Walter Emden

Emden was the second son of William S. Emden, lessee of London's Olympic Theatre, and was born in the vicinity of the theatre in The Strand. Originally studying as a civil engineer, he joined architects Kelly and Lawes in 1870 in the burgeoning construction of theatres. He was immediately given the commission of designing the Globe Theatre. Emden also became a member of the Strand District Board of Works, a forerunner of local councils, and for seven years acted as chair. In 1890, he was elected to the London County Council. In 1880, W. G. R. Sprague, a former pupil of Frank Matcham, joined Emden's practice as an apprentice for three years. From 1889, Emden entered a partnership with Charles J. Phipps building the Tivoli, Garrick Theatre and Duke of York's. His most important work, The Tivoli, in the Strand, became the archetype for music hall and variety theatre architecture. His work extended to hotels, restaurants and, as it became popular, cinemas. He also had a younger half-brother, Henry (1852–1930), who was a leading scenic artist, painting the stage curtain for Walter's Trafalgar Theatre in 1892. In 1903 Walter Emden became the 4th Mayor of Westminster, before becoming the Mayor of Dover in November 1907 under somewhat unusual circumstances. He was the first mayor not to be a member of the Town Council, and was elected under a special provision of the Municipal Corporations Act enabling a duly qualified burgess to take the position. An energetic mayor, he was a driving force in promoting the Dover Pageant of 1908, and it was around this time that he bought a controlling interest in A.L Thomas & Sons Ltd, an iron foundry based in Dover that specialised in the manufacture and supply of fencing, pipes and manhole covers. Emden put his nephew, Vivian Elkington, in charge of the firm, which was renamed The Dover Engineering Works Ltd on September 3, 1909, and eventually became famous for the manufacture of iron gas and airtight inspection covers, still manufactured and supplied across the globe by the same company today, although under a different name (Gatic).

His list of theatre designs include: • Theatre — Location — Build Date — Original Seating Capacity — Status — Notes • Globe Theatre — Newcastle Street — 1870 — 1,800 — Demolished 1902 • Theatre Royal — Barnsley — 1877 — 800 • Terry's Theatre — Strand — 1887 — 800 — Demolished 1923 • Royal Court Theatre — Sloane Square — 1888 — 642 — Grade II — with assistant Bertie Crewe • Garrick Theatre — Charing Cross Road — 1889 — 800 — Grade II* — with Charles J. Phipps • City Theatre Leno's Varieties — Sheffield — c1890 — Burnt down 1893 • Tivoli Theatre of Varieties — The Strand — 1890 — 1,500 — Demolished 1916 — Further alterations 1910 • Trafalgar Theatre later, the Duke of York's — St Martin's Lane — 1890 — 900 — Grade II • Palace Theatre — Cambridge Circus — 1892 — 1,400 — Grade II* — Conversion to variety theatre • Royalty Theatre — Soho — 1895 — 657 — Demolished 1953 war damaged — Alterations • Imperial Theatre — Tothill Street, Westminster — 1898 — Rebuilt 1901 — Alterations • Lyceum Theatre — Ipswich — 1891 — 1200 — Closed and Demolished • Empire Theatre — Swansea Oxford st — 1900 — Demolished 1960 — For Oswald Stoll & Moss

Walter Emden is recorded as architect and politician.