Home

Themes | Tours | By Area
Map | New | Hot

Latest News
Comments
On This Day in London
Can You Help?
Email Newsletter

Sign Up/Register
Forgot Password?
Contribute a Location

About Us
Friends
Contact Us

RSS Feeds

IN THE NEWS

BBC Media Village and White City 

I NEED A...

• London Xmas Shop
• London Betting
• London Bookshop
• London Car Hire
• London Car Parking
• London Shopping
• London Dating
• London Flats to Rent
• Flights to London
• London Flower Delivery
• London Hotel
• London Music
• London Finance
• London Restaurant
• London Theatre

Number of Locations:

LATEST TOURS

TOP TOURS

TOP TOUR GUIDES

    1. Ade  
    2. Jez  
    3. Dave Evans  
    4. Brian  
    5. James Robertson  

LONDON THEMES

Koko London

This old theatre/cinema/music hall saw Charlie Chaplin live!

Location: 1A Camden High Street, Camden, London, NW1 7JE

Description: This old theatre hall has enjoyed a vast and colourful past, beginning life as The Camden Theatre on Boxing Day 1900 and opened by the famous actress Ellen Terry, with a seating capacity of 1600.

In 1909 the theatre was renamed The Camden Hippodrome and was a variety theatre where famous names such as Charlie Chaplin appeared. In 1911 film seasons began and it became a proper cinema in 1913.

Live acts were still used to support films in 1928 Novelty Nights were introduced on Fridays with up to seven live acts appearing before the film. In 1933 the cinema was wired for sound and free Christmas performances were given to the local children. The cinema closed in 1940 and for some 20 years from 1945 the building became a BBC Theatre and shows included the famous Goon Show.

In 1970 the venue was reincarnated as The Music Machine and provided a platform for the first wave punk bands such as The Sex Pistols and The Clash.

Subsequently purchased by Steve Strange and Rusty Egan of Visage in 1983 the Camden Palace was born the venue then holding court to the leading figures of The New Romantic scene and in the process hosting the earliest gigs of the Eurythmics and the first UK performance by a rising star known as Madonna. Not forgetting, of course, those Nutty boys of Camden Town Madness.

The Camden Palace continued to move with the times and in the 90s was home to a series of dance nights. It closed in February 2004 and after a six month, multi million restoration project was undertaken to a the singular brief of creating a 21st Century entertainment venue from what was left of the glorious 19th Century building.

Bon Scott's last party on the night he died was here when it was still called the Camden Palace and when he drunk himself silly.

The video for the Placebo's Because I Want You single was shot here in 2006.

Tagged in this Tour: Charlie Chaplin's London Tour

• Location
• Comments
• More

Themes: Music  Cinema
Submitted by: Ade 
Ranking This Month: 1378/2530
Pages Hit This Month: 105
Link to This Page: http://www.shadyoldlady.com/location.php?loc=1196
Credits: http://www.koko.uk.com

Koko London This old theatre/cinema/music hall saw Charlie Chaplin live!

The Shady Old Lady points out that you can drag this map using mouse. Or visit our full massive map.

1» Can anyone remember the name of the short-lived TV drama series that was filmed here - I think in the late 1980s? (Murray)

Posted by Murray on 2011-05-10

Got something to add? Write it 'ere:

Name:     Email:
Your email will ONLY be used once, to confirm the publication of your comments. We value your contribution and privacy.
<Put your comments here>
Anti-spam Security: Please enter this code: