Gallus Glasgow P: the Panopticon
The Britannia Panopticon on Trongate is the world’s oldest surviving music hall. It’s on the first floor above Mitchell’s Amusements, with an entrance down the lane to the side. The music hall functioned from the 1850s through to 1938 when it was no longer possible to compete with modern entertainments such as the cinema. It was then sold to a tailoring business, converted to a workshop, and not rediscovered until 1997. The Panopticon is currently being conserved by a trust which produces traditional shows in the auditorium and is raising money to rescue the historic stage which was buried beneath a 1960s toilet.
When 16-year-old Arthur Stanley Jefferson gave his first stage performance here in 1906, who could have predicted how successful he would turn out to be? You know him better as Stan Laurel, who is commemorated by a blue plaque in the alley next to the Panopticon – with a bonus of some beautiful ghost signs.
A talented friend of mine, Colin Hough, wrote a radio play about Laurel’s debut a few years ago. It’s no longer available to listen to, but this very favourable review gives a flavour and speculates what the play might be like if it was filmed in the Panopticon itself.
Something I didn’t know until I was wandering up High Street taking photographs for another post, is that the Panopticon also has a charity shop. I might go back for a rummage when I have more time.
Tomorrow, Q takes us to a Mackintosh building.
Panopticon — quite a mouthful. That’s interesting about Stan Laurel. It would have been fun to see him perform. Is the Mitchell of Mitchell’s Amusement related to the Mitchell of Mitchell’s Library?
LikeLike
I don’t know, but I suspect not. Mitchell is quite a common name here (used to be my name before I married).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, wow, imagine that — you could go around saying that was your library!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh the Stan Laurel bits….precious.
LikeLike
Yes, I isn’t know till quite recently that Stan had his debut here.
LikeLike
Yes, a real piece of history there.
LikeLike
A real stroll down a history street. Stan Laurel, too! That’s a wonderful sign.
LikeLike
I didn’t know about charity shops not until I explored the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland! This is something we don’t have from where I came from.
LikeLike
We have more and more. A sign of the times.
LikeLike
I’ve not been here before but I’ll definitely have to pay a visit to that shop. I love a good charity shop!
Cait @ Click’s Clan
LikeLike
Not far from the Royal! I was looking for something recently and was astonished to find how many charity shops there are. Byres Rd had about 10. I don!’t notice them normally.
LikeLike