Extensive Alterations. Leicester Square Theatre Leicester Square London

The company was formed in 1929 from the merger of the Keith‑Albee‑Orpheum (KAO) theater company, Joseph Kennedy's Film Booking Office (FBO), Pathé, and the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). The Leicester Square Theatre was designed by Andrew Mather and built by Gee, Walker and Slater Ltd. for Walter Gibbons and Jack Buchanan. It opened on 19 December 1930 with a capacity of 2,000. When the Theatre was built it was intended that it would be the home of light musical comedy, however, when the building was planned the architects neglected to provide one important thing - THE STAGE. It had been thought that it would be possible to purchase some buildings at the rear of the theatre and it was not until after the building works was started that it was discovered that the owner of the properties was unwilling to sell, thus it was not possible to build the theatre with a stage large enough for the intended purpose. The project, which was to be named after Jack Buchanan, bankrupted Walter Gibbons. Apart from a few half and half shows the Theatre operated almost entirely as a cinema.

RKO bought the building, carrying out extensive alterations including a revolving stage, and reopened it in June 1931.The name was changed to the Olympic in March 1932, but only until July when it closed and reopened once again as the Leicester Square Theatre in August.

Reference           Builder 31 July 1931 Page 207