| Main Performers | Lowell Thomas - speaker,
Quentin Morvaren - organ |
| Set List | Film Travelogue - 'With Allenby in Palestine and Arabia' (Lowell Thomas)
Accompanying Music:'Triumphal March from 'Aida', Verdi (Quentin Morvaren),
'Concert Overture in C Minor', Alfred Hollins (Quentin Morvaren),
'Chant Pastoral, Alleluia', Dubois (Quentin Morvaren),
'Allegro Macstoso' from the Sixth Symphony, Widor (Quentin Morvaren),
'Reverie du Soir' from the Suite Algerienne, Saint Saens (Quentin Morvaren),
March: 'Pomp and Circumstance, No.1 in D', Elgar (Quentin Morvaren),
'Allegro Marziale', Frank Bridge (Quentin Morvaren) |
| Performance Notes | From October-December 1919, the Royal Albert Hall hosted an American film shot by Lowell Thomas about a rather obscure British battlefield in the Middle East and catapulted a young British army Commander - T E Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, from obscurity to instant fame.
American journalist, Lowell Thomas had been sent by the American Government to film the First World War in France, however finding that country well covered by other journalists, he heard that the British army in Palestine were about to capture Jerusalem from the Turks and he headed there with his cameraman.
Once in Palestine, he was stunned to find a young British army officer, with fair hair and piercing blue eyes, who spoke fluent Arabic, dressed in Arab robes and lived as a local. He immediately knew that he had found the subject of his film. It was this combination of exotic good looks and real heroism that made T E Lawrence a modern day hero.
When the film came to the Hall in October 1919, over 10,000 people a day came to see it including Queen Mary who personally congratulated Mr Thomas in the Royal Box on his eloquent description and his wonderful pictorial record of the campaign.
"Cinema At Albert Hall - Mr Lowell Thomas and the Palestine Film
A cynic once remarked that it took the London public a week to hear of any engagement at the Albert Hall, and it took them another week to get there. Mr Lowell Thomas seems likely to break down that idea as successfully as he dispelled the belief that it was impossible to fill the Covent Garden Opera House during the summer months.
As Covent Garden is now required for opera rehearsals, Mr Thomas has been compelled to find another home for his 'travelogue' of Lord Allenby's campaign. Yesterday afternoon, accordingly, found him installed in the Albert Hall, where he is to tell his story of the march of the last of the Crusades for the remainder of the week. This is not the first time that the Albert hall has been used as a cinematograph theatre, but more interesting films than those of the Palestine campaign have certainly never been seen there. Owing to arrangements previously made, there can be no afternoon performance on Saturday, but otherwise the 'travelogue' is being given every afternoon and evening this week."
(The Times, 28 October 1919)
An advertisement in the Times after the first week of performances stated that it was the intention for Lowell Thomas to speak at the Hall on Monday 27th (Afternoon and Evening Performances), Wednesday 29th (Afternoon and Evening Performances), Thursday 30th (Afternoon), Friday 31st (Afternoon and Evening Performances), and Saturday (Evening performances). Further advertisements suggest that he extended his stay in London and spoke at all further performances. The run of shows was subsequently extended to 55 performances at the Royal Albert Hall. |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1919/57)
Handbill (RAHE/6/1919/8) |