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St. George's Hall
From MagicPedia
St. George's Hall was a theatre located in Langham Place, Regent Street in London, built in 1867, which closed in 1966. The hall could accommodate between 800 and 900 persons, or up to 1,500 persons including the galleries. The architect was John Taylor of Whitehall.
The hall was known for many years for its presentation of the German Reed Entertainments, as well as other musical works and lectures, then
After the German Reed Entertainments closed in 1895, the building changed its name to the Matinee Theatre, on 17 April 1897, presenting "high class Vaudeville," but it was not very successful. A series of German plays were then produced, but in 1904 the hall closed.
In 1905, magician John Nevil Maskelyne renovated, expanded and reopened the 'St George's Hall, England's New Home of Mystery,' on 24 January 1905 with The Coming Race by David Christie Murray and Maskelyne. Maskelyne's entertainments were called Maskelyne's Theatre of Mystery. The theater also hosted meetings of The Magic Circle, an association of amateur and professional magicians, and its members David Devant and Maskelyne continued to give magic shows for many years. One was called Maskelyne and Devant's Mysteries, which was presented in August 1910.
The building was demolished in 1966, and together with the site of the adjacent Queens Hall – original home of the Henry Wood promenade concerts – the location was used for the construction of the St Georges Hotel and Henry Wood House.
[edit] Magicians that have performed
[edit] References
- St. George's Hall: Behind The Scenes At England's Home Of Mystery by Anne Daventport and John Salisse Published by Mike Caveney.
on Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.
