With its imposing terra cotta facade, the Pavilion Theatre of Varieties was designed by Bertie Crewe in the grand manner for Thomas Barrasford. The domed ceiling was surmounted by an electrically controlled sliding roof for ventilation. Fine Rococo plasterwork on the circle, balcony and box fronts; decoration executed in pure Louis XV; handsome mahogany woodwork and the marble mosaic floor all lent the 1800 seat theatre an aura of splendour.

No less amusing than the dentist advertising in the Pavilion programme "painless extractions with nitrous oxide for 4/- (20p) or cocaine for 1/- (5p)", were the press observations on the "fashionable company" which attended the Pavilion's first house on 29th February,1904. We learn that "among the elite there was quite a preponderance of ladies and gentlemen of quality in evening dress". Alas, class consciousness and respectability were all in Edwardian Britain!

All the eminent music hall worthies turned up at the Pavilion at some time or other, none more so than FLORRIE FORDE. A strong pantomime tradition was established in the 'thirties with HARRY GORDON and DAVE WILLIS alternately playing eight weeks at the Pavilion before moving east to the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh.

The 'forties and 'fifties saw pantomime runs of sixteen weeks for JACK ANTHONY (with BERTHA RICARDO and BOND ROWELL) and lengthy summer shows for TOMMY MORGAN (with 'TOMMY YORKE; JIMMY HILL and MARGARET MILNE).

Bridgeton-born, bluff, big hearted TOMMY MORGAN enjoyed a cult status from fans who readily identified with his no frills approach to comedy. On his death in 1961 it was revealed that he had asked that his ashes be scattered on the Pavilion's roof. His ghost is said to haunt the Pavilion to this day.

These happy and hilarious summer seasons were emulated during the 1960s and early 1970s by LEX McLEAN (with JIMMY CARR & VONNIE; RON DALE, and MARGO BENTLEY). Plentiful belly laughs were assured when the master of timing with his clever one liners and asides was the central figure. Another regular crowd puller to Renfield Street was JACK MILROY with his clean infectious humour, seen at its best in the Pavilion's Diamond Jubilee "World of Widow Cranky" adventure in pantomime with CHARLIE SIM and SALLY LOGAN.

LULU from Dennistoun (real name Marie Lawrie) broke box office records in 1975 with her irrepressible vitality and joyous personality. BILLY CONNOLLY, HECTOR NICOL, GLEN DALY, FREDDIE STARR and ANDY CAMERON portrayed their own distinctive brands of humour while Scottish songstresses LENA ZAVARONI, SHEENA EASTON, LENA MARTELL and BARBARA DICKSON also scored heavily with Pavilion audiences.

It was anything but plain sailing for the Pavilion and there was gloomy speculation of closure after incurring heavy financial losses in 1981. Spared the fate which befell the Queens, Metropole, Empire, Alhambra and Empress Theatres, the 80 years old Pavilion was rescued by James Glasgow and transformed into a modest profit maker. Smash-hit shows with SYDNEY DEVINE; spells from hypnotist ROBERT HALPERN; pantomime with DENNY WILLIS, and one night gigs from the foremost modern television entertainers have kept the cash tills registering.

The Pavilion also played a major role in the annual Mayfest - Glasgow's International Festival of popular theatre, music, the arts and community programmes.

Little altered and virtually unspoilt since its inception, the seating capacity of 1449 is made up of 677 stalls, 341 circle, 413 balcony and 18 box seats. While the stiff shirts in chauffeur-driven cabs have given way to coach parties from the rural areas of Strathclyde and beyond, a policy of providing the best in live entertainment has been pursued consistently. The portents look good for the vibrant Pavilion Theatre of Varieties.

From The Scottish Music Hall 1880-1990 
by J. H. Littlejohn (1990) (ISBN 1 872350 05 4)