{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Use British English|date=December 2011}} '''The Metropole Theatre''' started as the Scotia and was built in 1862 at 116, Stockwell Street, [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]. Built to the designs of architect Robert Black<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200493|title=Dictionary of Scottish Architects – DSA Architect Biography Report|access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> for [[James Baylis]], who later built the [[Theatre Royal, Glasgow|Theatre Royal]]<ref>''The Theatre Royal: Entertaining a Nation'' by Graeme Smith, published 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Glasgow/TRHope.htm|title=The Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, Cowcaddens, Glasgow|access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> in the [[Cowcaddens]] area of the city, it opened as the Scotia Hall,<ref name="Scotia">{{cite web|url=http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Glasgow/Scotia.htm|title=The Metropole Theatre, 116, Stockwell Street, Glasgow|access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> holding over 3000 people, with stalls and two galleries, reputed to be the first purpose built commercial music-hall in Scotland. Due to fire in 1875 it was rebuilt to the designs of architects Campbell Douglas and James Sellars<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200063|title=Dictionary of Scottish Architects – DSA Architect Biography Report|access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> and renamed The Scotia Variety Theatre, claiming to be the largest and best variety company in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSA00280|title=Mitchell Library, Theatre Collection|accessdate=22 July 2009}}</ref><ref>''The Theatre Royal: Entertaining a Nation'', by Graeme Smith</ref><ref>http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Glasgow/Scotia.htm</ref>
The Baylis family headed by Christina Baylis continued to run it until 1892, selling it on her retiral to [[Moss Empires]] who ran it until 1897 when they opened their new Empire Palace in Sauchiehall Street. At this point [[Edward Moss (impresario)|Edward Moss]] leased the theatre to HH Morrell and F Mouillot who named it The Metropole and presented plays, usually melodramas. Successive lessees included Arthur Jefferson who reintroduced variety. In 1926 it was sold to Bernard Frutin whose family continued to present variety, summer shows and winter shows for four decades, until fire destroyed the building on 28 October 1961.<ref name="Scotia" />
Thereafter the Frutins bought the former [[Empress Theatre (Glasgow)|Empress Theatre]]<ref name="Metropole">{{cite web|url=http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Glasgow/NewMetropoleTheatreGlasgow.htm|title=The Metropole Theatre, 217 St. Georges Road, Glasgow|access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> in St George's Cross in the West End of the city which in 1960 had been renamed The Falcon Theatre run by the Falcon Trust who staged plays and hoped to extend the building. The funding was not available for an extension and proposed performing Arts Centre and instead it was purchased by Alec Frutin in 1962 as a replacement for his former theatre in Stockwell Street. The St George's Cross building now opened as the New Metropole.<ref name="Metropole" /> In 1964 [[Jimmy Logan]], by agreement with Alec Frutin, bought the theatre, renaming it ''Jimmy Logan's Metropole''. It prospered with variety, comedy plays, winter shows, and a Royal Variety Gala jointly with Scottish Television but found itself in an area which Glasgow Corporation was depopulating to peripheral housing schemes. The musical ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' opened in 1970 and ran for 10 months, its first outing outside London. Despite this success the theatre now drained money and closed in 1972. It lay derelict for many years before finally being demolished for a new housing development in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Glasgow/Scotia.htm|title=Scotia Music Hall, Metropole Theatre|accessdate=21 July 2009}}</ref>
==''Stan Laurel''== When Arthur Jefferson took over the management of the Metropole in 1906 he employed his son Arthur Stanley Jefferson (then aged 15 or 16) to collect tickets at the [[box office]]. In 1917, Arthur Stanley changed his name to [[Stan Laurel]], going on to become one half of the famous double act, [[Laurel and Hardy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSB00353|title=Glasgow University Library|accessdate=22 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/dodetectivesthink/7.htm|title=Arthur Stanley Jefferson|accessdate=22 July 2009|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20091026010214/http://www.geocities.com/dodetectivesthink/7.htm|url-status=dead|archivedate=2009-10-26}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * ''The Theatre Royal: Entertaining a Nation'' by Graeme Smith published 2008 {{ISBN|978-0-9559420-0-6}} {{coord|55|51|20|N|4|15|00|W|display=title}}
{{Scottish Theatres}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metropole Theatre}} [[Category:Former theatres in Scotland]] [[Category:Theatres in Glasgow]] [[Category:1862 establishments in Scotland]] [[Category:Theatres completed in 1862]]