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IN THE NEWS
TOUR OF THE MONTH
ON THIS DAY IN LONDON
20th January 1883 Betram Home Ramsay, Dunkirk Naval Strategist, was born in London.
20th January 1843 Born today: Pierre-Paul Cambon, French diplomat (Madrid, Constantinople, London)
20th January 1779 Actor David Garrick sadly passed away at The Adelphi buildings.
20th January 1382 King Richard II of England was married to Anne of Bohemia in Westminster Abbey.
20th January 1265 First English Parliament summoned by non-royal command (The Earl of Leicester) met in Westminster Hall.
Finsbury Park Empire
The first ever sawing of a woman in half was performed here.
Location: St Thomas/Prah Road, Finsbury Park, London
Description: The Finsbury Park Empire was built by Frank Matcham for Moss Empires Ltd at a cost of 45,000 and opened on the 5th of September 1910 with a capacity of around 2000. The Theatre closed on the 7th of May 1960 and was demolished in 1965.
It saw many top showbiz acts of the time like Max Miller and Arthur Askey, but is renowned for being the first theatre where the saw-the-woman-in-half magic act was performed.
It was performed by PT Selbit on January 17th 1921 causing an immediate sensation, reviews called it a 'bloodthirsty ... hair raising' spectacle. Selbit responded with several publicity stunts such as ambulances parked outside the theatre. Between performances stage hands would take buckets of red liquid through the audience and pour into the gutter outside.
The act shut an attractive woman in a wooden box, with ropes holding her down, and cut the box in two. The audience loved it. Magicians everywhere rushed to make their own, bloodier versions.
Tagged in this Tour: Historic Magic Circle Tour
Comedy
Ranking This Month: 267/2814
Pages Hit This Month: 80
Link to This Page: http://www.shadyoldlady.com/location/787
Credits: http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk
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The first ever sawing of a woman in half was performed here. |
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Egyptian Hall
The magical museum and Egyptian Hall used to be here.
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Sir John Gielgud lived here», 4.6km
St Martins Theatre», 3.6km
The Royal Court Theatre», 5.3km
Trafalgar Studio's», 4.0km
Lupino Lane lived here», 4.0km
The Rose Theatre», 3.8km
The Players' Theatre», 3.6km
Rudolf Steiner Hall», 3.5km
The Ambassadors Theatre», 3.6km
Comedy of Errors 1st Performance», 3.0km
mapping London's most interesting and unusual places and history
