Theatres in Wembley, Middlesex (original) (raw)
The Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre - The Majestic Theatre / Odeon - The Elite Cinema / Capitol Cinema
The Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, 3 Fulton Road, Wembley
Above - A Google StreetView image showing The Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre whilst showing the Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical 'Starlight Express' in July 2024 - Click to Interact.
The Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre is a modern purpose built Theatre with a flexible auditorium space capable of seating up to 2,000 people. The Theatre is situated on the site of the former Fountain Studios and opened in 2019. The Theatre forms part of a 'cultural hub' and whilst it has its own bar and on site restaurant called Studio Five, there are many places to eat and drink around the Theatre including 'Boxpark' next door which has a large selection of street food vendors. Some shows that have already been staged in the Theatre include 'War Horse' in 2019, 'Dinosaur World Live' in 2019, 'Fame The Musical' in 2019 and 2020, 'The Wedding Singer' in 2020, 'Sleepless' in 2020, 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' in 2021 and 2022, 'Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby' in 2022, and 'Newsies' in 2022 and 2023.
In June 2024 the Theatre became host to a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Starlight Express' which was first staged at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London from 1984 and ran for 18 years before going on tour, entertaining some 20 million people across the world over the years.
You may like to visit the Theatre's own Website here.
If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.
The Majestic Theatre, 47 High Road, Wembley
Later - Odeon Cinema
See also - The Majestic Theatre, Staines - The Majestic Theatre, High Wycombe - The Majestic Theatre, Mitcham - The Majestic Theatre, Woodford
Above - The Majestic Theatre, Wembley whilst under construction and nearly completed in 1928 - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
The Majestic Theatre was situated on the High Road in Wembley, backing on to Rosemead Avenue, and was constructed on the site of a large house and surrounding gardens called 'Elmwood', see image shown right.
Right - Elmwood, the House which was previously on the site of the Wembley Majestic Theatre - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
The Wembley Majestic was the first of five Theatres to be built for the Majestic Theatres Corporation, Ltd., chain of Theatres, all in the London Suburbs and the South East.
Above - The Majestic Theatre, Wembley whilst under construction in 1928 - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
The Wembley Majestic was designed by the architects J. Field and H. J. Stewart with interior designs by W. E. Greenwood who was one of the Company Directors and who also designed the interiors of all five of their Theatres. He designed the Majestic Wembley's large auditorium in an Italian Renaissance Atmospheric Style with seating for 1,513 people on two levels, Stalls and one Balcony. The Theatre opened on Friday the 11th of January 1929 with an Opening Ceremony performed by Mrs. R. H. Powis. See the Full Opening Souvenir Programme shown right.
Right - The Majestic Theatre, Wembley's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 - Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley. Many of the images from this programme are enlarged below.
Appearances on the stage for the opening were begun by what was advertised as 'Celebrated British Film Stars', then there was a Film called 'The Empire News Gazette', followed by an Organ Recital on the Theatre's Compton Organ of 'In a Monastery Garden'.
Left - An Invitation to the Opening Ceremony of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley in 1929. The Invitation was addressed to a Mrs. Stockwell and was Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley, Barbara's Mother was a friend of Mrs. Stockwell but its not known why she was invited to the opening.
Next there were several performances on stage begun by J. Samertini's 'Renowned Trio', and followed by The Astrals and Co., in a Cabaret De Dance, including the six Ninette Girls; The Plaza Boys, billed as the 'World's Funniest Dancers'; Jade Winton, Soubrette and Dancer; and The Famous Australs, acrobatic dancers from the Alhambra Theatre, London. This was then followed by the main feature, the 1928 Silent Film 'Mademoiselle Parley Voo', and the evening was ended with a final rendition of 'God Save the King'.
The Majestic Theatre had a fully equipped stage with a 50 foot wide proscenium opening, twelve dressing rooms for artists and an Orchestra Room and Orchestra Pit with a John Compton Kinestra organ and Console.
FOH the Theatre had a large Ballroom on the first floor overlooking the High Road, 107 feet long by 35 feet wide, with accommodation for 500 people, along with a Lounge and Retiring room with a buffet and kitchen.
Right - The Cafe of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 31st of January 1929.
The Theatre was also equipped with a Cafe for patrons with access from the High Road or the Theatre's Crush Hall and Ballroom.
Above - The Ballroom at the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
Above - The Architect's Drawing of the Front Elevation of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
The Kinematograph Weekly reported on the new Theatre in their 17th of January 1929 edition saying:- 'In the Majestic Theatre, Wembley, which was opened on Friday, local enterprise has built a remarkable picture theatre, which compares favourably in all respects with any provincial theatre, and in one respect it is unique.
Right - The exterior of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 17th of January 1929.
This is the beautiful decorative scheme, which has been carried out by John Bull, the famous decorative artist, upon atmospheric lines conceived by W. E. Greenwood, an authority on mural decoration.
Above - The Auditorium of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley when it first opened in 1929 - From The Bioscope, 12th of June 1929.
Above - The Auditorium and Safety Curtain of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
Above - The Auditorium of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
Above - The Auditorium of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
The general decorative scheme is in the Italian renaissance style, and in [the] auditorium Mr. Greenwood has carried out the idea of an Italian interior, from which the patron looks out on to a beautiful Italian garden.
It is the first occasion upon which the whole of an interior has been carried out in this style, and the directors are to be congratulated upon the very beautiful effect achieved by decorator and the plaster craftsman.
Right - The Architect's Ground Floor Plan for the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
The rich colour-scheme employed is at once restful and pleasing to the eye. The views of mountains, trees and temples on the side walls are in relief, and their application is remarkable for the sense of real depth conveyed to the patron.
The various effects achieved by Mr. Greenwood called for much ingenuity and imagination. The whole of the ceiling is made to represent an Italian sky, and is unbroken by ventilating grids or lighting fixtures.
Air is introduced into the building by a series of louvres, which are practically invisible behind decorative features which harmonise with the surroundings, and is extracted through thousands of minute holes in the barrel roof, which are also invisible.
Mr. Greenwood has availed himself of the decorations to mask the organ grille of the John Compton Kinestra organ behind the foliage, and also to mask the apertures of the projector box, which has been arranged as a castle with loggias.
Above - The Auditorium from the Stage of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 17th of January 1929.
Proscenium
The decorative scheme is carried right on to the stage, with its 50 ft. wide proscenium opening, a prominent feature being the flanking of the proscenium by a set of Corinthian pillars. General house lighting is achieved by means of a series of floods set into the front of the balcony and showing through glass painted in conformity with the general scheme. Similar floods are situated on each side of the rear of the balcony and of the stalls floor.
Right - The Auditorium of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 31st of January 1929.
The site of the Majestic is distinctive, and Field and Stewart, the architects, have erected a handsome frontage carried out with Luton grey facing bricks and Atlas white stone dressings. The whole of the facade is floodlighted and is also picked out with small electric bulbs by the Strand and Interchangeable Sign Company.
Handsome ornamental bronze doors, supplied by Garton and Thorne, Ltd.. lead to the octagonal crush hall, which, with its pay-box equipped with automatic machines and a chocolate kiosk, gives ingress to the cafe and ballroom. The feature of the crush hall is the dome, lit by concealed lights. Walls are treated with "Craftex." The treatment is continued in the foyer, which has a coppered ceiling and a specially installed classic frieze. On each side are handsome staircases leading to the balcony. On the half-landing there is a lounge opening out of which is an octagonal well.
The whole of the seating and furnishing have been carried out by Maples, who are so successfully specialising in kinema work.
Simplex Projectors
Operating-box and rewinding rooms are specially spacious, and have been equipped throughout by J. Frank Brockliss, Ltd. There are three of the latest model Simplex projectors and a Brenkert effects machine.
Left - Construction of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley in 1928 - From the Theatre's Opening Souvenir Programme of the 11th of January 1929 - Kindly Donated by Michael and Barbara Mawdsley.
Across the whole of the frontage extends the Majestic ballroom, which is one of the finest apartments of its kind in the provinces. It is 107 ft. long and 30 ft. wide, and can accommodate 500 dancers. The decorative treatment is carried out on classical lines, the arched cornices, panels, ceiling ribs, and cornice rails being supplied by Paper Stucco Decorations, while the "Pollodium" cane furniture is the product of Edward Light and Co., Ltd. The ballroom is self-contained, with its lounge, retiring-room and dressing-rooms.
Stage Facilities
Full stage accommodation is given for plays and variety. There are six dressing-rooms on each side, and board room, and musical director's room. A full equipment of footlights, batten spots and dimmers, etc., has been installed by the Strand Electric Co., who also made a record job with the stage switchboard.
The whole theatre is a remarkable example of the successful application of the latest developments in theatre design, and is a tribute to the work of L. Morris, the managing director, which illustrates his possession of remarkable theatre sense.'
The above text in quotes was first published in the Kinematograph Weekly, 17th of January 1929.
Above - An aerial view of the Majestic Theatre, Wembley in January 1938 - With permission from Historic England's Britain From Above.
The Majestic Theatre, Wembley had first opened on the 11th of January 1929 under the ownership of the Majestic Theatres Corporation, Ltd., chain of Theatres but in 1935 it was taken over by County Cinemas, who themselves would be taken over by Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Theatres chain in September 1939. Odeon renamed the Majestic an Odeon Cinema in March 1956 and ran it as such until its final closure on the 27th of May 1961.
The Theatre was subsequently demolished and a C & A Store was then constructed on its site. Today the building has various retail outlets on the ground floor, and the offices of the London School of Science & Technology above, see image below. Next door to it is Wembley's former Post Office building, which like the Majestic Theatre was also built in 1928 but has survived, although it has now been converted for Public House use.
Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the Site of the former Majestic Theatre, Wembley in August 2024 - Click to Interact.
Some of the information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures Website.
If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.
The Capitol Cinema, Raglan Gardens, Wembley
Formerly - The Wembley Exhibition and Conference Hall / Elite Cinema
Above - The Front Elevation and Main Entrances of the Capitol Cinema, Wembley - Shown here with a Creative Commons (Attribution) License from the Cinema Treasures Website.
The Capitol Cinema was situated on Raglan Gardens in Wembley, today known as Empire Way. It was originally built as an Exhibition and Conference Hall as part of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924. In 1928 the Conference Hall was converted into a Cinema called the Elite Cinema which opened on Saturday the the 31st of March 1928 with a complimentary performance.
The Elite Cinema could accommodate 1,500 people and had a cafe next door and a large Dance Hall attached which opened sometime after the Cinema itself was opened. Although built primarily as a Cinema it also included a Stage and was often used for Variety Performances as well as Film showings. However, in February 1930 and not long before it was closed, the Elite went over to full time Cinema, abandoning its variety shows as film was said to be 'vastly preferable and easier to obtain than an indifferent variety turn.'
The following Month the Elite was closed and reconstructed for a reopening as the Capitol Cinema under the ownership of Louis Morris in May 1930.
Right - The Auditorium of the Capitol Cinema, Wembley in 1930 - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 8th of May 1930.
Alterations to the Cinema were designed by the Architect Martin Hatfield and included shortening the depth of the stage so that four more rows of seats could be accommodated in the Stalls, setting back the orchestra space, and erecting a new Proscenium Arch. The openings in the side walls of the building were filled in and a new wall was constructed at the back of the Auditorium. The newly decorated Auditorium was carried out by the Plaster Decoration Company who incorporated plaster panels conveying sun rays and decorated the auditorium in shades of Green with dull Orange and Lilac effects. Either side of the Proscenium on the Splay Walls were frosted glass fittings which were designed to give the effect of waterfalls. At the same time the Auditorium was re-seated to give more leg room for patrons. The Stage was equipped with a Counter Weight Flying System, a new stage set, and new stage lighting by Strand Electric with Sun Ray Battens and Footlights all operated by dimmers. The Projection Room was fitted with new Western Electric equipment.
Above - A Floor Plan of the Capitol Cinema, Wembley and its adjacent Dance Hall in 1930 - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 8th of May 1930.
Above - The Auditorium of the Capitol Cinema, Wembley nearing completion in 1930 - From The Bioscope, 2nd of April 1930.
Having first opened in 1930 the Capitol Cinema was enhanced in 1933 by the installation of a Compton Theatre Organ with an illuminated Console on a lift and the Theatre was refurbished at the same time.
In 1940 the Theatre was taken over by Medway Cinemas who spent three weeks renovating the building and reopened it on the 4th of March 1940 with a programme consisting of two feature films, Dando at the Theatre Organ, and Al Tabor and his Broadcasting Band live on Stage. It was unsure at the time what the local population wanted from their Cinema so the Manager, Len Chapman, enlisted the help of audiences to make suggestions on how the Cinema should be run, meanwhile the Cinema would be carried on with Film and Live Shows, and the attached Ballroom remained open, run by Max Sandrisi.
Unfortunately during this time the Second World War was well under way and the Capitol would soon be requisitioned for the War Effort. It's seats were removed and the building was used to house people who had been bombed out of their homes. The Cinema is said to have also been used in 1942 by the Army Kinematograph Service as a Headquarters and for training their projectionists.
After the War the Capitol, which had become in need of much repair, was instead demolished in the late 1940s.
Some of the later information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures Website.
If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.