|
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is a Grade II listed〔 gay entertainment venue in Vauxhall, London. It is also known as the RVT. It is South London's oldest surviving gay venue. ==History== The RVT was built in 1863 at Spring Gardens, Kennington Lane, on land which was originally part of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. It started life as a Victorian music hall. After the Second World War, returning servicemen and local gay men were attracted to the venue, which held shows by female impersonators (drag shows).〔 By 1975, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern had two bars around a kidney shaped bar which doubled as a stage for the drag artists to dance along in their stilettos from the tiny apron stage at one end. Prior to the cabaret starting the bar would be cleared of glasses and drinks and the staff would clean the bar ready for the drag to dance along it in their heels. The public bar attracted local workers and had a dart board whilst the lounge attracted the local gay community. Notable acts from this era include "Carla", famous for her Barbra Streisand impersonation and "The Great Lee Paris" on a Saturday night with Land of Hope and Glory, and There'll always be an England.〔http://www.kemglen.talktalk.net/stradivarius/forum.html〕 Freddie Mercury was also a frequent visitor during the 1970s.〔Freddie Mercury a Life, in His Own Words〕 The RVT survived local redevelopment throughout the 1970s and 1980s and maintained its independence as a gay venue. Many of London's top drag artists performed there, including Hinge and Bracket, Regina Fong and Adrella. Diana Dors also appeared there.〔http://www.timeout.com/london/gay/features/2433/2.html〕 Lily Savage, the drag persona of Paul O'Grady, was a regular performer for eight years, with shows four times per week.〔 According to Cleo Rocos book ''The Power of Positive Drinking'', Princess Diana visited the RVT in the late 1980s, disguised as a man and accompanied by Rocos, Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett. Rocos stated that revellers didn't notice Diana because their attention was focussed on Mercury, Everett and Rocos.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/diana/9963557/Freddie-Mercury-smuggled-Princess-Diana-into-gay-bar-disguised-as-a-man.html )〕 In 2005, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern was taken over by gay businessmen Paul Oxley and James Lindsay. With a new lighting and sound system the venue opened seven nights a week and maintained its popularity.〔 In November 2014 the RVT was sold in a multi million pound commercial deal. James Lindsay, former joint owner, was retained and appointed by the new business owners.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/10/08/iconic-gay-pub-royal-vauxhall-tavern-sold/ )〕 The RVT was made a grade II listed building on 8 September 2015 – the first building to be listed in recognition of its importance to LGBT community history. The listing was the result of a campaign supported by Boris Johnson (Mayor of London), Sir Ian McKellen and Paul O'Grady, among many others.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.rvt.community/ )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Royal Vauxhall Tavern」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|