Opera House

Dudley Opera House stood in the West Midlands town of Dudley. It opened in 1899 on land once owned by the Earl of Dudley. The building was designed by A. Ramsell in Italian Renaissance style with red brick and terracotta details. Local firm J. H. Whittaker & Company built it in two years at a cost of £16,000. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor of Dudley in June 1898. Its wide stage hosted operas, plays, dramas and music hall acts. The theatre quickly became a popular venue. By the early 1900s films were added to the programme. Charlie Chaplin performed there in 1906 and Stan Laurel in 1908. In 1910 it became the Opera House Picture Palace and Electric Theatre to reflect afternoon film screenings. In 1920 the Kennedys bought the theatre and shifted focus to variety acts. By 1930 it was equipped for sound films. On 1 November 1936 a fire broke out after the final performance. Robert Kennedy had just locked up when flames took hold. Damage reached £40,000 to £50,000 and the structure was declared unsafe. The building was demolished ten months later. A new theatre, Dudley Hippodrome, rose in its place.