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This is a very rare survivor - it is a full programme magazine for the Folies Supberbes review at the London Casino for Autumn 1938. It still has its seal (broken open) on the edge of the magzines - stating that it was a shilling to purchase (about £4 in today's money). Not many of these programmes have survived and it is a fantastic document for those interested in the London theatrical events in London just before WWII. These programmes hardly ever come up for sale.
My one is in excellent condition and has all its pages - there is a little bit of rusting on a couple of pages from the staples used in the programe. All pages are present and there are no inscriptons, rips or tears to the pages. I have taken lots of images for your inspection.
Apart from featuring details of the acts it also contains some interesting period adverts for more high-end products.
The review programme will be carefully packed flat in a card box to send to you so that it does not get damaged in transit.
SHORT HISTORY: The London Casino originally opened as the Prince Edward Theatre on Old Compton Street in 1930 with the intention of putting on popular Ziegfeld Follies style revues. This proved not to be such a profitable venture and soon the building was used for trade shows for cinema managers. Again, not a profitable venture.
In 1935 the premises was refurbished and the venue names The London Casino. All the theatre seats were stripped out and replaced by tiered rows of dinner tables and a dancefloor to the front. Grand staircases led from the circles down to the dancefloor. In the floor below was a kitchen which allow customers to eat a full-size dinnerand drink inside a London theatre just as you might in a restaurant.
Guests were served a five-course meal during their stay. During the meal, they could watch a cabaret show on the stage. After the show and dinner were over, guests could take the dancefloor. The theatre was opened from 6.30pm -2am and the revue was given twice nightly. It was an expensive experience and considered a high-end night out. It proved to be very successful.
The outbreak of the Second World War put an end to all performances. The building was badly damaged and all its windows lost on 10 May 1941, in London's worst air raid of the war. All neighbouring buildings directly across Greek Street were destroyed. By 1942 the theatre was repurposed as an entertainment venue for troops on leave. After the war it reverted to a cinema showing wide screen Cinerama movied. In the mid-70s the venue was once again converted back to a theatre, and it has been in business as the Prince Edward Theatre ever since.