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Philharmonic Hall, Islington High Street - Later The Philharmonic Theatre / Grand Theatre Islington / Islington Empire.

See also in this area Collins' Music Hall - Marlborough Theatre

Above - Postcard for The Grand Theatre, Islington, 1903

The Philharmonic Hall was the first of four Theatres on the site and was built as a Music Hall in 1860 by Finch Hill and Paraire at a cost of £20,000. In 1870 it was partially rebuilt with a new stage and promenade, and in 1874 it was redecorated and renamed the Philharmonic Theatre with a seated capacity of 758 people.

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed here in 1862, 1863, 1864, 1867, 1871, 1880

Above - Arthur Lloyd at the Philharmonic Hall - from The Times, Thursday, Feb 12, 1863

The Philharmonic Theatre, Islington-green. - Formerly a music-hall. Specialty of opera-bouffe and burlesque. Stands just opposite the Angel Inn. NEAREST Railway Station, King's-cross; Omnibus Routes, High-street, Islington, and Pentonville-road - Dickens Dictionary of London.

The second Theatre was built by the renowned Theatre Architect Frank Matcham, and opened on the 4th of August 1883, but sadly this was destroyed by fire on the 29th of December 1887.

The Third Theatre was again designed by Frank Matcham, and opened on the 1st of December 1888 as the Grand Theatre, Islington. This new Theatre had the huge capacity of 3000 but sadly this too was destroyed by fire in February 1900.

'Between The Angel and Islington Green is the "Grand" Theatre, which blossomed out of the "Philharmonic" Music Hall. It has twice been burned down since its conversion into a theatre, for the second time at Christmas, 1887; it was rebuilt and re-opened the following summer.'

Text in quotes from 'Old And New London' 1897

Right - The Grand Theatre in 1888

The Fourth and last Theatre on the site was also built by Frank Matcham, and opened in 1901. In 1908 the Theatre was renamed the Islington Empire and in 1912 it was renamed again to the Islington Palace. Finally it was renamed back to the Islington Empire again in 1918. This Theatre later became a Cinema, also known as the Islington Empire, and was finally demolished in 1962 leaving only the facade still standing. The facade itself went in 1981.

Right - Programme for 'Hip Hip Hooray!' at the Islington Empire in 1917 - Click to see the Entire Programme.

Above - The Final demise of the Islington Empire, after being used as a cinema.
The Empire Cinema closed in 1962 and was demolished the same year - Photo Courtesy Peter Charlton.