Paris Studios | |
  Paris Theatre Location within Central London | |
| Former names | Paris Cinema (1939–1940) |
|---|---|
| Address | 12 LowerRegent Street |
| Location | London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°30′30″N0°08′00″W / 51.5084°N 0.1334°W /51.5084; -0.1334 |
| Owner | BBC |
| Type | Radio studio |
| Capacity | < 400 |
| Current use | Fitness club |
| Production | Radio comedy,Concerts |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 1939 (1939-04) |
| Renovated | 1946 |
| Closed | 1995 (1995) |
| Years active | 1946–1995 |
| Architect | Robert Cromie |
TheParis Theatre (also known as theParis Studios) was originally a cinema located at 12Lower Regent Street in central London which was converted into a studio by theBBC for radio broadcasts requiring an audience. It was used for several decades by the BBC as the main venue for comedy programmes broadcast onBBC Radios 2 and4.[1]
The venue had a capacity of under 400 and a stage roughly twelve inches from the floor, giving it an intimate feeling helpful for radio comedy with an audience.[2] Shows recorded there included panel game shows such asI'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue,[3] comedy such asHi Gang!,Dad's Army,The Goon Show,[4]Don't Stop Now - It's Fundation and non-audience shows such asThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.[5]
In addition to comedy, the BBC recorded many of the dramatical broadcasts byRaymond Raikes as well as by musical artists including acts such asAC/DC,Badfinger,[6]the Beatles,[7]David Bowie, Leonard Cohen 1968,Shakin' Stevens,Family,Streetwalkers,Jeff Beck,Deep Purple,Slade,Hawkwind,Status Quo,Sad Café,Dr. Feelgood,Mahavishnu Orchestra,Fleetwood Mac,Genesis,Led Zeppelin,James Taylor,Joni Mitchell,Weather Report,Queen,Pink Floyd,Nazareth,Barclay James Harvest,Rod Stewart,Simple Minds,the Screaming Blue Messiahs,T. Rex,Ultravox,the Pretenders andthe Wailers. Some of these performances were recorded in front of live studio audiences as part of theIn Concert andSounds of the Seventies series, and several of these acts have subsequently released tapes of sessions recorded at the studio, such as Led Zeppelin'sBBC Sessions album.[1] It was also the London home of the BBC'sRadio 1 Club in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Paris Theatre closed in 1995, being replaced by theBBC Radio Theatre inBroadcasting House. The closure was marked with a commemorative concert and broadcast of the last show ever to be recorded at the theatre, namely the final show in series two ofThe Skivers.[1][8]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Ladies and gentlemen, this is the last ever Radio 4 show to be recorded at the Paris Studio.
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