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Description: | The Windmill Theatre opened on 22 June 1931 on the site of a former cinema (built 1910), under the ownership of the Windmill Theatre Company Limited (led by Laura Henderson), and the management of Vivian van Damm. The opening production of Inquest! by Michael Barrington was followed by a brief return to film showings. From 3 February 1932 a programme of non-stop variety called Revudeville was introduced: this featured, for the first time on the British stage, the use of "artistic nudes" and eventually drew large audiences. The theatre achieved fame during the Second World War for remaining open (except for a few compulsory days in 1939).
The theatre provided early opportunities in the careers of many comedians and entertainers who went on to find international success. When Laura Henderson died in 1944 she left the theatre to Vivian van Damm. After his death in December 1960 the non-stop variety programme was carried on by his daughter Sheila. The theatre was sold to the Compton Cinema Group and closed on 31 October 1964. It became a cinema and casino, before it was bought by Paul Raymond in February 1974 as a home for nude shows.
Material relating to the Windmill Theatre and the production of non-stop revue 1932-1964, including press cutting albums, scripts certified by Lord Chamberlain's Office, licences, accounts, photographs, printing blocks, and photographs of Zususi Roboz's drawings of Windmill girls.
Archive reference number: THM/257. | Format: | Accounts Press cuttings Licences Photographs Scripts | Subjects: | Vivian Revues -- England -- London -- 20th century van Damme | Temporal: | 20th century 1932-1964 | Source: | Backstage | Address: | Blythe House, 23 Blythe Road,
W14 0QX | Creator: | Windmill Theatre (London, England) | Identifier: | THM-257 | Format: | Accounts Press cuttings Licences Photographs Scripts | Go to resource |
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