Walter Emden

Walter Lawrence Emden (1847 [His birth was registered in the last quarter of the year. EMDEN, Walter Lawrence Births Dec 1847 Strand Vol I, pp. 383 (BMD)] – 1913) was one of the leading English theatre and music hall architects in the building boom of 1885 to 1915.

Biography

Emden was the second son of William S. Emden, lessee of London's Olympic Theatre, and was born in the vicinity of the theatre in The Strand. Originally studying as a civil engineer, he joined architects Kelly and Lawes in 1870 in the burgeoning construction of theatres. He was immediately given the commission of designing the Globe Theatre. Emden also became a member of the Strand District Board of Works, a forerunner of local councils, and for seven years acted as chair. In 1890, he was elected to the London County Council.Earl, John and Michael Sell (2000) "Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950," pp.272–73]

In 1880, W. G. R. Sprague, a former pupil of Frank Matcham, joined Emden's practice as an apprentice for three years. From 1889, Emden entered a partnership with Charles J. Phipps building the Tivoli, Garrick Theatre and Duke of York's. His most important work, The Tivoli, in the Strand became the archetype for music hall and variety theatre architecture.

His worked extended to hotels, restaurants and, as it became popular, cinemas. He also had a younger half–brother, Henry (1852–1930), who was a leading scenic artist, painting the stage curtain for Walter's Trafalgar Theatre in 1892.

Legacy

The "Guide to British Theatres" describes Emden's early work as "the epitome of architectural illiteracy" betraying his lack of formal training in architecture. He benefited from his collaborations and the "Guide" describes a "well behaved, precise quality to Emden's later work which properly reflects his social achievements in the world of affairs" Sadly, theatre and music-hall design was not accorded the same accolades accorded to civic and church architecture when they were built, it was not until the late 20th century that they were accorded any importance and many of Emden's surviving buildings have now been listed as being of architectural significance.

He formally retired in 1906, passing the practice to Emden, Egan and Co., a partnership formed from his four principal assistants; Stephen H. Egan, his son William S. Emden, A. J. Croughton and T. C. Overtone. They remained in offices in Lancaster Place, off the Strand and designed many suburban London cinemas and hotels, including the iconic "State Cinema" (1910) in Leytonstone. [ [http://cinematreasures.org/theater/17361/ "State Cinema"] (Cinema Treasures) accessed 26 May 2008] Most of these large cinemas have now succumbed, as music-hall did to them, to television and been modified to other uses, or demolished. Emden died in London in 1913.

Theatres

His list of theatre designs include:

References

*"Theatre London: An Architectural Guide", Edwin Heathcote, ISBN 1-84166-047-7
*"Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950", Earl, John and Michael Sell pp. 272–273 (Theatres Trust, 2000) ISBN 0-7136-5688-3

External links

* [http://www.corpoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/lma_learning/theatreland/text.asp?ID=331 Corporation of London page on Walter Emden] (Principally drawn from Earl and Sell (2000)
* [http://www.thisistheatre.com/londontheatre/index.html List of London Theatres and their history]
* [http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/main/database.html Theatre Trust dBase]
* [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/lma_learning/theatreland/timelines20.asp London Theatreland History]
* [http://www.arts-info.co.uk/PAGES2/lt_IRELAND.htm Ireland Theatre history Index]
* [http://www.arts-info.co.uk/pages/THEATREARCHITECTS2000.asp List of British Theatre Architects]
* [http://members.iconn.net/~ab234/Theaters/RoyalCourt.html Royal Court theatre]