Argyle Theatre (Birkenhead, England)

The Argyle Theatre was one of the oldest music halls in Britain, famous for its lively entertainment and for fostering new talent. It opened as a music hall in 1868 under the ownership of Dennis Grannel. In 1876 Grannell changed the name to the Prince of Wales and used the theatre to present plays. In 1890 Denis J. Clarke, Mr. Grannell's nephew, took over the management of the theatre and changed it back to a music hall under its original name of the Argyle Theatre. Clarke ran the Argyle for 45 years, making it the best-known music hall theatre in England. The Argyle was destroyed by fire in an air raid during the Battle of Britain on September 21, 1940.

From the description of Records, 1885-1944. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 79392203

The Argyle Theatre was one of the oldest music halls in Britain, famous for its lively entertainment and for fostering new talent. It opened as a music hall in 1868 under the ownership of Dennis Grannel. In 1876 Grannell changed the name to the Prince of Wales and used the theatre to present plays. In 1890 Denis J. Clarke, Mr. Grannell's nephew, took over the management of the theatre and changed it back to a music hall under its original name of the Argyle Theatre. Clarke ran the Argyle for 45 years, making it the best-known music hall theatre in England.

Many stars began their careers at the Argyle, notably Sir Harry Lauder, Vesta Tilley, Dan Leno, George Robey, Charlie Chaplin, Flanagan and Stan Laurel (of Laurel and Hardy fame). Live performances featured songs, dances, comic skits, acrobatic performances, pantomime and other music hall acts associated with vaudeville. The Argyle was the first music hall to present radio broadcasts that were aired throughout the Commonwealth; it was also the only British music hall to broadcast direct to the United States on a coast-to-coast hook-up. In 1896, the Argyle was the first theatre outside of London to present Thomas Edison's Vitagraph Living Pictures. In 1910 it showed footage of the funeral of King Edward VII and in 1911 the coronation of King George and Queen Mary. Although the theatre showed films and newsreels for a number of years, the main attractions at the Argyle continued to be live performances.

The Argyle was destroyed by fire in an air raid during the Battle of Britain on September 21, 1940.

From the guide to the Records, 1885-1944., (Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)