Camden Palace Theatre in North London was the recording venue for some of the nation’s favourite radio programmes including the The Goon Show.
Dating from 1901, the original theatre had been converted to a cinema, so the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ had to completely renovate the building when it moved in. A ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Research & Development white paper of 1947 notes:
It is a typical Music Hall, and although it has been equipped as a permanent studio, little structural alteration or acoustic treatment has been made apart from the construction of a Control Suite under the circle, and replacement of most of the seats from the stalls by a stepped platform, large enough to accommodate the Theatre Orchestra. The stage is also available for orchestra, chorus or soloists, so that many different layouts are possible. In addition, a narrator's studio and echo room have been constructed.
The Camden became a key studio for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Light Programme, becoming the home of light music and comedy between 1945 and 1972, used for broadcasts of programmes such as Friday Night is Music Night. It was also used for special one-off ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ recordings, including a celebratory vinyl LP of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Further reading
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Camden Theatre - Investigation of acoustical characteristics by means of reverberation measurements and pulse techniques ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Research & Development white paper, 1947
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Old ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Equipment and Memories website
Buildings
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Alexandra Palace
The birthplace of television -
Broadcasting House
The first purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK -
Broadcasting House, Belfast
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941 -
Broadcasting House, Bristol
Former home of the Natural History Unit -
Broadcasting House, Cardiff
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s first bespoke headquarters in Wales -
Bush House
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ of the World Service 1940-2012 -
Camden Palace Theatre
Light entertainment and music from North London -
Caversham Park
Listening to the world, 1943 to 2018 -
Ealing Studios
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television Film Studios -
Elstree Studios
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ of EastEnders -
Lime Grove
A temporary measure for 42 years -
Kingswood Warren
Former home of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Research & Development -
The Langham
Sustaining the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ during World War 2 and after -
Maida Vale
The best acoustic in London -
35 Marylebone High Street
The first headquarters of the Radio Times and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio London. -
MediaCityUK
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Northern base in Salford -
Pacific Quay
Headquarters of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Scotland -
Paris Studios
Former London cinema which hosted The Beatles and Dad's Army -
Pebble Mill
A hub for drama, entertainment and factual programmes in Birmingham between 1971 and 2004 -
Queen's House, WC2
Centre of English language learning -
Riverside Studios
A film studio regenerated into a TV studio used by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ from 1954 to 1975 -
Savoy Hill
The first home of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ -
Television Centre
The Television Factory -
Television Theatre
A mecca for the stars of the 1960s -
Wood Norton
The emergency broadcasting centre