ABSTRACT
The rise of the Music Hall to Variety Theatre, from “Sing-Song” to “Palace”, began with the advent of women visitors. Some of the original Music Halls were literally Pot Houses with wooden platforms for the artistes, and plain benches and tables for the patrons, sawdust floors, mugs of beer and all the usual taproom surroundings. There was little or no comfort for the audience, save heat and light and plenty of beer, an old piano or violin for the orchestra, and the performers in those days had a very hard time.
