The present theatre (see photo) is the third on the site. Previously on the site  was Moy's Music Hall, renamed the Royal Standard Music Hall in 1863 and demolished it  in 1886. The replacement building, also a music hall, was pulled down in 1911.

Frank Matcham built the Victoria palace for Alfred Butt in 1911. Butt had previously bought the Royal Standard Music Hall and had this demolished. Sir Alfred Butt had introduced Pavlova to London. She had become famous for her dancing as the dying swan in Tsjaichowsky's ballet. A statue of the ballerina was placed on top of the theatre, but Pavlova would never look at it and always drove past with the car blinds pulled down.
The statue was removed  during the blitz, but has never been found since.

Between 1929 and 1934 revues were staged there and in 1935 Seymour Hicks turned the Victoria Palace into a proper theatre, produced The Miracle Man and  revived some of his earlier successes. Revues resumed in 1936-1937 and from then until the outbreak of war in 1939 the Musical Comedy Me and My Gal, featuring the Lambeth Walk was a huge success. This was produced by Lupino Lane.
In 1930 Archie de Bear produced the successful revue Chelsea Follies. In 1934 Reynold's Young England was performed.

Other famous musicals that ran in the Victoria Palace were Annie, High Society and Buddy, the long-running tribute to the late Buddy Holly.

In 1948 Victoria Palce came under the direction of Moss' empire. From 1947 until 1962 it was almost continuously the home of the immensely popular shows of the  "Crazy Gang". And, from 1962  it housed  the Black and White Minstrel Show who gave 4,344 performances at the theatre, during 10 years.

Musicals and popular comedies are now the staple fare of the Victoria Palace, which seats 1.565

According to Veissid (auction catalogue Nov'03) The company went into voluntary liquidation in 1955; Sir Alfred Butt, knighted in 1918, was M.P. for Wandsworth and also Chairman of the famed Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Sources:
- Collin Narbeth, personal communication, 2003
- http://mysite.freeserve.com/arthurlloyd/VP.htm      
- Siemon Jeltsema, personal communication, 2003
- Matthew .......,  personal communication, jun 2003
- Veissid, auction catalogue Nov. '03

photo of the Victoria Palace: www.arthurlloyd.co.uk

Available historic share certificates:

The Victoria Palace Ltd.
Certificate of x shares, United Kingdom, 1929; size: 28,5 by 25,5 cm.; 3 by 5 cm engraving of Victoria Palace, Victoriastreet, London, with on top a statue of the famous ballerina Pavlova: read the story !; Victoria Palace was built by the great theatre architect Frank Matcham; red texts and decorations; price 95 Euro. Order here.

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