A comprehensive expose of London's notorious West End. Footage that features an array of stars, from Ginger Rogers to Alan Bennett. There are Royal clips of various members of the Royal Family, including the King and Queen at Drury Lane. Footage of the Queen laying the foundation stone at the National Theatre, old footage of the NT. Footage of Southbank chorus girls, old preview reels, a 1931 play where a car is driven onto thr stage. Noel Coward's 70th birthday party on video, which he celebrated with Laurence Olivier and Frankie Howard. Prima ballerinas at "His Majesty's Theatre".
Some of the notable figures are: Richard Burton, Dorothy Tutin, Ruth Shepley, Catherine Calvert.
There are very early silent movies of Shaftesbury Theatre, glamourous premieres at The Savoy Theatre. Some videos are demonstrations on make-up or set design, for example the operating of a revolving stage.
Archive footage of theatres in this collection include: Adelphi Theatre, Apollo Theatre, Arts Theatre, Cambridge Theatre, Coliseum Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Dominion Theatre, Theatre Royal - Drury Lane, Duchess Theatre, Duke of York's Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, London Coliseum, London Palladium, Lyceum Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Mermaid Theatre, Palace Theatre, Players' Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre, Queen's Theatre, The Savoy Theatre, Shaftesbury Theatre, Vaudeville Theatre, Victoria Palace Theatre, Whitehall Theatre, Windmill Theatre
