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Victoria Palace Theatre, 126 Victoria Street, London.

Formerly The Royal Standard Hotel / Moy's Music Hall / Royal Standard Concert Rooms / Royal Standard Music Hall.

Above - The Victoria Palace Theatre during the run of the hit stage musical 'Billy Elliot' in 2006 - Photo M.L.

Originally there was a small hotel / tavern in Stockdale Terrace, Victoria called the Royal Standard Hotel which was built in 1832. Here 'Harmonic Meetings' were held in a room above the stables, but by 1840 the proprietor, John Moy, had obtained a new Licence which allowed for singing and dancing in the premises. Following the success of this entertainment Moy enlarged the building and began putting on Music Hall Bills. The building soon became known as Moy's Music Hall, but in 1854 it was renamed The Royal Standard Concert Rooms.

Alfred Brown, who took over the premises in 1863, refurbished it and opened the, now renamed, Royal Standard Music Hall on December 26th of that year. The audience were seated at tables and the stage was actually part of an adjoining room.

Right - Programme for the Royal Standard Music Hall - Courtesy Peter Charlton.

This new Music Hall soon became very popular. The building was entirely demolished however in 1886 to make way for the new Victoria Station, which even today is much in its original form. The same year, on the site where the Victoria Palace Theatre now stands, Richard Wake entirely rebuilt the Royal Standard Music Hall (which can be seen in the image below.)

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed at the Royal Standard Music Hall 1890, 1892.

Above - The Royal Standard Music Hall which originally stood on the site of the Victoria Palace Theatre. - Courtesy John Culme of Footlight Notes

The ERA commented on this new building in 1891 saying:

Entirely Re-built Enlarged, and Re-decorated, being at the present time the most comfortable Hall of entertainment in London. No expense has been spared both on the Stage and in the Auditorium, (Shown right) to study the comfort of the Public. The lighting of the Hall by electricity has now been completed, and by the brilliance of light and coolness throughout, testifying to its complete success. The Refreshment department has always been the careful study of the Proprietor. There is a large and Handsome Grill Room, (Shown Left) open from 12 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Billiard Room, with two tables by Burroughes Watts; large Public Bars on the ground floor; and the continued and increased popularity of this Establishment sufficiently attests the estimation in which it is held.

The last owner of the Royal Standard Music Hall was Thomas S. Dickie who bought it in 1896, but he was to sell it again in 1910 to Alfred Butt. It was the year that this, the oldest Music Hall in London, was demolished.

Left - Programme for the Royal Standard Music Hall May 2nd 1904
Click to see the entire programme.

The Victoria Palace Theatre, (Shown right) built by Henry Lovatt Ltd and designed by Frank Matcham, arose on the site of the old music hall at a cost of £12,000 and opened on the 6th November 1911. The ERA enthused about this new Theatre on 4th November 1911:

In the scheme of internal treatment the main object has been to combine a maximum of comfort and convenience with a prevailing note of simplicity. The handsome entrance hall through which the visitor passes to the stalls, dress circle, and boxes has walls of grey marble with embellishments of old gold mosaic and pillars of white Sicilian marble. Left and right from this vestibule there are cloakrooms and an elegant boudoir devoted to the comfort of the ladies.

From the vestibule to the stalls, dress circle, and boxes it is but a very few steps and this ease of accessibility will be appreciated by all who, having entered the house, desire to reach their places in as little time as possible. For the further convenience of visitors to the tea room, dress circle and box levels there has been installed a lift, a feature which, doubtless, will be greatly appreciated. An elaborate heating system has been installed, which enables an even temperature to be kept throughout the winter, and in the summer the magnificent sliding roofs of the auditorium and main vestibule permit the house to be kept delightfully cool.

This new Theatre was to have an illustrious career. It opened on the 6th November 1911 with a variety bill and over the years every famous music hall name appeared there. It continued with plays, variety, repertory and revues, and in 1937 the musical 'Me and my Girl' opened, running for 1046 performances until the outbreak of war in 1939. It was revived in 1944 and continued for another long run.

Left - The Royal Standard Music Hall, from a programme - Courtesy Peter Charlton

The Theatre remained open during the war with, amongst others, George Black's 'Vanities,' 'La-Di-Da-Di-Da,' and Stanley Lupino in 'The Love Racket.' In 1945 it was back to variety for a year but then on 17th April 1947 The Crazy Gang took over the Theatre and had incredible success there until 1962. The Theatre then became famous for The Black And White Minstrels shows which ran until 1970 and were regular features on television too. The Victoria Palace has rarely been dark and has put on a string of musicals and plays ever since. Recent successes were 'Annie,' 'Barnum,' 'Buddy,' which ran for six years, 'Jolson,' and the current hit 'Billy Elliot.'

The Victoria Palace Theatre was one of Matcham's finest achievements and still stands today much in its original condition. The current owners have recently spent a great deal on the building, enlarging the Foyer, adding modern WC facilities, increasing the dressing rooms, adding a new bar on the ground floor where an alley originally ran along the side of the building, and in 2006 replaced the figure of Pavlova which originally crowned the dome but has been missing since being removed in the second world war. The Theatre currently seats 1550 and its website can be found here...

Left - The crown of the dome, now with the figure of Pavlova back in her rightful position. Photo M.L. 06.

The Victoria Palace Theatre's own website can be found here...

Some of the information on this page was gleaned from Diana Howard's 'London Theatres and Music Halls 1850 - 1950, and Mander and Mitchenson's 'Theatres of London.'

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