The Windmill Theatre opened in 1931, initially functioning as a venue for drama productions. After poor commercial success the theatre screened films for a period but eventually settled as a variety and revue venue, becoming best known for its creation of the Revudeville shows (running variety shows featuring song, dance and comedy that continued throughout the day) and its use of themed tableaux vivants . Inspired by the Parisian Folies Bergeres and Moulin Rouge shows, manager Vivian Van Damm introduced glamorous nude women known as the Windmill Girls - circumventing the Lord Chamberlain's (censor for all theatrical performances in London) censorship laws by ensuring his nudes remained in static poses, resembling living statues. Later on the fan dance was introduced as well as moving props, enabling the naked girls to move on stage whilst retaining their modesty and thus remaining 'legal'. These were a huge commercial success and the Windmill Girls toured their show to other London and regional venues.
The Windmill was famous for its motto 'We Never Closed', having stayed open (barring a compulsory closure of 12 days that affected all theatres in 1939) throughout the whole of the Second World War.
Owner Laura Henderson left the Windmill to Van Damm on her death in 1944. Rally driver Sheila Van Damm inherited the Windmill Theatre from her father after his death in 1960 and ran it until its closure in 1964. In 1964 she went on tour with a number of former Windmill artistes with her show The Windmill Revue . During its time many prominent British comedians performed on the Windmill stage, including Peter Sellers and Tony Hancock and the theatre itself was featured in a number of films, notably Murder at the Windmill (1949) and Mrs Henderson Presents (2005).
The theatre has had a number of different owners in the subsequent decades.
From the guide to the Windmill Theatre Press and Marketing Material, c. 1940s-1960s, (V&A Department of Theatre and Performance)
