Alhambra, The

Alhambra, The, famous London music-hall, whose ornate Moorish-style architecture dominated the east side of Leicester Square for over 80 years. Opened unsuccessfully in 1854 as an exhibition centre, it was converted into a music-hall seating 3,500 on four tiers. As the Alhambra, a name it retained through successive changes of title (Palace, Music-Hall, Theatre, etc.), it opened in 1860, one of its first successes being the trapeze artist Léotard making his first appearance in London in 1861. In 1870 the theatre lost its licence because its manager presented ‘an indecent dance’—the can-can; but a year later a dramatic licence was granted for the first time. In 1882 the theatre was burned down, reopening a year later. Its great days as a music-hall were from 1890 to 1910, when the spectacular ballets rivalled those of the Empire. In 1912 Charlot inaugurated a series of revues, and in 1916 came George Grossmith's picture of London life The Bing Boys Are Here, with George Robey, which, like its successor The Bing Boys on Broadway (1918), had a long run. In 1923 came the revue Mr Tower of London, which made Gracie Fields a star, and in 1931 Waltzes from Vienna, featuring the music of the Strauss family, gave the theatre, whose fortunes were beginning to decline, a long run. There were seasons of Russian ballet in 1933 and 1935, and the building was demolished in 1936, the Odeon cinema being erected on the site.