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Early Revue
Charles B. Cochran was last in a great line of showmen (he never called himself a producer or impresario) guided by their instincts rather than their wallets. Cochran shows brought together the most talented performers, designers, composers and writers. He promoted wild west shows, wrestling and boxing with as much enthusiasm as theatre. His shows could be opulent, extravagant and expensive or he could just promote a solo dancer. Not surprisingly, Cochran was bankrupted on more than one occasion.
Affectionately known as ‘Cockie’, he was stage struck from an early age. He wanted to act but realised he didn’t have the talent and so went into theatrical management. His clients included Houdini the great escapologist and the wrestler Hackenschmidt. He presented fun fairs, circuses and rodeos and introduced roller-skating to France and Germany.
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The Miracle |
In 1911 Cochran presented The Miracle, a huge spectacular pageant, in the vast space of Olympia, London’s major exhibition hall. In 1932 he mounted a new production at the Lyceum.
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Programme for The Miracle |
Cochran made no snobbish distinctions between culture and
popular entertainment. As manager of several London theatres,
he produced
plays by
Pirandello,
Eugene O’Neill and
Sean O’Casey.
He established cabaret at the Trocadero. He loved Spanish dance
and brought the great Argentina to London. He backed Diaghilev’s 1920
London season and lost a fortune. He was a governor and member
of the
council
of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
His press cutting books, now in the Theatre Museum, run
to over
140 volumes and even so do not cover every one of his productions.
