Aeolian Hall (London)
Encyclopedia
Aeolian Hall located at 135-137 New Bond Street, began life as the Grosvenor Gallery
, being built by Sir Coutts Lindsay in 1876, an accomplished amateur artist, with a predeliction for the aesthetic movement
, for which he was held up to some ridicule. In 1883, he decided to light his gallery with electricity. An outhouse became a substation, and equipment was installed in the basement, which upset some of the neighbours, and caused others to buy electricity from him. Thus began the system of electrical distribution in use today, but the threat of fire ended these activities, and by 1890, Lindsay was forced to sell out to the Grosvenor Club. By 1903 the whole building was taken over by the Orchestrelle Company of New York (the Aeolian Company). As manufacturers of musical instruments, and especially the mechanical piano-player known as the pianola, they converted the space into offices, a showroom, and a concert hall.
After the destruction of their St George's Hall
studios in March 1943, the BBC took it over during the Second World War, for broadcasting and recording concerts and recitals, giving up the premises in 1975. The Beatles recorded "Taste of Honey" in Aeolian Hall on 10 July 1963 for a BBC broadcast of "Pop Goes the Beatles", a regular BBC radio show. This particular recording aired on 23 July 1963 (See insert from "The Beatles, Live at the BBC" EMI). It is now called Renoir House, and with its ample storage space, is occupied by several antiques dealers.
Grosvenor Gallery
The Grosvenor Gallery was an art gallery in London founded in 1877 by Sir Coutts Lindsay and his wife Blanche. Its first directors were J. Comyns Carr and Charles Hallé...
, being built by Sir Coutts Lindsay in 1876, an accomplished amateur artist, with a predeliction for the aesthetic movement
Aestheticism
Aestheticism was a 19th century European art movement that emphasized aesthetic values more than socio-political themes for literature, fine art, the decorative arts, and interior design...
, for which he was held up to some ridicule. In 1883, he decided to light his gallery with electricity. An outhouse became a substation, and equipment was installed in the basement, which upset some of the neighbours, and caused others to buy electricity from him. Thus began the system of electrical distribution in use today, but the threat of fire ended these activities, and by 1890, Lindsay was forced to sell out to the Grosvenor Club. By 1903 the whole building was taken over by the Orchestrelle Company of New York (the Aeolian Company). As manufacturers of musical instruments, and especially the mechanical piano-player known as the pianola, they converted the space into offices, a showroom, and a concert hall.
After the destruction of their St George's Hall
St. George's Hall (London)
St. George's Hall was a theatre located in Langham Place, Regent Street in London, built in 1867, which closed in 1966. The hall could accommodate between 800 and 900 persons, or up to 1,500 persons including the galleries...
studios in March 1943, the BBC took it over during the Second World War, for broadcasting and recording concerts and recitals, giving up the premises in 1975. The Beatles recorded "Taste of Honey" in Aeolian Hall on 10 July 1963 for a BBC broadcast of "Pop Goes the Beatles", a regular BBC radio show. This particular recording aired on 23 July 1963 (See insert from "The Beatles, Live at the BBC" EMI). It is now called Renoir House, and with its ample storage space, is occupied by several antiques dealers.