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 BBC had to completely renovate the building when it moved in. A BBC 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 BBC 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 BBC recordings, including a celebratory vinyl LP of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Further reading
- Camden Theatre - Investigation of acoustical characteristics by means of reverberation measurements and pulse techniquesBBC Research & Development white paper, 1947
- The CamdenOld BBC Radio Equipment and Memories website
Buildings
Alexandra Palace
The birthplace of television
Broadcasting House
The first purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK
Broadcasting House, Belfast
BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941
Broadcasting House, Bristol
Former home of the Natural History Unit
Broadcasting House, Cardiff
The BBC's first bespoke headquarters in Wales
Bush House
Home 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 BBC Television Film Studios
Elstree Studios
Home of EastEnders
Lime Grove
A temporary measure for 42 years
Kingswood Warren
Former home of BBC Research & Development
The Langham
Sustaining the BBC 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 BBC Radio London.
MediaCityUK
The BBC's Northern base in Salford
Pacific Quay
Headquarters of BBC 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 BBC from 1954 to 1975
Savoy Hill
The first home of the BBC
Television Centre
The Television Factory
Television Theatre
A mecca for the stars of the 1960s
Wood Norton
The emergency broadcasting centre
