Music Hall 1857-1938
(The oldest surviving music hall in Britain)
Once upon a time, not so long ago, a young man called Stan went to Britannia
Panopticon to tell a joke or two. That young man grew up to be one
half of the most famous comedy duo in cinema history; Laurel and
Hardy.
Stan Laurel has gone, but the Britannia music hall still exists on
Glasgow's Trongate.
Since
the time that this little hall opened on Glasgow's
Trongate it has captured the
hearts and imaginations of the visiting public. Over the years
Britannia changed name and ownership many times, being known as
"Campbell's Music Saloon",
"Hubner's Cinematograph", the
"Tron Cinema" and most famously
the "Panopticon".
By 1880 Britannia had
become known as "Pre-eminently the most popular place of amusement"
and in 1896 the first moving pictures enthralled the Britannia
audience.
In 1906, a young man
named Albert Earnest Pickard took
over the running of the music hall and renamed it "Panopticon".
Pickard was a man of diverse taste. Between 1906 and 1938 the
building housed not Just music hall and cinema entertainment, but
also freak shows, waxworks, carnival and zoo.
But it was in 1906
that Pickard allowed a young Stanley Arthur Jefferson to make his
debut. In later years this young performer changed his name to
Stan Laurel and is today
one of the best known comedians of all time.
Although famed for the
entertainments, Britannia's stage has also been used as a platform
for many social & political issues from the Temperance movement to
the trade unions.
Alas, in the wake of
modern cinema buildings and the depression of the 1930's, the
Britannia Panopticon closed. Since 1938 the auditorium has lain
silent, but intact.
Panopticon" was founded to support
the work of the "Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Trust"
(est.1998). The work of these two
charitable bodies is dedicated to the future restoration and
re-opening of what is regarded as one of the rarest theatre
buildings in Britain. You can help preserve this
valuable piece of social, theatre and cinema history by becoming a
Friend of Britannia Panopticon
How to Become a Friend
As a Friend, your
subscription or donation will be valuable in furthering the
campaign. Your help and support will help to ensure that this little
auditorium will survive for future generations to enjoy as a museum
of popular entertainments, visitor attraction & place of pilgrimage
for fans of Stan Laurel, Jack
Buchanan
and Harry
Lauder.
In exchange for your
support, you will receive a bi-annual newsletter and information
about any events, exhibitions, talks and publications on offer.
I would like to become a Friend of
Britannia Panopticon
(Please tick relevant box)
[ ] Friend £15 PA
[ ] Life Friend
£250
[ ] Life Friend
(65+) £150
Name.......................................
Address..............................................................
Postcode...
Telephone..............................................
E.Mail.................................................................
To join the Friends,
send your it with
your subscription to:
Donations are also gratefully received. If you require a receipt
for your donation please write to Judith Bowers.
Payment can be made by cheque or postal order, payable to
"Friends of Britannia Panopticon". Please do not post cash. For
International Friends and corporate membership please contact
Judith.
Judith Bowers
Britannia Panopticon Music Hall
113-117 Trongate
Glasgow G1 5HD
Telephone 00 44(0)141 5530840
e mail:judith@britanniapanopticon.fsnet.co.uk
