Owners / Managers

Sir Alfred Butt

Sir Alfred Butt, who was more famous as a theatre manager than as music-hall manager, began his career under Charles Morton at the Palace Theatre, whence he arrived from Harrods, where he had been engaged on accountancy work. He subsequently became director of the Palace, where built up a brilliant record of management. His policy included the introduction of important continental and American artists, such as Gaby Deslys, Regine Fleury, Yvette Gilbert and Grace La Rue- the latter the creator of the immortal song You Made Me Love You. His revues, The Passing Show of 1914 and 1915, are still remembered as the highest expression of that art in the English idiom. His knighthood, a political one, occurred in 1918.                                                                                                                                                                              From EARLY DOORS by Harold Scott