City’s music halls

“The quiz questions relating to the emergence of the music halls in Dundee early in the 19th Century attracted the attention of local theatre buffs who have asked me to elaborate,” writes Fraser Elder.

“In essence it was an enterprising local man William Mcfarland who is linked with the origin and advancement of the music hall in the city in 1870. He first took over a wooden arena vacated by Sangar’s Circus, adjoining the Dundee East Railway station, and renamed it the Alhambra Music Hall.

“However, the structure was classed as a danger to public safety and the young impresario moved 200 yards down Dock Street to acquire the Merchant’s Exchange Hall, which in later years was a feature of Shore Terrace as a printing and publishing house and is currently a wine bar.

“But in 1877 Macfarland made his biggest impact theatrically by taking charge of the Theatre Royal at the High Street end of Castle Street. He steered the building through a halcyon period. The building had a standing capacity of 1,200. After 75 years in existence, it was completely destroyed by fire in October 1888. Despite enormous redevelopment since, the building above the Royal Bank still commemorates the theatre with a bust of William Shakespeare high above street level.

“Three years previously Macfarland had unveiled what was to be the jewel in the theatrical crown in the city just 100 yards to the east of his Castle Street venue, Her Majesty’s Theatre and Opera House in the Seagate which was built by public subscription raising £12,000. The palatial building, designed with two large horse-shoe galleries, housed 1,650 patrons and from 1885 to 1919 it was the venue for a roster of high class touring companies.

“A Newport-on Tay resident, Macfarland enjoyed 13 years of success in the Seagate before his death in Lancashire in 1898, By a twist of fate 43 years later, the Majestic Cinema which replaced Macfarland’s showpiece theatre in 1919, suffered a similar fate and was completely destroyed by fire.”