The Britannia Panopticon was a word that I couldn't fathom or consciously remember with ease, and apparently I wasn't the first. When it acquired this moniker, Glaswegians couldn't pronounce it either, so began calling it "the pots and pans," which then evolved into "that potty place." Potty, of course, can mean one of two things:
1) a chamber pot for pissing in
2) someone who's quite mad!
More on the significance of urination later...
It took me a while to master the word, and until then I referred to it as:
1) The Pygmalion
2) The Porphyrian
3) The Papillion
4) The Pangolin
5) The Pornocopian
The building to the right was once The Britannia Music Hall, which later became known as The Britannia Panopticon, or just The Panopticon. It's now Mitchell's Amusements, with a sweet shop attached, yet the Panopticon is still tucked away inside.
Access is via this side door off Trongate, and I had a bit of trouble finding it. The word "panopticon" means to view everything. It's derived from "pan"= everything and "opti"= to see. Both are Greek terms.
I became aware of the existence of The Panopticon when I saw it on TV, just a few weeks before my trip to Glasgow.
We had to climb a set of shabby stairs (indeed, the whole of the inside is a work in progress). The Panopticon is the world's oldest surviving music hall, and dates back to 1857/58, being leased to John Brand in 1859. Since then it has changed hands many times.
We got to stand on the stage of this grand old building, which was opened to entertain the working classes who had flocked to the city to find work during industrialisation. After an unthinkably (to our modern and more delicate sensibilities) gruelling day in the mill; in the shipyard; in the factory; in the colliery or in the foundry, they needed somewhere to be entertained.
1) Pee
The Panopticon didn't have a toilet until 1893. Until then men often couldn't be bothered to fight their way through the crowds to the nearest alleyway, so they'd urinate on the spot (although I suppose it's perfectly feasible to imagine women doing the same.) It is thought that this is why The Panopticon didn't burn down, as many other similar venues did, caused by punters being careless when extinguishing cigarettes. It was totally and utterly sodden!
Allegedly, horse manure collected from the streets acted as a hand warmer, and could also double up as a missile to be thrown at a bad singer, or unfunny comedian.
3) Prostitutes
Ladies of dishonourable virtue would ply their wares in the dark corners of the balcony, and this is known due to the large number of fly buttons still surviving locally as evidence. At one point, in an attempt to clean up the place, husband-and-wife management team, Mr & Mrs Rossborough, insisted that no ladies be admitted unless accompanied by a gentleman.
Nowadays, an amount of old props are huddled around the stage.
Back in the day, up to 1500 people would cram onto wooden bench seats up to four times a day. Those who couldn't afford a seat would stand around the edges. Acts that impressed this bawdy crowd would be rewarded with deafening foot-stamping and thunderous applause.
The bar at the back, and a selection of costumes.
Dancing girls were a particular draw for the men, who loved the titillation of stocking tops in an age where female flesh was generally hidden. Music halls became synonymous with ribald behaviour. Due to moral concerns, police started visiting as part of their daily beat. But the acts would just exercise more decorum whilst they were there, then return to their risqué humour once they'd left.
More props, and a life-size Stan Laurel cut-out.
Under the management of Mr and Mrs Rossborough, from 1869, the music hall flourished and became more family friendly. The bill now included acrobats, trapeze artists, child performers and animal acts. They refitted the auditorium to include plush seating and chandelier lighting, gave it a paint facelift and, in doing so, made the venue a tad more elegant.
There are several old advertisements and newspaper articles regarding this venue all around the auditorium.
During its heydey, some of the greatest ever music hall acts- such as Marie Lloyd, Dan Leno, Harry Lauder and Bessie Bellwood- graced the boards here. Songs from this time are still sung today; such as Ta-ra-ra-boum-deay, The Boy I Love Is Up in the Gallery and I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am.
The Panopticon moved with the times. In 1896 it became one of the first 300 buildings in the city to have electricity wired in, and by 1897 the aminated picture became a regular draw.
They even had an act, called Dr Walford Bodie, who would connect himself to electric coils and the audience would see his hair stand on end!😆
This part was semi behind a curtain and did indeed look a tad shabby (but I kind of liked it- it has character).
By the turn of the century Britannia Music Hall was beginning to look tired, as new variety theatres opened across the city. The venue closed in 1903, then reopened in 1906 as A.E. Pickard- who modelled himself on American showman P.T. Barnham- turned the upstairs into a carnival; complete with a fortune teller and fairground games such as a coconut shy and a rifle range.
It was then that the venue became known as The Panopticon (advertised as The Grand Panopticon), as one could see everything within its walls. There were also waxworks on that level- including those of the British royal family- and a freakshow. Visitors could come and see the likes of the world's smallest man, the world's tallest man, the world's ugliest woman and the bearded lady here.
I don't think modern political correctness would allow such a show nowadays!
Here the tattooed lady is being advertised. I once met a woman who was as tattooed as her! True story! Me, I only have one tattoo- a rose on my shoulder. Mind you, when I had my tattoo done- in 1990- they were still considered risqué on a woman. The Spice Girls were yet to popularise them!
This looks like a selection of gloves (lost property?) and tickets in a picture frame.
Pickard also turned the basement into a zoo, which he advertised as "Noah's Ark." Here you could see a collection of reptiles, birds, monkeys, a bear and the cheeky chimpanzee Solomon, who was married to another chimpanzee named Betsy (really, I couldn't make this up!)😆
A pier-style photo opportunity Laurel and Hardy in the back room. Alongside the zoo, you would also have been able to see Hogarth paintings, a hall of mirrors and medieval etchings of Chinese torture. Pickard may have been many things, but I certainly wouldn't describe him as boring!
Postcards and pamphlets in this cabinet.
By this stage, the addition of the carnival, waxworks, freakshow and zoo, along with the major works that had been undertaken to accommodate these, had reduced the entertainment size to 500 seats.
A cabinet of props (at least that's what I hope they are, as I can see human fingers here...)
Up until 1938 various entertainments took place here, such as boxing demonstrations, amateur nights, animal shows and film shows interspersed with live acts.
Another prop cabinet, and this place is certainly worth an hour of your time- we even got to go up on the stage, which was wonderful!
In 1938 Pickard closed the Panopticon, unable to compete with the popular entertainment of the day- local cinemas. It was sold to a tailoring firm.
Sitting in the auditorium, looking up to the blacked-out windows. It only costs £2 to enter here, and it's certainly worth it. If I go again I'll make the time to have a cocktail at their bar.
During its time as a tailors, this room was used as a workshop, with the upper auditorium and this ceiling hidden under a plaster ceiling. The building was given category A listed status in 1977.
The founder of Friends of the Brittania Panopticon- which manages events and entertainments here nowadays, and supports the Brittania Panopticon Trust- was stunned, in 1997, to catch a glimpse of this very ceiling, along with the eerily-undisturbed upper auditorium.
The Brittania Panopticon Trust aims to preserve and restore the entire building. Once again music hall songs fill the hall, as the plaster ceiling has been removed, the stage put back into use and performances take place here once more.
Upcoming events include a Laurel & Hardy Film Night, a tea and tarot event, a vintage fair and a comedians' competiton. If I get the chance I would love to come to an event here.
It's an atmospheric and incredibly interesting theatre. I love it for its shabbiness, and wouldn't want it to be over-restored!
Glasgow and The Panopticon, I will return.
Until then...
TTFN
Miss Elaineous
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