Philharmonic Hall, London facts for kids
The Philharmonic Hall in London is a historic building. It was built between 1907 and 1908. It replaced an older building called St James's Hall. For a long time, it was known as the St James's Hall. Later, the BBC used it and called it Brock House. Today, it is used as office space by The Office Group.
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Where is the Philharmonic Hall?
The Philharmonic Hall is located in London. It is found between Langham Street, Hallam Street, Gildea Street, and Great Portland Street. Its main entrance is now on Langham Street. The building's address is 19 Langham Street.
History of the Building
The Philharmonic Hall was built where an old church used to stand. This church was called St Paul's Church. The new hall was built to replace the original St James's Hall. That older hall was torn down in 1905.
The first stone for the new hall was laid on April 20, 1907. The Lord Mayor of London helped with this important event. The building officially opened on April 25, 1908. It started with concerts by a new group. This group was called the St. James's Hall Orchestra.
By 1914, the hall had changed its name. It became known as the Philharmonic Hall. After World War I, a guide to London mentioned it. It said the hall was mostly used for showing movies.
In 1917, a photo was taken of the hall. It showed that a movie called Intolerance was playing. The photo also showed a car dealership next door. This was because Great Portland Street was famous for car showrooms. It had over 30 car dealerships before World War II.
What Events Happened Here?
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The Philharmonic Hall hosted many different events. These included concerts and movies. But it became well-known for showing travel films. These films often featured faraway places. Sometimes, the person who made the film would speak. They would give a lecture or commentary with the movie.
- In 1919, the Southern Syncopated Orchestra performed there. This group is sometimes said to have brought Jazz music to Britain. They were very popular at the hall and elsewhere. They even played for the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.
- In March 1919, Herbert Ponting presented his film. It was called With Captain Scott in the Antarctic. He shared the story of the film with the audience.
- Later in 1919, Lowell Thomas showed his film. It was titled With Allenby in Palestine. This film played at the hall until the end of the year.
- The famous explorer, Ernest Shackleton, appeared at the hall. He was there from December 1919 to May 1920. He gave talks and showed slides and films. These were about his trip to Antarctica. He needed to raise money for his past and future trips. People came to see him as much as the film. The hall cost £200 per week to rent. Shackleton also paid two people to operate the film and slide projectors.
- In 1922, two documentary films were shown. They were called Wildest Africa and Through Romantic India.
- In 1923, George Lattimore promoted a film. It was called Cradle of the World. He said it was an amazing travel film. The show included music to make it more lively. Sol Plaatje, an important South African leader, also took part. He played the role of an African tribesman. However, the show only lasted one month.
How the BBC Used the Building
In 1927, the BBC looked for a new main office. The Philharmonic Hall was one of the places they considered. But they decided against it for their main headquarters. In 1932, the BBC opened Broadcasting House nearby.
The Philharmonic Hall then became a BBC building. It was renamed Brock House. The outside of the building looks very different now. It has new walls and windows. Extra space was also added to the roof.
During World War II, the BBC's radio drama department was based here. In later years, the building was used for offices. It also housed the BBC's mechanical workshop. By 2018, the BBC moved out of the building. The plan was to turn it into a small hotel. However, it is now being changed into office space. It is used by The Office Group.
