imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Buildings and structures destroyed in 1923 to :Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1923 per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 November 7#Category:Buildings and structures by decade of destruction

2024-11-20T19:13:19Z

Moving Category:Buildings and structures destroyed in 1923 to Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1923 per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 November 7#Category:Buildings and structures by decade of destruction

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox Theatre
|name = Terry's Theatre
|image = Terry's theatre.jpg
|image_size = 200px
|caption = Terry's Theatre in 1887
|address = [[Strand, London|Strand]]
|city = [[City of Westminster|Westminster]], [[London]]
|country =
|designation = ''demolished''
|coordinates = {{coord|51.510556|-0.120833|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|architect = [[Walter Emden]]
|owner = [[Edward O'Connor Terry|Edward Terry]]
|capacity = 800 seated on 3 tiers
|type = [[West End theatre]]
|opened = 1887
|yearsactive =
|rebuilt = 1905 [[Frank Matcham]]<br>1910 conversion to cinema
|closed = 1923
|othernames = Grand Casino Cinema (1910)
|production =
|currentuse =
|website =
}}
'''Terry's Theatre''' was a [[West End theatre]] in the [[Strand, London|Strand]], in the [[City of Westminster]], London. Built in 1887, it became a cinema in 1910 before being demolished in 1923.

==History==
The theatre was built in 1887, near Fountain's Court, on the site of a former [[public house]], the Old Coal Hole, and was designed by [[Walter Emden]] for the publican, Charles Wilmot and a Dr Web. The theatre was built to accommodate 800, seated in pit and stalls, balcony and a dress circle. Fountain's Court was named for 'Fountain's Tavern', where the Fountain Club met – formed by [[Robert Walpole]]'s political opponents. In 1826, [[Edmund Kean]], the actor, founded a late supper club here, known as the 'Wolf Club' for carousing. It ran until the 1850s, introducing entertainments similar to [[Evans Music-and-Supper Rooms]], in nearby [[Covent Garden]].<ref>The clubs are marked by historic plaques on the modern Coal Hole public house.</ref>

[[Edward O'Connor Terry|Edward Terry]], as owner-manager, opened the theatre on 17 October 1887, with the farce ''The Churchwarden'', followed by ''The Woman Hater''. Terry had been the leading comedian of the [[Royal Strand Theatre]] and then starred in [[John Hollingshead]]'s company at the [[Gaiety Theatre, London|Gaiety]] before entering theatre management. He achieved considerable success with his own production of [[Arthur Wing Pinero]]'s ''[[Sweet Lavender]]'', which opened at Terry's Theatre on 21 March 1888 and ran for 683 performances, producing a £20,000 profit. The play was quickly revived.<ref>''The British and American Drama of Today''. Barrett H. Clark. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1915. pp. 10-13 [http://www.theatredatabase.com/19th_century/arthur_wing_pinero_002.html quoted], accessed 16 January 2009</ref> Its cast included Terry, [[Brandon Thomas (playwright)|Brandon Thomas]], [[Maude Millett]] and [[Carlotta Addison]].

[[Thomas Hardy]]'s ''The Three Wayfarers'' premièred at the theatre on 3 June 1893 with four other one act plays on the bill.<ref>[http://aix1.uottawa.ca/~kgwilson/profprod.htm ''Major Professional Productions Staged in Hardy's Lifetime''], accessed 16 January 2009</ref> This was typical of theatres of the time, offering 3–4 one-act plays commencing at 7:45pm, and running until 11pm. Many of the principal parts would be taken by Terry, himself, with other members of a permanent company sharing the other roles. Pinero also wrote "In Chancery" (1890) and "The Times" (1892) for the theatre. Law's farce ''The New Boy'' played in 1894.<ref>Baker, Henry Barton. ''History of the London Stage and Its Famous Players (1576-1903)'', London, G. Routledge (1904)</ref>

In 1894, [[Edward Laurillard]] became manager of the theatre, producing ''King Kodak'', opening on 30 April 1894, with music by Alfred Plumpton and lyrics by Arthur Branscombe<ref>[https://www.gsarchive.net/british/musicals.html ''The Musicals''] (British Musical Theatre) accessed 16 January 2009</ref> and a score by [[Walter Slaughter]]. ''[[Little Christopher Columbus]]'' transferred to the theatre in 1894.<ref>Archer, William. [https://archive.org/stream/theatrical189400archuoft/theatrical189400archuoft_djvu.txt ''The Theatrical World of 1894''], p. 302, London: Walter Paternoster (1895)</ref> Stephens and Yardley's ''The Passport'' played at the theatre in 1895. Madeline Ryley's ''Jedbury Junior'' played in 1896. W. H. Griffiths became manager, and there was a further success for Slaughter, with the opening of ''[[The French Maid]]'', on 24 April 1897, transferring the following year to the [[Vaudeville Theatre]] and running for a total of 480 performances, with [[Louie Pounds]] in the title role, before transferring to New York. During the Christmas season, 1897–98, a series of matinees consisting of short musicals for children by [[Basil Hood]] and Walter Slaughter played with much success at the theatre.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B02EED81630E132A25756C0A9649D94669ED7CF "'The Happy Life,' by Louis N. Parker, to be Produced at the Duke of York's Theatre"], ''The New York Times'', 5 December 1897</ref><ref>"Terry's Theatre", ''The Times'', 24 December 1897, p. 6</ref>

With Frederick Mouillot installed as manager, ''[[My Lady Molly]]'', a comic opera, ran for 342 performances between 14 March 1903–16 January 1904.<ref>[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_m/myladymolly.htm ''My Lady Molly''] (The Guide to Musical Theatre), accessed 16 January 2009</ref> ''[[Ib and Little Christina]]'' was revived at the theatre for short runs in both 1903 and 1904.<ref>Wearing, J.P. ''The London Stage 1900-1909'' (2 vols), Scarecrow (1981) {{ISBN|0-8108-1403-X}}</ref>

The theatre was remodelled by [[Frank Matcham]] in 1905, and in 1906 H. A. Jones' comedy ''The Heroic Stubs'' premièred. After further changes to the building, it was reopened on 24 October 1910 as the ''Grand Casino'' cinema, a part of the "Bey Circuit". It was finally demolished in 1923 to facilitate a road widening scheme.<ref>"Widening The Strand", ''The Times'', 27 August 1923, p. 8</ref> An office block, named "Norman House" stands on the site, with shops below.<ref>[http://londonfilm.bbk.ac.uk/view/venue/?id=995 ''Grand Casino (Terry's)''] (The London Project), accessed 16 January 2009</ref> The modern [[Coal Hole, Strand|Coal Hole]] public house stands near, but not on, the former site of the theatre.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*Earl, John and Michael Sell. ''Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950'', pp. 250 (Theatres Trust, 2000) {{ISBN|0-7136-5688-3}}

==External links==
*[http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Terrys.htm ''Terry's Theatre''] (Arthur Lloyd theatre history)

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Former theatres in London]]
[[Category:Former buildings and structures in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1887]]
[[Category:1923 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1923]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Strand, London]]

Terry's Theatre - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Buildings and structures destroyed in 1923 to :Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1923 per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 November 7#Category:Buildings and structures by decade of destruction