Collection LCC/PC/ENT - PUBLIC CONTROL DEPARTMENT: ENTERTAINMENTS LICENSING

1.08 linear metres

LCC/PC/ENT 1889-1960 Collection 1.08 linear metres LCC , London County Council x London County Council

The term 'public control', as used in the Council's organisation, embraced various services of a regulative character, mostly exercised by some form of licensing control. Largely unobtrusive in their operation, and producing no spectacular effects, they were all carried out in the public interest and, in some respects, for the protection of the public or certain sections of it.

Their administration was conditioned by trends in the legislative provisions under which they were operated, by shifts and changes in social usages, and by the development of the Council's policies towards the matters to which they related.

Places used in London for stage plays, music, dancing, film shows, boxing, or wrestling had to be licensed if they were open to the public. The purpose of licensing was to ensure the safety and suitability of the premises and the entertainment. In general, the Council was the entertainment licensing authority for London, but most West End theatres were licensed for stage plays by the Lord Chamberlain.

Fan dancing, nude posing and strip-tease became increasingly popular during the Second World War. In 1940 the Lord Chamberlain convened a conference to consider the tendency towards impropriety on the stage. At first there was an improvement, but it was not maintained. In 1952 the Council decided to prohibit strip-tease in premises in London licensed for music and dancing. Strip-tease shows continued to be given at bogus clubs in the Soho area. In such clubs there was really no effective restriction on public admission, nor was there any intended. Legal proceedings and fines were not an adequate deterrent and more severe penalties were introduced in the London Government Act, 1963.

The cinema remained the most popular form of entertainment licensed by the Council. There were in 1963 over 150 cinemas in London. Safety arrangements were prescribed in detail and updated as new technology was introduced. The Council also had responsibility for the censorship of films, generally accepting the decisions of the British Board of Film Censors.

Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council.

Records of the London County Council Public Control Department relating to the licensing of places of public entertainment, including registers of applications for music, dancing, theatre and other licences, 1898-1900; registers of inspections of theatres and music halls, 1904-1909; printed papers regarding licensing sessions, 1889-1960; printed papers regarding cinema licensing, 1909-1952; printed papers regarding Sunday entertainments, 1903-1935 and Seating plans of London and Suburban Theatres, published by Keith Prowse Ltd., 1921.

LCC/PC/ENT/01: Registers; LCC/PC/ENT/02: Reports; LCC/PC/ENT/03: Seating plans

Available for general access.

Copyright: City of London.
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For further information on the history of the LCC please see Achievement: A Short History of the London County Council by W Eric Jackson (1965), LMA Library reference 18.0 1965, The London County Council 1938, LMA Library reference 18.7 SER 4, and The Youngest County: A description of London as a county and its public services, 1951, LMA Library reference 18.0 1951.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April to June 2009 Business management Business practice and regulation Regulation Visual materials Plans Recreational facilities Law Dance halls Legislation Leisure Leisure time activities Entertainment Public entertainment Architecture Buildings Recreational buildings Theatres Music theatres Management Sunday trading Trade (practice) Registration Demography Cinemas LCC , London County Council x London County Council Public Control Department , London County Council London England UK Western Europe Europe

Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council.

Records of the London County Council Public Control Department relating to the licensing of places of public entertainment, including registers of applications for music, dancing, theatre and other licences, 1898-1900; registers of inspections of theatres and music halls, 1904-1909; printed papers regarding licensing sessions, 1889-1960; printed papers regarding cinema licensing, 1909-1952; printed papers regarding Sunday entertainments, 1903-1935 and Seating plans of London and Suburban Theatres, published by Keith Prowse Ltd., 1921.

LCC/PC/ENT/01: Registers; LCC/PC/ENT/02: Reports; LCC/PC/ENT/03: Seating plans

Available for general access.

Copyright: City of London.

• anglais

• latin

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• anglais