There was a restaurant there, it was in
the basement and was huge, I used to go for breakfast after nights out on the town. I loved it because it was the only place that still served my favourite,
div>
porridge.
There was a restaurant there, it was in
the basement and was huge, I used to go for breakfast after nights out on the town. I loved it because it was the only place that still served my favourite,
div>
porridge.
You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.
Winston Churchill
The theatre was erected as part of the David Lewis building in 1906 and it was intended
primarily as a music hall for men using the David Lewis Hostel and Club. The architect of the building was J. Francis Doyle. (David Lewis was the founder
of Lewis's stores, and a great philanthropist). It was first licensed (as a music hall) from January 1907, but, as it was a large and quite elaborate
structure, it was felt it would be bad economy to limit its use to just a music hall, so arrangements were made with local amateur dramatic societies to
stage their productions there. The first theatrical licence was issued in October, 1910.
Tuesday night shows were introduced and people from the local
neighbourhood were charged much lower prices than they would pay elsewhere. There were concerts on Sunday evenings - "an hour and a half's good music for
2d". Films were shown as well, the first cinema licence was issued in January 1914. (The management of the soon to be opened St. James' Picturedrome
objected, to no avail). A scheme was also developed for the showing of films to school children. In the 1920s, a licence for boxing was obtained, and in
the 1930s, billiards was introduced.
The theatre could accommodate about 1000 people. In 1936, two sound film projectors were installed. During
the war it was described as the David Lewis Garrison Theatre. In 1960, the floor was levelled and a new stacking system of 296 seats was used. Dancing was
introduced but film shows and theatrical productions continued to be staged. The 470 seats in the balcony remained unaltered.
The David Lewis
Theatre ceased being "a place of public resort" when the certificates expired on 30 November 1977. Demolition of the complex was completed in October,
1980.
The site has been redeveloped.
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The new Amsterdam at Liverpool?
Save Liverpool Docks and Waterways - Click
Deprived of its unique dockland waters Liverpool
becomes a Venice without canals, just another city, no
longer of special interest to anyone, least of all the
tourist. Would we visit a modernised Venice of filled in
canals to view its modern museum describing
how it once was?
Giving Liverpool a full Metro - CLICK
Rapid-transit rail: Everton, Liverpool & Arena - CLICK
Save Royal Iris - Sign Petition
The new Amsterdam at Liverpool?
Save Liverpool Docks and Waterways - Click
Deprived of its unique dockland waters Liverpool
becomes a Venice without canals, just another city, no
longer of special interest to anyone, least of all the
tourist. Would we visit a modernised Venice of filled in
canals to view its modern museum describing
how it once was?
Giving Liverpool a full Metro - CLICK
Rapid-transit rail: Everton, Liverpool & Arena - CLICK
Save Royal Iris - Sign Petition
What a shame it was demolished.
thanks evryone for info.
Slightly OT.
I was fascinated reading about the David Lewis building and done a google. I found this cracking
website.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rep...p?compid=41378
We used to call it the Davie Loo - used to sit on the steps after walking part way home from town. The Shanghai club (the shangy) was just up the street round the back of it - but that's another story!
The David Lewis is on the right. A superb building. I doubt it would be demolished today.
Below: 1976 when it was still used.
Side view down Nile St 1966.
Last edited by Waterways; 05-20-2009 at 03:59 PM.
The new Amsterdam at Liverpool?
Save Liverpool Docks and Waterways - Click
Deprived of its unique dockland waters Liverpool
becomes a Venice without canals, just another city, no
longer of special interest to anyone, least of all the
tourist. Would we visit a modernised Venice of filled in
canals to view its modern museum describing
how it once was?
Giving Liverpool a full Metro - CLICK
Rapid-transit rail: Everton, Liverpool & Arena - CLICK
Save Royal Iris - Sign Petition
Waterways, have you got any more images of the triangular Place where the Guiness ad was? Was it St. Johns/ St.Georges Place? Whatever, that looked like a handsomely laid out space, car-park or no car-park. Wish that was still there.
Waterways. Fantastic pictures ! I only had a vague memory of the place so it's great to be able to see the pics.
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