Add MS 83548-83549

Lord Chamberlain’s Office Theatre Files (Series i). Vols. clxvi, clxvii. Papers and correspondence relating to smoking in theatres; 1904-1934. Former LCO file no. 340. The Office was unwilling to grant permission for smoking in theatres during dramatic productions, particularly after 1930, but was willing to relax this prohibition for performances of a generally musical nature. Requests from individual theatres for permission for smoking are included in the files for each theatre. Correspondence is principally for the years 1904; 1908; 1915 and 1930: there is no correspondence for 1910-1913, 1916; and 1918-1927. From 1931 includes details of permissions given for smoking in individual theatres for each year. The few letters for 1917 relate entirely to the use of a gas bracket at the New Theatre. Includes correspondence with the Home Office and various theatrical associations, and a printed map with central London theatres marked in red. For files relating to the years 1936-1938, see 88891/62.