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Shepherds Bush Empire, Shepherd’s Bush Green, London

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

The Shepherds Bush Empire was built by 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 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.

Right - The Shepherds Bush Empire - from a postcard.

In 1995 the Theatre was furthur converted, with some architectural restoration, into a music Venue and continues as such to this day. You may like to visit the Theatre's own website here...

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

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

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

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