Music Hall C. 1895
Theatre began in London with the arrival of a British garrison in 1838. Their performances were a success in the city, and theatre began to emerge in London as a popular form of entertainment. In response to the growing demand and success of the theatre, an old Racket Court was moved to the corner or Richmond and York Streets (across from the Tecumseh Hotel), in 1865, and turned into the London Music Hall. The grand opening of the London Music Hall occurred on May 8, 1866, with a "Grand Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music." At the time, the Music Hall was praised for its sound, lighting, stage, seating, dressing rooms and heating. The London Music Hall could seat 580 people. In 1873, George Holman took over the building, enlarged the stage, and renamed it the Holman Opera House. This theatre was a huge success until it was torn down in 1881. This was not, however, the end of the London Music Hall. In 1895, the London Mechanics’ Institute, located on 229-231 Dundas Street, closed down and the theatre in this building became the London Music Hall. The opening performance in the new London Music Hall was given by "J. L. Clark and his excellent company of actors, singers, dancers and comedians." For 10, 20, or 30 cents, the public could watch the presentation that was described by the Boston Globe as "Black Face Farces" in the London Music Hall. The London Music Hall was later overhauled, electricity was installed, and it became a temporary theatre space for the New London Opera House. In 1905, the building was taken over by Charles W. Bennett, and renamed the London Vaudeville Theatre (also popularly known as Bennett’s). This theatre enjoyed exceptional success until Bennett retired in 1909. After Bennett’s was closed down, the building became the Majestic Theatre. The upstairs area of this building has now been converted into office space. By Karen Allen
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More Information:  Downtown London - Layers of Time, Ed. Michael Baker, London: City of London and London Regional Art and Heritage Museums, 1998. Goodden, Herman. Curtain Rising: The History of Theatre in London. Aylmer: The Alymer Express Limited, 1993. Regional Collection, University of Western Ontario

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