborate one, and that remarkable production again exercised its fascinations on an audience to whom its exciting fight in a fully furnished drawing-room was probably new. In the representation Mr Lawson was supported by his old comrade, Mr E. S. Vincent, as the Christian "cur," and by Miss Cissie Russell.
Above - The New Cross Empire - From a postcard The series of animated pictures projected upon the screen by the Bio-Tableaux includes one, "The Devil in a Convent," that conscientious Roman Catholics would certainly object to. The fine and exciting reproduction of the race for the Northumberland Plate, however, deserves nothing but praise. Early in the evening the Fothergills presented their popular Irish sketch; and Bella and Bijou kept the audience highly amused by their amusing and well-written character duets. Mr J. W. Rowley soon made himself quite at home with the Novocrucians, who listened with delight to his patter and his puns, and encouraged him by the merry music or their applause in his never-to-be-forgotten ditty, "Going to the Derby." There is something so neat, ingenious, and withal so funny and original about the business of Manning and Prevost that surprise and astonishment alternate with laughter. The two are fine acrobats - masters of every conceivable form of ground tumbling; but they have neither part nor lot with the ordinary solemn-visaged somersaultists with which one is so familiar. They work their business into a farcelet brightened by the drollery of a comic Turkish bath incident. The grace and strength of the Three Donals were displayed in a high-class athletic exhibition, which was applauded to the echo on the opening night. Mr Ernest Heathcote found passports to favour in his comic singing and eccentric dancing; Miss Ella Dean exercised her fine contralto voice in fascinating melody; and Mr Albert Christian stirred the patriotic pulse of his hearers by his rendering of "Death or Glory Boys." The stage was under the capable arrangement of Mr A. Rees.
Above - The New Cross Empire - From a postcard In the course of the evening Mr Oswald Stoll came to the footlights
to say a few words. No doubt he would disclaim being an orator, but
his remarks were very much to the purpose, and his voice could be heard
in all parts of the large house. He spoke as follows: - "Ladies
and Gentlemen: - As managing director of the company owning this property
it devolves upon me to thank you for your presence to-night. In coming
here to see the launch of our vessel you are helping it to float. It
is a kind of pleasure yacht, built not to win the America Cup, but to
win your favour. To do that we mean to have a good try, and notwithstanding
the hard things sometimes said of music
halls, we set out with the hope that you believe, as I do, that
it will be possible for you to spend many a bright hour here without
lessening your chances of a front seat in Heaven. I will now take the
liberty of introducing to you a gentleman who, like the Right Honourable
South Africa Rhodes, is a great Empire-maker. Of nearly all the establishments
named in our advertisements, representing over a million and a quarter
of As we left, the doors were opening for a second performance, which was being awaited by a vast crowd. So excellent, however, are the arrangements for ingress and egress that the outgoing audience caused no inconvenience to the incomers. Among those who came to congratulate Messrs Moss and Stoll on their latest Empire were Messrs Richard and Emanuel Warner, Frank Allen, H. T. Brickwell, Gallirnore Fox, George Foster, Percy Cohen, and others. The acting-manager of the house is Mr Henry Raymond. By the will of the London County Council the sale of intoxicating liquors is forbidden. This is excellent business for the neighbouring hostelries, which are expected to add at least twenty per cent to their value in the near future." The above text in quotes is from the ERA, 5th of August 1899 - Courtesy BF.
Right - Programme for 'The All Comedy Variety Show, Laugh and be Happy' at the New Cross Empire in May 1948.
Left - 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. |
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Above - Programme Detail for 'The All Comedy Variety Show, Laugh and be Happy' at the New Cross Empire in May 1948. |
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Broadway Theatre, Broadway, New Cross
Above - The Broadway Theatre, New Cross - From a Postcard - Courtesy Andreas Praefcke
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... |
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New Cross Super Cinema, New Cross Road, New Cross Later The Kinema / The Gaumont / The Venue
Above - The former New Cross Kinema in July 2008 - Photo M.L. The New Cross Kinema was built as a Super Cinema with stage facilities and opened on the 7th of September 1925 with the films 'Two Little Vagabonds,' 'The Fast Set' and 'Squibs' with the well known actress Betty Balfour who was at the opening night performance in New Cross to celebrate the Theatre's inauguration. On its opening the Theatre had a capacity of 2,300, a stage 30 foot deep, and three dressing rooms. Above the foyer of the Theatre was a cafe and Dance Hall called the Palaise de Dance. In 1927 the name was changed to the New Cross Kinema and it was bought by Denman Gaumont the following year. An image of the building in its original form can be seen here. In 1929 the Theatre gained a Wurlitzer Organ. By 1948 the name had been shortened to the simpler 'Kinema' but in May 1950 the name was changed to the 'Gaumont' which it retained until the Theatre's closure in August 1960 with a final showing of 'The Chaplin Revue' and 'A Dog's Best Friend.'
Above - The former New Cross Kinema in July 2008 - Photo ML Sadly the Theatre then stood unused and unloved for many years until, in a poor state of repair, the auditorium and stage house were demolished so that an Office building could be built on the site. The Facade of the building was preserved however, along with the FOH areas which were then used as a Supermarket, and then later as a furniture store with a nightclub called the 'Venue' constructed in the former Dance Hall above. In 2006 the exterior of the former Theatre was restored and the 'Venue' was successful enough for the company to take over the whole of what remained of the building to make a larger Nightclub which is still running today (2009). There are some archive images of the Theatre in its various guises here. Much of the information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Website Cinema Treasures. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me. |
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'Mr
Oswald Stoll is evidently a believer in the well-known saying of Addison;
and if in the fine, handsome, and well-appointed Empire in the New-cross-road
he cannot command success, he will certainly deserve it, for we have
no more luxurious people's 
The
New Cross Empire Theatre was built for
London District Empire Palaces Ltd., and
was managed by Oswald Stoll from its opening in 
