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Shepherds Bush Empire, Shepherd’s Bush Green, London

Photograph of the Shepherds Bush Empire in its heyday with Max Miller on the Bill. - Courtesy Peter Charlton

Above - Photograph of the Shepherds Bush Empire in its heyday with Max Miller on the Bill.

 

Programme for 'Shuffle Along' at the Shepherds Bush Empire, in association with the London Coliseum, on Monday June the 25th 1923.The Shepherds Bush Empire was built by the renowned Theatre Architect Frank Matcham for Oswald Stoll and opened on the 17th of August 1903 with the Fred Karno Troupe, (For family ties with Fred Karno see Harry Robert Lloyd here...)

The auditorium of the Shepherds Bush Empire in 1923.The Theatre, with a capacity of 2,332, housed Music Hall and Variety for many years but in 1953 it was bought by the BBC and converted to a TV Studio/Theatre.

Left - The auditorium of the Shepherds Bush Empire in 1923.

Right - Programme for 'Shuffle Along' at the Shepherds Bush Empire, in association with the London Coliseum, on Monday June the 25th 1923.

In 1995 the Theatre was furthur converted, with some architectural restoration, into a music Venue and continues as such to this day.

 

Details of a programme for 'Shuffle Along' at the Shepherds Bush Empire, in association with the London Coliseum, on Monday June the 25th 1923.

Above - Details of a programme for 'Shuffle Along' at the Shepherds Bush Empire, in association with the London Coliseum, on Monday June the 25th 1923.

 

An original postcard showing the Shepherds Bush Empire in its early years.The Shepherds Bush Empire in 2006 - Courtesy Positive Design Works.Over the course of its more than one hundred years in existence, since the Theatre opened on the 17th of August 1903 to the present day, the external facade of the Shepherds Bush Empire has changed very little, as can be seen in the two images here.

There has however been a small extension built above the centre block and the entrance canopy has been modernised for the Theatre's use as a concert venue (See image below.)

Left - An original postcard showing the Shepherds Bush Empire in its early years.

Right - The Shepherds Bush Empire in 2006 - Courtesy Positive Design Works.

You may like to visit the Shepherds Bush Empire's own website here...

 

The modernised canopy of the Shepherds Bush Empire in 2006 - Courtesy Positive Design Works.

Above - The modernised canopy of the Shepherds Bush Empire in 2006 - Courtesy Positive Design Works.

 

The Shepherds Bush Empire in 2006 - Courtesy Positive Design Works.

Above - The Shepherds Bush Empire in 2006 - Courtesy Positive Design Works.

The auditorium of the Shepherds Bush Empire in 1999 - Courtesy Ted Bottle

Above - The auditorium of the Shepherds Bush Empire in 1999 - Courtesy Ted Bottle

 

Programme for Variety show at the Shepherds Bush Empire May 30th 1949 Programme for Variety show at the Shepherds Bush Empire Nov 24th 1952

Above Left - Programme for Variety show at the Shepherds Bush Empire May 30th 1949
Above Right - Programme for Variety show at the Shepherds Bush Empire Nov 24th 1952

 

Programme details for Variety show at the Shepherds Bush Empire May 30th 1949

Above - Programme details for Variety show at the Shepherds Bush Empire May 30th 1949

 

Above - Programme details for Variety show at the Shepherds Bush Empire Nov 24th 1952.