Post by yerblues1968 on Jul 9, 2009 1:44:50 GMT -5
Opened as the Saville Theatre in 1931 with this lovely frieze by sculptor Gilbert Bayes
running across the whole front of the building and wrapping around the sides. ABC
purchased the theatre for film screenings and it opened it in 1970 as the ABC Shaftesbury
Avenue. Since then it's been owned by the Cannon Group, MGM, ABC (again) and finally,
since 2001, Odeon. The theatre was built on three levels: Stalls, Dress Circle, and Upper
Circle, with two boxes and had a capacity on opening of 1,426. The Stage was 31'6" wide
by 30' 6" deep.
THE SAVILLE THEATER
The Saville Theatre is a former West End theatre at 135 Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. The theatre opened in 1931, and became a music venue during the 1960s, finally being converted to a cinema in 1970.
HISTORY
THEATRE YEARS
The theatre was designed by the architect Sir Thomas Bennett, in consultation with Bertie Crewe, and opened on 8 October 1931, with a play with music by H.F. Maltby, For The Love Of Mike.
The theatre benefited from a capacity of 1,426 on three levels and a stage that was 31.5 feet (9.6 m) wide, with a depth of 30.5 feet (9.3 m). The interior was opulent, The Stage reviewed the new theatre on its opening.
The stalls bar and saloon lounge adjoining, will please the public, special care has been exercised in their equipment and decoration. The bar, which has mural paintings by Mr A. R. Thompson, is 18 ft by 54 ft in front of the counters, while the lounge, which is also decorated by the same artist, is 42 ft by 40 ft. There is a sort of shopping arcade in and about the lounge, as in the up-to-date hotels, and it is quite big enough for tea dances or concerts. So comfortable, indeed, are the lounge and the bar at the Saville, that it is to be feared that something more than a warning bell will be necessary to clear them
The theatre was damaged by bombing in 1941, but reopened quickly allowing Up and Running by Firth Shephard to complete a run of 603 performances. In 1955, the interior was completely refurbished by Laurence Irving, and John Collins created a new mural for the stalls bar. In 1963, a musical adaption of the Pickwick Papers premiered on July 4, 1963, featuring Harry Secombe in his first role in a musical. It was a success, remaining in the West End for two years and going on to tour the US, with a run on Broadway.
EPSTEIN YEARS
Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles and himself a former drama student, bought the theatre in 1965, presenting both plays (including works by Arnold Wesker) and rock and roll shows. The venue became notorious for its Sunday night concerts, during one by Chuck Berry members of the audience stormed the stage and the police were called to clear the theatre.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience at The Saville Theatre in 1967.
No audio. Part 1 of 2. (5:57 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJrZcNcbzsw
The Jimi Hendrix Experience at The Saville Theatre in 1967.
No audio. Part 2 of 2. (9:13 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJGhCNpaetQ
The venue also saw the last UK appearance of The Jimi Hendrix Experience (in June 1967) before their groundbreaking Monterey Pop Festival performance. The Move and Procol Harum also appeared on the bill. Yoko Ono performed there in 1967, in front of a projection of her film Bottoms (Film No. 5), and using smoke machines to fill the auditorium. An eclectic mix of bands such as Nirvana, Cream, Fairport Convention, the Incredible String Band and The Bee Gees, also appeared there.
The Beatles themselves borrowed the Saville to make their Hello Goodbye promo (an early music video) in 1967. While the promo did air in the United States, it wasn't allowed on British television because of a restriction on mimed performances.
The Beatles promotion video of "Hello Goodbye" recorded at the Saville Theatre in 1967 shown on
The Ed Sullivan Show. At least three promotional videos were filmed for "Hello Goodbye", but not aired by
the BBC due to the Musicians Union's strict rules on miming. Paul McCartney directed the footage, which
was filmed at the Saville Theatre, formerly owned by The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein. (4:17 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyGXvcEZZY0
One of three versions of The Beatles "Hello Goodbye" filmed at the Saville Theatre. (3:31 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHKDFZqLVQ8
The Beatles in costumes while performing "Hello Goodbye" promotion
video at the Saville Theatre (Remastered). (3:44 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBZ8ulc5NTg
Epstein died in August 1967, with the late show cancelled, as a mark of respect and soon after, the theatre was sold. In 1969, the theatre returned to presenting theatrical productions and under the new management it presented the London premiere of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, a production that brought Leonard Rossiter to public attention. The last play to be performed at the theatre was Enemy by Robert Maugham, opening for a short run in December 1969.
CINEMA YEARS
The Saville was taken over by ABC Theatres (owned by EMI) in 1970 and converted to a two screen cinema. The conversion was undertaken by William Ryder and Associates. It opened on 22 December 1970 with ABC1 seating 616, and ABC2 581. The stage area became administration offices and little of the original theatre internal structure remains. In 2001, the building was taken over by the Odeon cinema group and is now the four screen Odeon Covent Garden cinema.
The exterior of the theatre retains many of the 1930s details, although the wrought iron window on the frontage has been replaced by glass blocks. A sculptured frieze around the building for nearly 130 feet (40 m), remains and represents Drama Through The Ages.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saville_Theatre
www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/SavilleTheatre.htm
cinematreasures.org/theater/911/