Gatti's Palace of Varieties

Theatre Programme for Gatti's Palace of Varieties, on Westminster Bridge Road. Opened in 1865 this large entertainment venue held 900 people and was the second music hall to be opened by the Swiss-Italian Gatti family. Head of the family was Carlo Gatti who, on arrival in London from Switzerland in 1847, established a number of successful businesses including cafe restaurants, ice cream and confectionery shops.
This programme, from the turn of the 20th century, lists several acts including the clog dance Minnie Ray, and Violet Mills - described as a 'serio-comic vocalist and dancer'. Entrance tickets entitled guests to a seat and a mug of beer. Animated films shown on the Edisonograph were also on the bill: an indication as to the future use of the theatre as a cinema.
In variety shows like Gatti's, artists often performed at one venue, then at one or two others in the same evening before returning to take part in the finale at the original theatre.