The Era Almanack was published annually by The Era, a weekly theatrical newspaper, one of several appearing in the 19th century. Each Almanack was retrospective as to the theatrical events of the previous year. There were always separate lists of theatres and music halls in Great Britain. The first issue was the 1868 Almanack.
Year Name of Hall Proprietor
1868 Railway Bell W.S.Smith
1869 Railway Bell W.S.Smith
Alhambra W.Harris
1870 Railway Bell W.S.Smith
Alhambra W.Harris
Alhambra Hill & Brooks
1871 Worcester J.Hill
1872 Worcester J.Hill
1873 Worcester J.Hill
1874 Worcester J.Hill
1875 Prince of Wales J.Hill
1876 Prince of Wales J.Atkinson
1877 Worcester C.H. Gordon
1878 Worcester Smallwood
1879 Worcester Smallwood
1880 Palace of Varieties F.Winwood
1881 Palace of Varieties F.Winwood
1883 Palace of Varieties F.Winwood
1884 Public Hall F.J.Spark
1885 Public Hall F.J.Spark
Some explanation of the above list is necessary, remembering that the dates given are retrospective and refer to the previous year. The gap in 1870 (proprietor Hill & Brooks) is due to the fact that when the New Concert Hall was first opened it was called the Canterbury Music Hall, but in the same year the name was changed. It appears that The Era could not accept the New Concert Hall, and ther being no rival, from 1871 to 1874 listed it as 'Worcester'. In 1875, the New Concert Hall officially became The Prince of Wales, then in 1877, back to 'Worcester'; then in 1880, to be listed as the Palace of Varieties. The compilers were wrong for 1883, for the Salvation Army had taken over the hall in 1881.
