PASSING OF HISTORIC THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 15, 12 October 1918, Page 3

PASSING OF HISTORIC THEATRE

THE OLD "SURREY."

After an unsuccessful struggle against the competition of the musichalls and picture palaces, the old Surrey Theatre- in Blackfrinrs Hoad has been compelled (says t-ho "Newcastle AVeekly Chronicle") to close its doors. It was built by Charles Dihdm, the well-known nautical song writer and singer, and was opened in November. 174iJ, as the lioyal Circus for equestrianism, like Astley's, at the soutnern end of Westminster Bridge. George 111 waa a frequent visitor, and it is told of him that when "Bulo Britannia" was played he was wont to thump his stick on the floor of the ll.oyal box and exclaim, "No, by God, and as long aB I live they never shall be slaves."

John Palmer was acting manager at the time he was living in the King's Bench Prison, in the borough, as a debtor, and his engagement led to an abridgment of the privileges of debtors in Surrey by placing public-houses and places of amusement outside the rales .of the prison.' Many actors and actresses who hecamo famous in their day had their first success at the old Surrey, among them the well-known comedian, Buckstone. It was also at this playhouse that Douglas Jerrold found a stepping-stone, to fame and fortune. AA r hen a young man Jerrold was engaged at the "Old in AVaterloo Hoad, then the Royal Coburg Theatre, to write dramas at a weekly salary of five pounds. Owing to a quaifrel with Davidge, the manager, the author in a huff took a play to Elliston, then manager at the Surrey, and it was at once accepted. This play was "Black-Eyed Susan," which, with T. P. Cooke in the leading part, caught on immediately, and quickly drew all London to the Surrey. It ran for 400 nights in succession, in those days an unheard-of thing.

, Early last century the theatre was burnt down and rebuilt, and it Lijs undergone many alterations in the course of years. It was the cradle of what was satirically called Transpuntine Drama, though many plays that havo become classics were' first introduced; to the public there. In recent years the entertainments have been of the-variety cliaraoter; with two houses nightly.