Owners / Managers

Thomas Barrasford

Another northern manager who made a spectacular contribution to the outgrowth of the London music hall was Thomas Barrasford, who, shortly before the death of Sir Henry Iriving, in 1905, converted the Lyceum Theatre, for many years associated with that famous actor, into a music-hall. The house, enormously enlarged, and organized on a system of twice-nightly performances, did not prosper, and was abandoned by Barrasford after two years. Its opening performances had included scenes from Verdi's Rigoletto, together with Taylor's elephants and "La Wilma, a lady artist in sand and smoke." Before this, the scene of Barrasford's operations had been Jarrow, and by 1904 he had built up an extensive music hall following in the north of England. His characteristics as a manager were an enthusiastic advocacy of cheap prices, an active participation in the development of the cinema, and the creation of a number of halls, conducted in the English manner, on the Continent.                                                                                                                                                       From EARLY DOORS by Harold Scott