City Varieties by Casey-Jo Clarke

1865 - Leeds City Varieties

b588196 — 2024-11-05 14:04:30 UTC

It was built as an adjunct to the White Swan Inn, it was named Thortens New Musical and Fashionable Lounge

The Handcuff King..

b588196 — 2024-11-05 14:08:33 UTC

1902 was the year of Harry Houdini's last show at the CVMH. This was his handcuff act. The reason it was his last show was because he couldn't escape from the barrel he was in! We know that he did, in fact, accept challenges from the audience and encourage the audience to bring in locks, chains and other items that he could escape from. However, the Tetley Brewery challenged him with an empty beer barrel. Houdini accepted the challenge but failed to escape and claimed that the barrel hadn't been cleaned out properly and he was intoxicated with the fumes. He said the beer left inside had overpowered and confused him.

Audience.. back then.

b588196 — 2024-11-05 14:10:08 UTC

For the lower class before, it was mostly a standing room. The floor was muddy and there was no working plumbing so you can imagine the smell there would have been.

1766

b588196 — 2024-11-05 14:12:27 UTC

Originally the City Varieties was a singing room, until 1965.

When it was built..

b588196 — 2024-11-05 14:21:01 UTC

When it was built, 2 thousand people could fit into the building.

Whistling

b588196 — 2024-11-05 14:53:00 UTC

Back then, sailors worked in venues as they work on docs too and whistling was a form of communication at the time. However, this ended badly most times as set would fall, possibly killing actors. From then whistling has been known to be bad luck in theatres.

Actors

b588196 — 2024-11-05 14:57:02 UTC

Back then it was quite common for comedians to perform at City Varieties Music Hall.

Set/Props

b588196 — 2024-11-05 15:27:38 UTC

Set used to be manually dropped in however there is an electrical system for safety. The electric system was added about a year ago.

Set/Props

b588196 — 2024-11-05 15:29:59 UTC

There is a lift system that is used to bring up set that is too big to fit through a door. Some things had to be turned away due to limitations