The Argyle Theatre of Varieties, opened as a music hall in 1868.

Some of the stage and music stars that performed there were Stan Laurel, George Formby, Charlie Chaplin, and Harry Lauder. Aparantly, Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise also performed at the Argyle Theatre.

The theatre had seating for about 800, with pillars in the auditorium and long, narrow galleries running down either side.

It was one of the oldest music halls in Britain, famous for its lively entertainment and for fostering new talent.

In 1876 the name changed to the Prince of Wales and the theatre was used to present plays. In 1890, the management of the theatre was taken over and was changed back into to a music hall under its original name of the Argyle Theatre.

The Argyle was the first music hall to present radio broadcasts that were aired throughout the Commonwealth; it was also the only British music hall to broadcast direct to the United States on a coast-to-coast hook-up.

In 1896, the Argyle was the first theatre outside of London to present Thomas Edison's Vitagraph Living Pictures. In 1910 it showed footage of the funeral of King Edward VII and in 1911 the coronation of King George and Queen Mary.

Although the theatre showed films and newsreels for a number of years, the main attractions at the Argyle continued to be live performances.

The Argyle was destroyed by fire in an air raid by Hitler's Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain on September 21, 1940.


Whats On: Monday 1st of February 1892 - Monday 21st of January 1907

Argyle Street, Birkenhead 1900's

Again Great Work Joe

Joe your on the roundabout yeh?

I am indeed. must of looked a right wierdo lol

So why is the picture tagged Argyle Street?

Argyle Street looking up the main road? Conway Street.

Yes But thanks

Argyle street runs from the roundabout by Birkenhead Central Station to Hamilton Square.

A couple of people have said it was on the location of the beaties car park as the buildings by the Stairways look like the ones in the original

Check the Roof on the Second Building on the left

ahh, you got it then

it used to be where the george and the dragon is today

But i didn't know i had it lol

will update first pic with yours later

good pics joe

First post updated

My grandmother, born 1888, used to tell me how she used to go to the Argyle regularly. It was one of the finest music halls in the country & all the stars used to perform there.

Can you remember any of them?
I know we may not recognise any of the names but its History"

I wonder what year it was closed and when it was pulled down?

The only famous names I know that have performed there are Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin.

It was hit and destroyed by fire from an air raid in 1940, so i think it was pulled down (what was left of it) after that

Wow Charlie Chaplin in Birkenhead lol, its hard to believe. Cheers Joe

Taken from the "Cinema Topic" Click me

Just keeping stuff together as best we can

Ahh, so thats what it looked like inside!

A few of the names I remember my grandmother mentioning are Dan Leno, Harry Lauder, Marie Lloyd, Vesta Tilley. The Argyle was one of the most famous music halls & all the top artists wanted to perform there.

No, Joe/Mark; it was next to the George & Dragon. The reason there doesn't appear to be room there is because you've taken the pic. with a large amount of zoom, so causing foreshortening. This pic. shows the layout. I can just make out 'Dragon'& part of the 'Grange Road' sign on the original photo.

Cheers, Chris

That makes alot of sense that chris... The argyle theatre is where the back of Beaties is that huge car park.. thanks for the heads up there mate... hehe... Cause over the road is the Post Office building then abit up is that Bathroom place.. Nice to get a heads up of where it used to be.. Damn it would of been good if it was still there....

I wish i was old lol and Joe was Black and White.

Excellent Chris - keeping us right

Everywhere looked so much better in the old days, its a shame most of its gone

For the avoidance of any doubt, here's a 1909 map showing the location of the Argyle. It's immediately opposite the Post Office.

Cheers, Chris.

You win

lol