Windmill Theatre

[2] In 1930, after her husband's death, Laura Henderson bought the Palais de Luxe building and hired F. Edward Jones, an architect, to remodel the interior to a small 320-seat, two-tier (stalls and circle) theatre.[1] Its existence as a theatre was short and unprofitable, and it soon returned to screening films, such as The Blue Angel (1930) starring Marlene Dietrich.[4] A breakthrough came when Van Damm began to incorporate glamorous nude females on stage, inspired by the Folies Bergère and Moulin Rouge in Paris.This coup was made possible by convincing Lord Cromer, then Lord Chamberlain, in his position as the censor for all theatrical performances in London, that the display of nudity in theatres was not obscene: since the authorities could not credibly hold nude statues to be morally objectionable, the theatre presented its nudes — the legendary "Windmill Girls" — in motionless poses as living statues or tableaux vivants.Van Damm produced a series of nude tableaux vivants based on themes such as Annie Oakley, mermaids, American Indians, and Britannia.The showgirls, cast members, and crew moved into the safety of the theatre's two underground floors during some of the worst air attacks, from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941.During his tenure, the Windmill was home to numerous famous comedians and actors who had their first real success there, including Jimmy Edwards, Harry Worth, Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine, George Martin, Bruce Forsyth, Arthur English, Tommy Cooper and Barry Cryer.The first production at the now renamed Windmill Theatre was a play called Let's Get Laid, which opened on 2 September 1974, and starred Fiona Richmond and John Inman.Paul Raymond re-introduced burlesque when he renamed the Windmill La Vie en Rose Show Bar and opened the venue as a supper club with a laser disco on 16 November 1982.A "gas or electricity explosion" occurred in the male toilets of the Windmill Club on 3 March 2017, causing damage to the adjacent pavement, and leading to a brief evacuation of the building and surrounding area.
Windmill Theatre CoWestminsterLondonCoordinatesCapacityGreat Windmill Streetvarietytheatretableaux vivantsCharles IIApolloShaftesbury AvenueElsie CohenLaura HendersonInquestThe Blue AngelMarlene DietrichVivian Van DammFolies BergèreMoulin RougeLord CromerLord Chamberlaincensorliving statuesmusic hallsPiccadillyPavilionAnnie OakleymermaidsAmerican IndiansBritanniafan danceSecond World Warthe BlitzPrincesses Helena VictoriaMarie LouiseQueen VictoriaGeorge LansburyJimmy EdwardsHarry WorthTony HancockSpike MilliganHarry SecombePeter SellersMichael BentineGeorge MartinBruce ForsythArthur EnglishTommy CooperBarry Cryerpin-up modelsJune PalmerJune Wilkinsonrally driverSheila Van DammMichael KlingerTony TenserPaul RaymondFiona RichmondJohn InmanburlesqueBig BangOscar OwideWild Westtable-dancingcabaretTonight and Every NightRita HayworthBroadwayFlorence BatesMrs HendersonMurder at the WindmillDiana DeckerJon PertweeDanny AngelSecrets of a Windmill GirlPauline CollinsMartin JarvisDana GillespieMrs Henderson PresentsJudi DenchBob HoskinsTheatre Royal BathWest EndDick EmeryJoan JayMichael HowardJean KentBill KerrAlfred MarksBill MaynardKenneth MoreBen LoaderJosie JonesList of strip clubsThe JournalBritish Newspaper ArchivePlaybillGavin WeightmanVictoria and Albert Museum